This Period Film Shows The Targa Florio In All Its Terrifying Glory

Though automakers and advertisers producing their own videos may seem strange, in the automotive world it’s something that’s happened since the very beginning. Some are quite good, including this one from Castrol in 1965.

What’s fascinating to me is how many of the cars in this film—notably the “big” Ferraris and Porsches—can be traced today to auction record-setters, historic racing entrants, and regular tour competitors. To have survived a race like this (much less mere practice at Targa Florio) is astonishing, and I mean that for the drivers and fans as much as the cars.

It’s been more than 50 years since the world’s best tackled this beautiful Sicilian circuit, and it’s a scene we’ll never see repeated. At least this film is a very full 42 minutes; enjoy