Amazing Ferrari video
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On an August morning in 1978, French filmmaker Claude Lelouch mounted a gyro-stabilized camera to the bumper of a Ferrari 275 GTB and had a friend, a professional Formula 1 racer, drive at breakneck speed through the heart of Paris. The film was limited for technical reasons to 10 minutes; the course was from Porte Dauphine, through the Louvre, to the Basilica of Sacre Coeur. No streets were closed, for Lelouch was unable to obtain a permit. The driver completed the course in about 9 minutes, reaching nearly 140 MPH (225 Km/h) in some stretches. The footage reveals him running real red lights, nearly hitting real pedestrians, and driving the wrong way up real one-way streets. Upon showing the film in public for the first time, Lelouch was arrested. He has never revealed the identity of the driver, and the film went underground until a DVD release a few years ago.
http://www.bsdunix.ch/public/rendezvous20_04.mov
http://www.bsdunix.ch/public/rendezvous20_04.mov
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I am almost speechless. Even with DSL, that clip took forever to load but it was worth it. Classic Motorbooks has offered that as a video for several years but I never wanted to spend the money for a relatively short view. Now I have to rethink that.
The 275GTB is my favorite Ferrari and Paris is my favorite city. To see the two together was nothing short of awesome.
Only one other video has ever ever elicited that sort of hair tingling emotion in me. That was V 4 victory which featured a camera mounted on the late Joey Dunlops' Honda as he did a circuit of the Isle of Man on two wheels.
I've always wondered who drove that Ferrari through the streets of Paris. He was both fearless and crazy.
Great post, my friend. It's the best I've ever seen.
For all you Top Gear fanatics, I offer the following advice. Be patient and download this. Until you do, you ain't seen nothing yet!
The 275GTB is my favorite Ferrari and Paris is my favorite city. To see the two together was nothing short of awesome.
Only one other video has ever ever elicited that sort of hair tingling emotion in me. That was V 4 victory which featured a camera mounted on the late Joey Dunlops' Honda as he did a circuit of the Isle of Man on two wheels.
I've always wondered who drove that Ferrari through the streets of Paris. He was both fearless and crazy.
Great post, my friend. It's the best I've ever seen.
For all you Top Gear fanatics, I offer the following advice. Be patient and download this. Until you do, you ain't seen nothing yet!
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There are much faster sources for that video.
Coral Cache of the above link
iFilm Site, many different format and connection speed options.
Coral Cache of the above link
iFilm Site, many different format and connection speed options.
Needs to be more Astony
Joined: October 4, 2004
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From: Volo, IL
Originally posted by bigred0383@December 16, 2005, 1:51 AM
This reminds me of the "Escape from Stockholm" videos.
This reminds me of the "Escape from Stockholm" videos.
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ya... he took that thing through two of the craziest spots for cars in that city. First of all, obviously the roundabout at the arc de triomphe... that thing is bloody nuts.. to see how crazy it is... check out the episode of Top Gear when they took the Ford GT, F430, and the Zonda across france, they totally freak out in that roundabout. Its also got a segment on the Focus ST, very cool... its the November 27th episode, available here: http://www.finalgear.com/news/2005/11/27/t...-2005-released/
But yeah... then later on, the dude tears through the huge intersection in front of the opera house where like 8 streets intersect. Not quite as bad as the arc, but when i was there last summer, i counted 6 traffic cops at that one intersection. Pretty intense. But it seems like this guy did his little drive pretty early in the morning or something, before the crowds really got out.
Here are some pics to give you an idea.
The arc roundabout:
[attachmentid=40935]
And the operahouse, though i must admit, this shot doesn't make it look nearly as crazy as when i saw it:
[attachmentid=40936]
Oh ya... the other cool thing is that he goes through the louvre. Its a giant palace that got so big they had to pass a road through it, like there's a tunnel right through either side of the palace with a roundabout thing in the middle and usually about a million tourists going to check out the museum... And he flies through at like 60 miles an hour:
[attachmentid=40937]
But yeah... then later on, the dude tears through the huge intersection in front of the opera house where like 8 streets intersect. Not quite as bad as the arc, but when i was there last summer, i counted 6 traffic cops at that one intersection. Pretty intense. But it seems like this guy did his little drive pretty early in the morning or something, before the crowds really got out.
Here are some pics to give you an idea.
The arc roundabout:
[attachmentid=40935]
And the operahouse, though i must admit, this shot doesn't make it look nearly as crazy as when i saw it:
[attachmentid=40936]
Oh ya... the other cool thing is that he goes through the louvre. Its a giant palace that got so big they had to pass a road through it, like there's a tunnel right through either side of the palace with a roundabout thing in the middle and usually about a million tourists going to check out the museum... And he flies through at like 60 miles an hour:
[attachmentid=40937]
Amazing. Dangerous... but amazing nonetheless!
Wow, that makes Ronin or Bullitt seems like a ride through the park, and this was for real!
That furious V-12 howl is spine tingling, especially in tunnels and narrow streets where you can hear its shriek echoing off the walls, or the Valkerie wail down those long city boulevards at near 140mph -- now THAT'S what a performance engine should sound like! And the slashing throttle response of the thing, like a chainsaw.
I had to restrain myself in a mighty way driving to work this morning :-)
I'm a little surprised that this film hasn't spawned a whole sub-culture of filmed gonzo-runs through various urban centers with assorted exotica, but then, this guys was way lucky to survive this filming (nothing like blasting full-bore through untold redlights in the dawn's gray light at probably quadruple or more of the speed limit.) And to find a driver as obviously skillfull as this guy too.
PS, loved the cute ending, what a play on emotional contrast!
That furious V-12 howl is spine tingling, especially in tunnels and narrow streets where you can hear its shriek echoing off the walls, or the Valkerie wail down those long city boulevards at near 140mph -- now THAT'S what a performance engine should sound like! And the slashing throttle response of the thing, like a chainsaw.
I had to restrain myself in a mighty way driving to work this morning :-)
I'm a little surprised that this film hasn't spawned a whole sub-culture of filmed gonzo-runs through various urban centers with assorted exotica, but then, this guys was way lucky to survive this filming (nothing like blasting full-bore through untold redlights in the dawn's gray light at probably quadruple or more of the speed limit.) And to find a driver as obviously skillfull as this guy too.
PS, loved the cute ending, what a play on emotional contrast!
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Super Video indeed!
A Dutch car magazine once did a review on this film and and I remember there were some doubts about the attained speeds. The soundtrack was probably added afterwards. And there were thoughts on the driver having had helpers along the way, coming out of the Louvre for instance.
Whatever: he must have driven very, very fast and it was good to see the video again.
I still must have the magazine somewhere; I will try to look it up.
A Dutch car magazine once did a review on this film and and I remember there were some doubts about the attained speeds. The soundtrack was probably added afterwards. And there were thoughts on the driver having had helpers along the way, coming out of the Louvre for instance.
Whatever: he must have driven very, very fast and it was good to see the video again.
I still must have the magazine somewhere; I will try to look it up.
Team Mustang Source Legacy Member
Joined: September 2, 2004
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From: Las Vegas
There was a Japanese video several years ago where some owner mounted a camera in his F40 and did some serious speeds on the Japanese highways. I only saw a few seconds of that, but it was intense also. I can't wait to see this one. It's downloading now. 
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Found the magazine 
Curious journalists of AUTOVISIE, a leading Dutch Car Magazine, took out to reveal the secrets of this film. They discovered several things:
- The story of Claude Lelouch being arrested was never confirmed, but by Lelouch himself
- There supposedly was a helper at the exit of The Louvre with a walkie-talkie. Lelouch claimed the walkie-talkie never worked so The Louvre was exited in the blind
- If a Ferrari 275 GTB was used, you hear it winding through 5 gears and reaching top revs. That would mean some 150 mph. But it's clearly visible that other traffic is not passed with 150 mph. 75 mph seems more likely.
- the journalists measured the exact distance of the route used. Thus they were able to calculate the average speed: 78,1 kmh = 48.53 mph. Which is fast through a city, but not as fast as you're inclined to believe hearing the Ferrari's noises.
- they consulted several Ferrari specialists who conclude that the sound is from a V12 Ferrari. But: the gears being to close to each other for a 275 GTB. They insisted on a Sports-Prototype 330-P with 4.0 V12.
- Meaning the soundtrack was added afterwards
- in French Ferrari circles the word is that this film was taped from a camera on the front of a Renault-Alpine Berlinetta drive by Jean-Louis Schlesser.
- Notwithstanding all of the above: they did several runs in the night obeying just some of the traffic lights and their best time was 16 minutes and 27 seconds. In a modern Chrysler Crossfire 3.2 V6. Which is not like 7.50 minutes at all.
- So: the admiration for the driver in this film has only grown after all of their discoveries!
Curious journalists of AUTOVISIE, a leading Dutch Car Magazine, took out to reveal the secrets of this film. They discovered several things:
- The story of Claude Lelouch being arrested was never confirmed, but by Lelouch himself
- There supposedly was a helper at the exit of The Louvre with a walkie-talkie. Lelouch claimed the walkie-talkie never worked so The Louvre was exited in the blind
- If a Ferrari 275 GTB was used, you hear it winding through 5 gears and reaching top revs. That would mean some 150 mph. But it's clearly visible that other traffic is not passed with 150 mph. 75 mph seems more likely.
- the journalists measured the exact distance of the route used. Thus they were able to calculate the average speed: 78,1 kmh = 48.53 mph. Which is fast through a city, but not as fast as you're inclined to believe hearing the Ferrari's noises.
- they consulted several Ferrari specialists who conclude that the sound is from a V12 Ferrari. But: the gears being to close to each other for a 275 GTB. They insisted on a Sports-Prototype 330-P with 4.0 V12.
- Meaning the soundtrack was added afterwards
- in French Ferrari circles the word is that this film was taped from a camera on the front of a Renault-Alpine Berlinetta drive by Jean-Louis Schlesser.
- Notwithstanding all of the above: they did several runs in the night obeying just some of the traffic lights and their best time was 16 minutes and 27 seconds. In a modern Chrysler Crossfire 3.2 V6. Which is not like 7.50 minutes at all.
- So: the admiration for the driver in this film has only grown after all of their discoveries!
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From: Holland
Originally posted by 72grande@December 20, 2005, 9:26 PM
But it's clearly visible that other traffic is not passed with 150 mph. 75 mph seems more likely.
- the journalists measured the exact distance of the route used. Thus they were able to calculate the average speed: 78,1 kmh = 48.53 mph. Which is fast through a city, but not as fast as you're inclined to believe hearing the Ferrari's noises.
- in French Ferrari circles the word is that this film was taped from a camera on the front of a Renault-Alpine Berlinetta drive by Jean-Louis Schlesser.
But it's clearly visible that other traffic is not passed with 150 mph. 75 mph seems more likely.
- the journalists measured the exact distance of the route used. Thus they were able to calculate the average speed: 78,1 kmh = 48.53 mph. Which is fast through a city, but not as fast as you're inclined to believe hearing the Ferrari's noises.
- in French Ferrari circles the word is that this film was taped from a camera on the front of a Renault-Alpine Berlinetta drive by Jean-Louis Schlesser.
The fact that the alleged Ferrari used for the shot does not oversteer AT ALL, not even on cobblestone-paved roads, could be a hint that in fact a FWD car was used (i.e. the Renault Alpine). A friend of mine in Munich, Germany has a 275GTB and when I drove it it was fishtailing at the slightest pinch of the acceleration on wet asphalt roads.
Nevertheless, amazing video!
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Originally posted by Louie@December 21, 2005, 8:44 AM
... could be a hint that in fact a FWD car was used (i.e. the Renault Alpine). A friend of mine in Munich, Germany has a 275GTB and when I drove it it was fishtailing at the slightest pinch of the acceleration on wet asphalt roads.
Nevertheless, amazing video!
... could be a hint that in fact a FWD car was used (i.e. the Renault Alpine). A friend of mine in Munich, Germany has a 275GTB and when I drove it it was fishtailing at the slightest pinch of the acceleration on wet asphalt roads.
Nevertheless, amazing video!
A rallye winner in the seventies (including the Monte Carlo Rallye and the World Championship), a very agile car with rear mounted engine and rear wheel drive.
I have driven neither the Ferrari nor the Renault-Alpine, but I agree with you there is no visible oversteer.
But, as we have said before, the video is top
