In the many hours I’ve spent reading and writing about cars online, I’ve found many really cool classic photos (my arbitrary definition of classic for this series will be anything shot before 1985), and I wanted to feature them. All of these photos are interesting, sometimes due to the car, the setting, the composition, the people, or all of those combined. These are obviously not my photos, and I only share them so others can appreciate them. If you own the rights to any of these photos and want them removed, let me know.
MAY 1957, ROME
Photo By Louis Klementaski
Starting off this series with a bang, with one of the greatest racing photos ever. Louis Klementaski was one of the best racing photographers of his era, who also drove and navigated in many races. He was a friend of the works Ferrari driver Peter Collins, and they competed in the Mille Miglia four times, with Klementaski riding shotgun and navigating. The Mille Miglia was Italy’s most important race, a 1,000-mile race from Rome to Brescia— flat out. This shot was taken during the 1957 Mille Miglia, from the cockpit of Collins’s Ferrari 335 S. Collins led early, but the driveshaft failed halfway through the race. The race was won by Piero Taruffi in another Ferrari. But the race is remembered for the tragic crash that killed Alfonso De Portago, his navigator, and nine spectators. The Mille Miglia was never held again. This shot perfectly captures the spirit of the Mille Miglia, as the sharply dressed Collins hustles his Ferrari around a hairpin while the passionate Italian spectators cheer him on. Klementaski was busy navigating during the race, but he managed to snap some photos on the more open sections of the route. The framing is the highlight of this photo, especially considering it was shot at speed with a manual exposure while turning into a corner. In Klementaski’s own words: “This is my favourite Ferrari photograph because it was of a Ferrari in action, taken from a Ferrari cockpit – and how much closer to the spirit of these wonderful cars can you get?”
NOVEMBER 1965, BONNEVILLE SALT FLATS
Photo By Michael Furman
When Goodyear and Craig Breedlove reserved the Bonneville salt flats for record runs in the “Spirit of America” jet car, they were told that if they didn’t run every day, they might have to give up the flats to someone else (possibly archrival Firestone). So they called Carroll Shelby and asked him to send a Daytona Cobra Coupe to break several records. The Daytona had not been used since last year’s Le Mans, so a new engine was installed. With Breedlove at the wheel, it hit 188 mph, faster than it ever went at Le Mans. Despite having almost no time to prepare, they broke 23 records, some of which had been held by Bugatti since the 1930s. In this photo, the Daytona stands out against an endless horizon of salt. The Daytona’s profile is perfectly captured. Shelby employees apparently thought the Daytona was ugly when they first saw it, but I don’t understand how anyone could think this car was anything but beautiful. I don’t know if this photo was thought out or shot in the moment, but it has certainly stood the test of time.
1966, LOS ANGELES
Photo By David Sutton
This shot is the definition of 60s cool, but the cars, the house, and James Coburn’s style are pretty timeless. Coburn was one of several famous 60’s actors who were also car guys, such as Steve McQueen, James Garner, and Paul Newman. Coburn supposedly introduced Steve McQueen to Ferrari, although some sources say it was the other way around. In this photo, he stands with his 250 Lusso and 250 California Spider. He kept the California Spider for over twenty years, repainting it three times. He owned several more Ferraris, including a 412P prototype racer. In 2008, the California Spider became the first car to ever sell publicly for over $10 million.
JANUARY 1972, MONTE CARLO
Photo By Unknown Photographer
Sandro Munari rips his Lancia Fulvia HF up the infamous Col De Turini stage at the Monte Carlo Rally. The little Fulvia was a surprisingly amazing rally car, thanks to its front-wheel-drive and front-heavy weight distribution, which gave it great traction on gravel and snow. 1972 was the Fulvia’s finest year, with Munari winning the Monte Carlo Rally and Lancia winning the World Championship for Makes (which was replaced by the World Rally Championship in 1973). While the Fulvia’s rivals in Monte Carlo were much more powerful, Munari and co-driver Mario Manucci survived the snowy conditions and won the rally by 12 minutes, beating Porsche, Alpine, and Datsun. Munari and Manucci won Monte Carlo three more times in the Lancia Stratos. They called Munari Il Drago (The Dragon) for a reason.
JANUARY 1967, MARANELLO
Photo By Peter Coltrin
Ferrari crushed the opposition at the 1967 Daytona 24 Hours, finishing 1-2-3 with two 330 P4s (the most beautiful racecar of all time in my eyes), and a 412 P. Enzo was so proud of the result that he apparently kept a photo of the finish in his office for the rest of his life. In this shot, mechanics at the Ferrari factory move the 330 P4s that have just returned from Daytona. The #23 of Amon/Bandini won the race, and the #24 of Scarfiotti/Parkes finished second. The P4s look just as good wearing their battle scars, and I love the mechanics’ matching outfits. As they move the P4s, they admire the spectacular coachwork. And how could you not?
JUNE 1970, LE MANS
Photo By Rainer W. Schelgelmilch
When Ferdinand Piech, the father of the 917, saw the “Hippie Car”, he said: “You know, a race car just has to be white.” Thankfully, designer Anatole Lapine disagreed and created Porsche’s most iconic racing liveries, including the psychedelic Hippie Car and the 917/20 “Pink Pig”. The 917 LH Hippie Car was driven at Le Mans in 1970 by Gerard Laurousse and Willi Khausen, finishing second. The Hippie Car was a hit with the fans, and it stole the spotlight in every photo it appeared in. I’m biased (the Hippie Car is my favorite racing livery ever), but in my opinion, Porsche’s designs were the best in this era, from their cars to their liveries to their posters. Even the font used for the drivers’ names on the roof still looks modern. This shot, by the great Rainer W. Schelgelmilch, shows why Le Mans at night is so magical. The crew moves around the 917 like ghosts, thanks to the long exposure. The lighting completes the ethereal feel of this photo (note the man in the top right corner lighting the front of the 917 with his flashlight). Great photos are often instantly recognizable, but the best reveal more when you really look at them. I hope you’ve enjoyed this first collection of photos.
