The Last African Flying Boat is a vintage documentary covering the recreation of an aerial tour from Egypt to South Africa by flying boat. The film includes footage of the first flying boats in Africa as well as more modern examples, and the insight into the difficulties of traveling across Africa are well documented. The…
The World’s Fastest is a documentary currently in production by director/photographer Alexandra Lier and producer Laia Gonzalez. If the name Alexandra Lier sounds familiar to you, that’s because she’s one of the world’s foremost land speed record photographers, and the creator of the books Speedseekers and The World’s Fastest Place. Alexandra has been travelling to…
The Iso Rivolta Chronicles is a series of short films about the cars of Iso Autoveicoli S.p.A, and the modern collectors who keep them alive. For the uninitiated, Iso was a refrigeration company until after WWII when they branched out into cars and motorcycles, one of their most famous early creations was the Iso Isetta…
This documentary from 1954 shows the victorious return to racing by Mercedes-Benz after 15 years of non-participation, it was an extraordinary achievement that went a long way towards changing Formula One forever. The revolutionary streamlined Mercedes cars were far more advanced that the vehicles being driven by their competitors, and the precision with which Mercedes…
The Look at Life series of short documentaries were produced in the 1960s to offer a glimpse into parts of society that might otherwise never be seen by the average Brit. This film, titled Vintage Models, is a look into the world of classic car enthusiasts – as they were in 1963. It’s interesting to look back…
Autobiography of a Jeep is a relatively short film at just under 10 minutes in length, it was created in 1943 during the Second World War by United Films to show young GIs how the Jeep had come about, and also to instill a certain amount of affection in their hearts for the little 4×4. It’s…
The 1976 Indianapolis 500 would be the last time a McLaren-badged car would win the iconic American motor race – with American driver Johnny Rutherford at the wheel. This would also be the last year that an Offenhauser engine would win the race, capping 27 victories for the motor and sealing it forever as one of the…
Planetary Gears – Principles of Operation is a 1953 US Army Training Film, likely created to teach the mechanics who would be working on tanks and other vehicles that used planetary gear systems. Planetary gears are one of those things that many people think they understand already, but it’s a great help to see working…
The Blackburn Buccaneer was developed in the 1950s as a carrier-borne strike aircraft with a long range – capable of carrying a nuclear payload under enemy radar at speeds of Mach .85. In order to fit the Buccaneer onto the smaller carriers used by the British, the tail and nose could both fold inwards, and…
Tribute to Fangio is a 20 minute film about racing legend Juan Manuel Fangio, nicknamed El Chueco “bowlegged one”, who’s still the only driver in history to win the World Drivers’ Championship 5 times with 4 teams (Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz, and Maserati). Fangio was known for his engaging personality and quotable quotes like “Driving fast…
This documentary about the history of Austin Healey is a fascinating look back at one of Britain’s great sports car makers – Donald Healey. Men like Donald were responsible for some of the most memorable cars of the 20th century, despite their restricted budgets and limited parts availability. The work Healey did with English and American…
What Stops Them is a 1935 Chevrolet film that explains drum braking systems, and extolls the virtues of cable-operated brakes. Although that may sound humorous now, the film dates back to a few years before WWII, and hydraulic braking systems were relatively rare. Although drums brakes are now far less common, after decades of being usurped…
