HAGERTY RECREATES ITALIAN JOB FILM AT STOWE SCHOOL TO CELEBRATE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF ICONIC FILM

HAGERTY RECREATES ITALIAN JOB FILM AT STOWE SCHOOL TO CELEBRATE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF ICONIC FILM

• Hagerty, the leading classic car insurance experts, launches an exclusive new film, depicting The Italian Job, to celebrate the film’s 50th anniversary, and 60 years of the Mini

• The film and the association with Stowe School and its students underpins Hagerty’s mission to ‘Never Stop Driving’ and reinforces their passion to reach future generations of classic car enthusiasts

• The film concept was created to highlight a classic Mini, sourced by Hagerty, which students at the school have rebuilt to a superbly high standard and is now finished in the colours of Stowe School

• Hagerty’s Italian Job will be premiered at the Stowe School Speech Day taking place on Saturday 25th May, where Michael Deeley, producer of The Italian Job and an ex-Stowe student himself (Old Stoic), will be presenting a speech on his life achievements

• As well as the film premiere students, parents and staff will be able to enjoy a static display of 100 classic cars as part of The OS Classic Car Display, including cars from Italian Job film and 50 iconic Minis, curated and sourced by Hagerty

• Filming of the Hagerty Italian Job took place over a school holiday, in complete secrecy, and the finished film has not been seen by anyone at the school, nor has it been seen by Deeley

• The film can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/KPlWucEzl3E

Northamptonshire: 25/05/2019: EMBARGOED TO 13.00

Leading classic car insurers and valuation specialists Hagerty has created a very special film to celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Italian Job movie and 60 years of the Mini. The centrepiece of the film, however, is a Mini that was sourced by Hagerty for the science department at Stowe School which has since been completely rebuilt by Stowe students.

The young engineering team at Stowe School contacted Hagerty in 2018 asking for advice about rebuilding a classic car. After discussion, this quickly escalated into a desire for a major restoration project and, subsequently, Hagerty located a suitable Mini and arranged for the school to acquire the car for students to work upon.

The film, starring the Stowe Mini, is also a homage to Michael Deeley, producer of Blade Runner, The Deer Hunter and The Italian Job, himself an ex-Stowe School student. Michael will be a guest speaker at the Stowe School Speech Day & The OS Classic Car Show, taking place on Saturday 25th May.

The film, capturing the escape of students who break into the school to steal exam papers, was shot entirely on the Stowe School grounds during a school holiday and will be premiered at the school’s Speech Day. Michael himself has no idea a film has been created and will watch it for the first time on Speech Day along with students, staff and parents, none of whom expect a film to be shown.

A testament to the Stowe attitude of fun over formality at Speech Day, the Stowe School management team granted permission to film, with an almost free rein, on the entire estate, and the result will certainly be a surprise to students when they witness a number of cars at full-chat around the school grounds.

In addition to the film, Hagerty sourced and curated an incredible selection of 100 classic cars, which will be displayed on the Stowe lawns during the event. The line-up includes stars of the film, faithful recreations, 50 iconic and classic Minis as well as a host of classic cars driven to the event by parents and former students.

Each year, Hagerty presents the Steady Barker Trophy to the car and driver with the most interesting story displayed at Speech Day & The OS Classic Car Display. The inaugural winner of the trophy in 2018 went to King George’s prized Daimler. A car that has now been invited to the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, showing the standard of exceptional vehicles this event attracts.

Stowe has long been associated with classic cars. Ten years ago, the Head of the School encouraged families who owned a classic car to bring it to Speech Day, an event to celebrate the end of the academic year. 35 cars arrived, and classic cars have since become a staple part of Speech Day & The OS Classic Car Display. Today, more than 100 cars are displayed. The beautiful grounds have also been the home for the famous Hagerty Festival of the Unexceptional event for the last two years.

Marcus Atkinson, Hagerty Marketing Director, said “Stowe School likes to do things differently and what better way to celebrate the hard work the students have put into their Mini than to highlight their car on Speech Day in the most dramatic of fashions. Having Michael Deeley in attendance is really the icing on the cake given the Mini anniversary and the fact that Michael’s much-loved film hits 50 years old in a few weeks’ time. The effort in concepting, planning and filming this film in secret has been a huge challenge, but when we watched a trio of Minis in cahoots with the students and their Mini, it was well worth it.

“We would like to thank the team at Stowe for their permission to do this, to Michael Deeley for creating the wonderful original film that inspired us and to all the owners and enthusiasts who have allowed their classic cars to be displayed as an additional spectacle on the day. More importantly, our thanks to the science department at Stowe whose desire to encourage young drivers to enjoy classics is matched only by our own.

“Hagerty is committed to promoting classic cars and the lifestyle to children and young people of all ages, this being just the latest in a long line of activities designed to appeal to young drivers and classic car owners of the future. Today we are at Stowe, next time we will be hosting an openly available driving day for young drivers at Gaydon. It’s the younger generation who will protect our passion for classic cars for generations to come and their involvement and immersion into the sector is vitally important to us.”

We hope you enjoy the film which can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/KPlWucEzl3E

Film Credit: Petroleum

Photo Credit: Amy Shore

CARS FROM THE ITALIAN JOB REUNITED TO MARK It's 50th ANNIVERSARY AT THE LONDON CLASSIC CAR SHOW

CARS FROM THE ITALIAN JOB REUNITED TO MARK It's 50th ANNIVERSARY AT THE LONDON CLASSIC CAR SHOW

Actress Hazel Collinson, who appeared in The Italian Job and is the widow of its director Peter Collinson, to be a guest of honour alongside surviving classic cars from the iconic film

Surviving cars from epic chase movie The Italian Job will be reunited in a special exhibit to mark the iconic film’s 50th anniversary at the London Classic Car Show, taking place on 14-17 February 2019 at ExCeL London.  

The 1969 British heist film, which stars Michael Caine, Noel Coward and Benny Hill amongst others, is famed for its incredible chase scenes through Turin, Italy, with the cars being the real stars of the movie. The London Classic Car Show and Octane Magazine have curated this special celebratory feature, bringing together three original cars alongside replicas to mark the film’s half-century.  

Jaguar E-Type red 3.8L Roadster (848 CRY), image credit: Philip Porter & Abigail Humphries

The highlight of the surviving models will be the film’s pair of Jaguar E-Types – the dark blue Fixed Head Coupe (619 DXX) and red 3.8L Roadster (848 CRY). The Coupe was in the owner’s possession for almost 20 years before a friend spotted that it could be the car featured in the film. Further investigation proved positive and it has now been painstakingly restored by Tester Engineering to its original factory specification. 

The red Roadster will also be on display. Originally a demonstrator and raced in 1961, it was sold to model Richard Essame in 1962 who landed a part in the film as one of the Mini Cooper drivers. Essame drove the car to a location in Italy, where the production team saw it and thought it would be ideal for the film and purchased it from him. 

Hazel Collinson appears in the movie with Michael Caine and the Aston Martin DB4 Convertible (163 ELT). 

Rounding out the three originals from the film is the Aston Martin DB4 Convertible (163 ELT) that was supposedly tipped over a cliff by a bulldozer. Despite its apparent demise, this 1961 convertible was switched for a Lancia Flaminia during filming, allowing the DB4 to survive the cliff scene.

Unfortunately, the iconic red, white and blue Minis made so famous by the production no longer exist, but identical replicas will be featured to celebrate the film’s anniversary.

Hazel Collinson, actress, director and widow of the film’s director Peter Collinson, will be a guest of honour at the London Classic Car Show and will share her memories from the making of the film. 

Appearing in the film cast as “blonde scrubber”, Mrs Collinson said: “Little did Peter and I think when the film was first made that it would become the cult that it has. My husband was a great director and this is a film that really got under his skin. He had specific ideas about how the film should be shot. He makes an appearance as the person directing cars at the back of the motor coach because even the stunt men felt it was too dangerous a task. I am delighted to be visiting the show and it is always a pleasure to meet Italian Job fans and share with them some of the amazing stories about the film and what happened on set.”

Alongside the original cars presented at the show there will be a Lamborghini Miura identical to that appearing in the film, along with a reproduction of the OM Furgonato Sicurezza ‘Bullion’ Van. Convincingly converted by the film’s production crew into a security van, the attempt to blow its doors off led to the film’s famous line delivered by Caine, but also the destruction of the original. 

It is also hoped that the restoration of a Harrington Legionnaire coach will be finished in time for the event. The original was converted especially for the film but after its starring appearance it went back to being used as a coach and was scrapped in the 1990s after service in Scotland.  

“Bringing together and reuniting these original iconic cars from such a classic piece of automotive film history is a real honour,” said James Elliott, editor in chief at Octane. “We’re thrilled to present such a special feature to the visitors of the London Classic Car Show and we can’t wait for the unique opportunity to see these cars up close.”

Alongside The Italian Job exhibit, the London Classic Car Show will bring together an incredible collection of classic vehicles at ExCeL London. One of the event’s highlights will be the Grand Avenue, an indoor live runway that will showcase an array of rare and valuable models. There will be a celebration of the career of car designer Ian Callum, who will receive the show’s Icon Award, while TV presenter and engineer Edd China has curated a special showcase of aero-engined vehicles. Leading classics dealers from throughout the UK will be present, along with manufacturers, car clubs and restorers, making it a must-attend event for any discerning classic car owner, collector, expert or enthusiast.

Advance ticket prices for the London Classic Car Show start from £25 per adult, £20 per child (6-15) and £75 per family (two adults, two children). Entry for children under the age of six years is free. VIP package upgrades are also available, starting at £55 per adult, which include fast track entry, hospitality, show guide and Grandstand access for one Grand Avenue show. 

For further information and to purchase tickets for the London Classic Car Show, visit www.thelondonclassiccarshow.co.uk. 

 

THE ULTIMATE ITALIAN JOB TOUR TO COMMEMORATE THE MOVIE’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY

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THE ULTIMATE ITALIAN JOB TOUR TO COMMEMORATE THE MOVIE’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY

Classic car owners are being invited to commemorate the 50th anniversary of The Italian Job on an extraordinary 11-day driving tour which takes in many of the famous roads and locations featured in the movie. The Ultimate Italian Job Tour, created by Classics on the Road and the Jaguar E-type Club, will treat drivers and their companions to some of Europe’s most fabulous roads and scenery as its route passes through France, Italy and Switzerland between October 6th and 17th 2019.

Highlights of the Tour will include a driving experience on the rooftop test track of Fiat’s former Lingotto factory in Turin, which appeared in the movie’s legendary car chase; driving some of the most spectacular mountain roads in Europe, and an evening with key personalities involved in making the film.

Participants in the Ultimate Italian Job Tour will be accompanied throughout the 1,400-mile drive by a swarm of red, white and blue Minis, and by the red Jaguar E-type roadster, orange Lamborghini Miura P400, and silver Aston Martin DB4 convertible seen in the movie. The Tour visits the St. Bernard Pass, scene of the film’s opening credits, where the Miura was blown-up in a tunnel and the E-type and DB4 also met their fates.

While in Turin, Tour participants will spend a few days in the company of The Italian Job producer Michael Deeley; stunt director Rémy Julienne; actor David Salamone, who played Dominic, one of Charlie Croker’s gang of ‘Chinless Wonders’; and subject-expert Matthew Field, whose new book, The Self Preservation Society – 50 years of The Italian Job, will be published later this year.

The three-day Italian Job experience will also include a private screening of the film; a ‘soirée’ hosted by Field; a Walking Tour in the city of car-chase locations with commentary by Field, visiting the Baroque staircase of the Palazzo Madama, the crowded porticoes on Via Roma, the cathedral steps and the weir on the River Po. Tour participants will also receive a copy of his book.

In keeping with its theme, the Ultimate Italian Job Tour is open exclusively to E-types, and to pre-1970 Lamborghinis, Aston Martins, and Minis. The price –  €5,495 per person in double occupancy or €6,575 per person in single occupancy – includes accommodation in carefully selected four- and five-star hotels in France and Italy; three lunches and 10 dinners; a comprehensive Road Book with Tulip notes, maps, rally plates, information about places being visited, and recommendations of other places worth seeing; a private evening screening of The Italian Job; and guided visits to the Domaine Pommery champagne cellars, Arc-et-Senans Royal Saltworks, Museo Nazionale dell Automobile in Turin, Mont Blanc Skyway, and Matisse Museum in Le Cateau-Cambrésis.

Tour participants will be accompanied by the event organisers, including E-type Club co-founders Philip and Julie Porter in their E-type, the original Italian Job roadster, 848 CRY; a film crew and professional photographer; and a mechanic.

Philip Porter commented:

“The Ultimate Italian Job Tour is going to be amazing. It will be unique and probably the last opportunity to celebrate this iconic movie with key people from the film, combined with fantastic driving, the star cars and informed visits to most of the charismatic locations”.

To find out more about the Ultimate Italian Job Tour or reserve a place, please visit www.classicsontheroad.com

Jaguar E-type Club

Founded 15 years ago by Philip and Julie Porter, the Club has members in more than 50 countries. Porter has written 30 motoring books, including a number on Jaguars, and owns two early E-types of historical significance: the prototype registered ‘9600 HP’, which was the first Fixed Head Coupé and one of the pairs which launched the E-type at Geneva in 1961; and the roadster ‘848’ CRY, which appeared in The Italian Job. The E-type Club’s patron is Norman Dewis (OBE), who joined Jaguar in 1952 as Chief Test Driver and helped develop production and competition cars including the E-type.

Classics on the Road

Classics on the Road specialises in organising tours and events for classic and sports cars, encouraging the enjoyment of driving on unfamiliar roads and visiting new places. Classics on the Road’s precise tailoring of events includes the selection of memorable routes, hotels, restaurants, and sightseeing locations.