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Brian M. Afuang
May 30, 2019    |    

Hagerty celebrates 50 years of ‘The Italian Job’

As the Mini marks its 60th birthday

FOR car guys, “The Italian Job” featured one of the best — if not the best — opening scenes of a movie ever; a red Lamborghini Miura taking the endless twists and dips and crests of the Italian Alps at speed, complete with dashcam shots, and scored with the most suitable of soundtracks. True, the last glorious view of the Miura was when it entered a tunnel. Because it crashed onto a waiting bulldozer moments after this, and was then promptly ditched into a cliff. What a hit job.

And what an opening.

Hagerty

But the Miura simply served as the front act to the Mini’s performance. The red, white and blue Minis’ chase scene, where the cars tore through Turin’s buildings, streets, rooftops (including that of Fiat’s iconic Lingotto test track), church steps, sewers and rivers, before boarding a waiting covered bus, is a cinema classic.        

Classic car insurance firm Hagerty now launches an exclusive film to celebrate the “The Italian Job’s” 50th anniversary and the 60th year of the Mini. The new film, produced together with Stowe School, aims to keep the younger generations enthusiastic about classic cars. A Mini sourced by Hagerty in 2018 for Stowe School’s science department, which has since been completely rebuilt by Stowe students, is the star of the movie.

Hagerty
Hagerty

Shot on the school grounds during a holiday break, the movie depicts the escape of students who break into Stowe to steal exam papers.

The film is also a homage to Michael Deeley, producer of “Blade Runner,” “The Deer Hunter” and “The Italian Job.” Deeley also attended Stowe School.

Stowe has long been associated with classic cars. Ten years ago, the head of the school encouraged families owning classic cars to bring these to Speech Day, an event that celebrates the end of the academic year. Thirty-five cars arrived during that first outing. Since then classic cars have become the staple attraction of the event. The last edition saw more than 100 cars turning up.

These included Minis, of course.

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