The 300 Project

Available from www.veloce.co.uk. Running time 1hr 38mins – Price £15.99

A Tribute to the Chrysler 300 letter series.

Includes vintage footage provided by the DaimlerChrysler historical group - interviews and action shots of Chrysler 300 Letter Car owners and their cars.

The Chrysler 300 was a milestone car in automotive history and the legend lives on today, more than fifty years after it was first introduced in 1955. This story chronicles the cars and the people who had a vision to build a car company based on strong engineering innovations… the people who crafted the cars... and the people who restore them and drive them today. The 300 Project was filmed over a span of one and a half years in Detroit Ml, Lake Tahoe CA, Carlisle PA, Chicago IL, and other locations.

Exclusively from Veloce Publishing.
The 300 Project DVD can be ordered directly from Veloce (credit cards accepted), either through their website (see above) or by telephone on + 44 (0)1305 260068

The Cobra Ferrari Wars on DVD

This classic tale of Texas chicken farmer-turned American sporting hero versus Italian automotive aristocracy, was announced in 2002 and first broadcast by the BBC to much critical acclaim. However, because Producer/Director Richard Symons, has painstakingly added rare footage and previously unseen interviews, the Cobra Ferrari Wars twin-set DVD has only just been released.

“I spent a whole lot of time with Richard on this and he’s really nailed it. Got all the right people, from Dan Gurney to Lee Iacocca. It’s a wonderful story and I’ve never seen anybody tell it better. I’m very proud to have been part of it,” says Carroll Shelby.

Ten years in the making, the documentary tells the remarkable story of Shelby’s mission to “nail Ferrari’s ass”, resulting in the fearsome Cobra - possibly the most revered sports car of all time.

The double DVD set includes the full broadcast film three picture galleries, previously unseen footage, exclusive never-before seen interviews, deleted scenes, excerpts from the rough cut and numerous other gems - for example, the first trailer produced to hook prospective broadcasters. There’s even some six hours worth of un-cut transcripts of interviews with Shelby giving a unique insight into the man himself as well as spilling the beans on back-door shenanigans/politics.

With its fast-pace, 60’s soundtrack and effortless split-screen cool, the Cobra Ferrari Wars is compulsive viewing. Available now on DVD from: www.spiritlevelfilm.com.

Elvis Presley - “200 Cadillacs” DVD

by Paul Hilton

Running time 63 minutes - Price £12.99 - BMG catalogue # 82876 579 019

www.image-entertainment.com

With a title like “200 Cadillacs” revolving around one of the 20th Century’s greatest icons, Elvis Presley. One is intrigued as to what this DVD might be about. Perhaps about several Cadillacs Elvis owned over many years, or maybe an interesting history of many of them and where they are today?

Once the film begins, it’s clear it’s not about Cadillacs per se’ as automobiles, but about the estimated 200 Cadillacs Elvis gave away as gifts to various people near to him, and indeed, sometimes total strangers too. For Elvis, Cadillacs were the gift of choice, besides many other extravagant gifts he bestowed upon assorted people.

Interviews with people such as D J Fontana—Elvis’ original drummer—personal nurse Marion Cocke, long time girlfriend Linda Thompson, Cadillac salesmen Joey Abel and Ernie Barrasso, and personal assistant Jerry Shilling amongst several others, show us the world of Elvis and the sometimes extraordinary generosity he displayed. To buy say 20 to 30 Cadillacs wasn’t unheard of, then give them away, though 10 at a time would be more likely. A Cadillac salesman’s dream customer—he certainly loved Cadillacs and hoped the recipients would too.

With over 200 photographs included in the documentary of Elvis, and though the musical soundtrack doesn’t have any Elvis’ songs, the interviewees carry us further into his world—and of those around him—so we are now left not wondering about all these cars, but about Elvis himself. Perhaps a side we haven’t seen before, for these Cadillacs and other gifts freely given, seem to humanise him into an ordinary guy—a decent man with a big heart and caring for others, at times actually very touching.

A broader spectrum of people to interview would have been a nice addition to using several that worked for him or with him - perhaps friends that were outside his immediate circle or someone from his family to add their own observations and anecdotes. For Elvis fans, it’s a compelling film to view several times—not for the cars, not for the music, but to listen to those people on it, for we find ourselves having a glimpse of another side of the King, and it is clearly filmed to be this way from the outset. Even those with just a passing interest in Elvis will find something here to hold their attention.

Is “200 Cadillacs” worth buying? I would have to say yes—not for the Cadillacs of which you’ll see several with Elvis; a soundtrack without any of Elvis’s songs some might find a disappointment. The titles some of the friends use might be telling in themselves—"Elvis Hairstylist And Spiritual Advisor” or “Wife Of Elvis’ Karate Mentor”. But, it is just over an hour’s worth of anecdotes, bits of Elvis footage, and over 200 photographs, that begin to make it a more compelling package than it initially might appear to be. It needs a few viewings to appreciate what we’re being told and the manner in which it is being presented. Elvis seemed to use his wealth to try to make people happy when he saw fit to, from time to time. My own impressions from this DVD is that he was indeed, sincere and genuine in this respect. Having removed the show-biz side of his life, a little more light has been shed on Elvis the man—who cared about others whether he knew them or not, and tried in his own way to make their lives a little bit happier, sometimes as a thank you, sometimes out of guilt, and sometimes because he simply wanted to. An interesting side of Elvis worth viewing.

America’s Fastest Cars

Available from www.dukevideo.com . Running time 65mins - Price £12.99

Right from the days of the fabled Shelby Cobra and Ford’s Le Mans-winning GT4O, the Americans have had a different approach to sports car construction. The biggest possible engine in the smallest possible chassis has always been "the American way" - and it works! America’s fastest cars are amongst the absolute fastest in the world. Big, all-muscle V8 speedsters like the Chevrolet Corvette and Camaro, or Ford’s Mustang Cobra GT... now with a new four-cam V8 motor. Or the mighty Dodge Viper, with eight litres of V10 power! We check out the big ‘snake’ in convertible, GTS coupe and GTR racing versions.

Look back at the Cunningham, Cobra and Ford GT4O racers from the ‘50’s and ‘60’s. Look forward with the Ford GT9O V12 prototype... a wild-looking ‘supercar’ that could be Ford’s next Le Mans racer!

Hear from influential contributors such as Chrysler Head of Design, and world-class ‘racers turned constructors Carroll Shelby, Dick Guldstrand and Steve Saleen. Take a close-up look at the awesome 10-litre ‘Boss Mustang’ factory ‘street racer’ project and the fascinating Oldsmobile Aurora streamliner that broke 47 world records in proving the capabilities of that company’s new overhead-cam V8. Finally, ride right along with racer Kim Baker, as he pilots his nine-litre special Corvette at over 240mph in the amazing "Nevada Open Road Challenge"!

The History of Nascar and The Winston Cup

Available from www.dukevideo.com . Running time 84mins - Price £12.99

Follow the exciting story of American Nascar from the early days of racing on the sands of Daytona Beach to the 200 mph races round the oval circuits of the 80’s. This is racing at its most competitive and exciting, featuring some of the most spectacular crashes that you will ever see plus all the legendary Americans are here, Richard Petty, Gale Yarborough, A. J. Foyt and more. It’s 84 minutes of magnificent entertainment.