Classic clips of motoring's golden era
Classic car enthusiasts will now be able to get a rare insight into life on the road during motoring's golden era, when legendary drivers like Sir Stirling Moss made racing history and Jaguar gave us the iconic E-type.
Classic car enthusiasts will now be able to get a rare insight into life on the road during motoring's golden era, when legendary drivers like Sir Stirling Moss made racing history and Jaguar gave us the iconic E-type.
Universal Motoring History have opened up their archive of over 500 clips of classic car footage, which can now be accessed for free online.
The clips, which date from the 1890s onwards, feature motoring events from around the world including world land speed record runs, car commercials, flying cars, road system demonstrations, famous drivers, stunt driving, novelty items and unusual military machines.
The archive is also home to a catalogue of footage from historic races at famous circuts like Le Mans, Brands Hatch, Daytona Beach and Monte Carlo, as well as films featuring bygone hill climbs and stock car racing.
Many of the films have largely remained unseen for more than 50 years and were previously thought to have been lost or destroyed.
The archive has been accumulated over many years from numerous sources, including motor manufacturers, government departments, military organizations, film and TV production companies and elsewhere.
We've selected a few of our favourite clips below, but to see the full archive visit www.auto-history.tv/media
The Monte Carlo Rally, 1959
Excellent footage of the difficulties faced by the fearless drivers who tackled this year Monte Carlo Rally - watch the clip here.
The film shows MGs, Austins and other standard production cars being driven along icy narrow mountainous roads in the dead of night.
A French team were the overall winners, although only around one third of the original starters crossed the finishing line.
Donald Campbell breaks land speed record, 1964
Speed legend Donald Campbell sets a new land speed record in his Bluebird at Lake Eyre, Australia. His time was 276 mph and he followed the exploits of his father before the war.
See the footage below or watch it at www.auto-history.tv
Daytona Beach stock car race, 1952
A 1950s stock car race at Daytona Beach on both the sand and the road. The film contains plenty of great cars and action.
See the footage below or watch it at www.auto-history.tv
