I think one of the reasons period promotional films are so charming is because they often simply had to be shot in a certain way. There was little manipulation able to be made after the fact, apart from titles, voiceover work, and more entertaining cuts. Here, Shelby Goes Racing With Ford casts Carroll Shelby as your host into the world of Ford racing…in 1965.
Oh, that’s not all. It’s possible to entertain yourself by trying to notice certain things, like how many times you see a Zagato-bodied Alfa Romeo, or to realize that many of the cars in this film have been sold at auction in recent years, often for wallet-stretching sums. Most notably, perhaps, is the cameo of Ford GT/108, which last traded for $6.9 million U.S.
I don’t want to give too much away, but you’ll quickly understand why this documentary is so compelling—even Pete Brock is drafted in, chalkboard and all, to explain how to haul ass at Willow Springs.
It makes you wonder: how cool would it be if a car company used the same format for a more relaxed promotional film today?
Image Source: tprm.com
