My 'Dark Horse'

With the launch of the new Ashes to Ashes Police television series, our screens will once again be graced by the classic Audi Quattro that has become synonymous with the character Gene Hunt and his high speed chases. This isn’t the first time however that a vintage wonder has graced the huge screen – many films such as The Blues Brothers, The French Connection, Bullit and Robbery have all included a gripping automobile chase scene with motors that are even more mesmerizing.

The 1980’s film The Blues Brothers was a hit with both men and women, which was surprising considering it, was a musical. According to Supanet.com, the male interest in the film could be traced to the “ridiculously over the top automobile chase” which saw the Blues Brothers hit speeds of 100mph in the infamous 1974 Dodge Monaco.

The term French Connection recommends style and fashion which is exactly how you can describe the Pontiac Le Mans, which makes an appearance in the classic film, The French Connection. Suplanet.com has reported that “few films that won the Ideal Picture Oscar contained a automobile chase, let alone one as brilliant as this”. In my opinion, the film could have won an Oscar just on the 1971 Pontiac Le Mans that featured in the chase scene, as it glided through the streets of New York with assist and sophistication.

Considering the film Robbery was prefabricated in 1967, the chase feels surprisingly fast and modern, with hefty Jags bobbing through the streets in this action thriller. The two vintage Jaguars that were the stars of one of the most memorable chase scenes were the Jaguar Mark II and the Jaguar S-Type, which help to emphasise the division between speed and static – helping to propel the action.

Actors don’t get much cooler than Steve McQueen, so it’s expected that he drives around in an equally cool car. The Ford Mustang 390 CID Fastback was the automobile used to equilibrise out the cool that McQueen oozed in the 1968 film Bullitt. The chase scene in this classic film might not be as visually perfect as modern day films, but it’s held its rightful place as one of cinema’s ideal chases due to its cool style and attention to detail.