Anyone driven through Paris in less than 10 minutes?
Paris, France. Where culture flourishes: the arts, the architecture, the cuisine, the fashion, the history, the romance. Oh yeah…and the fast cars.
Fast cars?…
Ok, let’s rewind back to 1976 (you know you want to!). You see, there was a famous short film produced that year called C’était un Rendezvous (roughly translated “It was a date”) featuring a very – shall we say – “brisk” drive through the streets of Paris. The film shows an approximately 9 minute high-speed run through Paris in the early morning hours (around 5:30 am), accompanied by sounds of a high-revving Ferrari engine, gear changes, and squealing tires.
It was produced by Claude Lelouch, who was also the driver of the car. The short film (less than 10 minutes in length) was shot in one take with a film camera mounted below the front bumper. As the car whisks through the Parisian streets, all manner of driving laws are ignored and this contributes to the “infamous” nature of this film. In fact, this mid-1970s film is credited by many to have started the “driving video” craze that we know today.
While the actual car was later revealed to be a Mercedes Benz 450SEL 6.9 (6.9 Liter V8 engine with automatic transmission) and the soundtrack dubbed with the Ferrari V12 engine sound (probably that of Lelouch’s own Ferrari 275 GTB), it nonetheless provides an exciting thrill for the viewer to witness.
Mercedes Benz 450SEL 6.9
Ferrari 275 GTB
Editor’s Note: Of course, for all the viewers out there, we must issue the following warning: Please do NOT try to replicate this drive in your town. Be smart. Drive safely. And use common sense. 🙂
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Back in school, I’m doing so much leanirng.