Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Ernest Hemingway's Chrysler New Yorker restoration to be chronicled in documentary]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/20/ernest-hemingways-chrysler-new-yorker-restoration-to-be-chronic/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/20/ernest-hemingways-chrysler-new-yorker-restoration-to-be-chronic/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/20/ernest-hemingways-chrysler-new-yorker-restoration-to-be-chronic/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Hemingway's Chrysler New Yorker Convertible

The last car Ernest Hemingway ever owned was a 1955 Chrysler New Yorker Convertible. After the legendary writer shot himself in 1961, the car effectively vanished from public view. Unbeknownst to the rest of the world, the convertible was in Cuba, getting passed around between the members of one family. Some 50 years after Hemingway died, a determined writer unearthed the car and began the laborious process of restoring it to its former glory. Here in the States, that would be as simple as calling up the local parts store and doing some quick ordering, but the US trade embargo against Cuba put a crimp in that plan.

The documentary Cuban Soul follows writer David Soul as he attempts to overcome the embargo and get the car back on the road with more than a little help from the ingenious craftsmen on the island. You can check out the trailer for the film below. The project is in need of generous supporters, so head over to the Red Earth Studio site to learn how you can lend a hand.

Continue reading Ernest Hemingway's Chrysler New Yorker restoration to be chronicled in documentary

Ernest Hemingway's Chrysler New Yorker restoration to be chronicled in documentary originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Mar 2013 12:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1955 chrysler new yorker convertiblechryslerchrysler new yorkercubacuban souldavid souldocumentaryernest hemingwayhemingway chrysler new yorkernew yorker convertibleWed, 20 Mar 2013 12:44:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20510136/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/20/ernest-hemingways-chrysler-new-yorker-restoration-to-be-chronic/20510136/article-detail.xml 20510136 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/hemingways-chrysler-new-yorker-convertible-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/hemingways-chrysler-new-yorker-convertible-628.jpg <![CDATA[Amazing dwarf car documentary teased]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/05/amazing-dwarf-car-documentary-teased/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/05/amazing-dwarf-car-documentary-teased/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/05/amazing-dwarf-car-documentary-teased/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Ernie Adams and his amazing dwarf cars - video screencap

It's hard to tell without another car for reference, but in the image above, 72-year-old Ernie Adams is driving a very small car. Actually, the technical name is a "dwarf car," a road-legal nearly-perfect replica of a full-sized car, and Adams built it from scratch. He's been building dwarf cars since 1965 - all of them from scratch, by hand. Adams was apparently the first to do it, and along the way he created the first dwarf race car and, unintentionally, the dwarf car racing series.

Working on his property in Arizona, Adams is still building them, and Jeff Diehl has put together a documentary on the man and his fantastic little creations. Adams was once the editor of a magazine called Dwarf Car Racer, so he knows the subject well. You can have a watch of the trailer for the doc below, it's an eye popper when you see Adams on the road in traffic. For an even fuller picture, check out the second Hemmings link to a magazine piece on Adams and his toys.

Continue reading Amazing dwarf car documentary teased

Amazing dwarf car documentary teased originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Feb 2013 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>classic carsdocumentarydwarf carernie adamshomebuilt carhomemade carjeff diehltrailervideoTue, 05 Feb 2013 19:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20448493/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/02/05/amazing-dwarf-car-documentary-teased/20448493/article-detail.xml 20448493 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/dwarfcardoc_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/dwarfcardoc.jpg <![CDATA[Movie Review: <em>Black Air: The Buick Grand National Documentary</em>]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/06/movie-review-black-air-the-buick-grand-national-documentar/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/06/movie-review-black-air-the-buick-grand-national-documentar/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/06/movie-review-black-air-the-buick-grand-national-documentar/#commentsFiled under: ,



As Buick currently claws and scratches its way back into relevance to compete against luxury brands like Lexus and Acura, it's hard to believe that not too long ago, the brand had a car that was mentioned in the same breath as Corvette, Lamborghini and Ferrari. That car? None other than the Buick Grand National. All black with a turbocharged V6 and some of the quickest acceleration of its time, the Grand National, in today's standards, is along the lines of a 2013 Shelby GT500 with both cars essentially being a working man's supercar.

The last Grand National rolled off the assembly line in Flint, MI on December 11, 1987, and to mark the silver anniversary of that somber occasion, Black Air is a documentary of the Grand National from the perspective of the enthusiast, the collector, the media and even from those at General Motors responsible for creating such a sinister legend. Like the car itself, Andrew Filippone Jr. shoots the documentary in a raw fashion, and it definitely helps to show why a low-volume muscle car from the 1980s is still the object of obsession for many automotive enthusiasts to this day.

Continue reading Movie Review: Black Air: The Buick Grand National Documentary

Movie Review: Black Air: The Buick Grand National Documentary originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 06 Dec 2012 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>black airbuickcar moviesdocumentarygnxgrand nationalmovie reviewreviewThu, 06 Dec 2012 15:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20393374/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/12/06/movie-review-black-air-the-buick-grand-national-documentar/20393374/article-detail.xml 20393374 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/blackair_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/blackair.jpg <![CDATA[Flyin' Miata gets the documentary treatment]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/10/flyin-miata-gets-the-documentary-treatment/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/10/flyin-miata-gets-the-documentary-treatment/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/10/flyin-miata-gets-the-documentary-treatment/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Flyin Miata at Targa Newfoundland

It's been nearly a year since Flyin' Miata took two cars to the Targa Newfoundland. As you may recall, I got to tag along and do my best to get the supercharged Grand Touring entry as lost as possible. While we were there, one very dedicated film crew followed us from stage to stage, thereby documenting our various triumphs and defeats for a feature-length film. Packed with lots of in-stage footage, interviews with crew as well as fans of both Flyin' Miata and the Targa Newfoundland, the show finds itself on footing with the likes of Truth in 24 and From Dust to Glory.

I spend a bit of time on screen trying to explain what it's like to drown under a league of time-speed-distance calculations, but don't let that be a deterrent. The movie does a stellar job of conveying exactly what it's like to compete in one of the most unique motorsports endeavors on the planet. You can check out the preview for Racing the Rock below or head over to Flyin' Miata to purchase your DVD copy. Keep an eye out for it to show up on iTunes and BluRay later down the line.

Continue reading Flyin' Miata gets the documentary treatment

Flyin' Miata gets the documentary treatment originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 18:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>documentaryflyin+miataflyini miataflyinmiatamazdamazda miatamiatamovieracing the rocktarga newfoundlandtarga newfoundland documentaryvideoFri, 10 Aug 2012 18:39:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20298417/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/08/10/flyin-miata-gets-the-documentary-treatment/20298417/article-detail.xml 20298417 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/flyin-miata-targa-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/flyin-miata-targa-628.jpg <![CDATA[Buick Regal Grand National documentary <i>Black Air</i> coming in August]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/19/buick-regal-grand-national-documentary-black-air-coming-i/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/19/buick-regal-grand-national-documentary-black-air-coming-i/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/19/buick-regal-grand-national-documentary-black-air-coming-i/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



Black Air, the documentary on the Buick Grand National, is set for release on December 11 of this year. On August 4, however, the first 20 minutes of the film will be screened at the at the national meet of the Buick Performance Group in Hebron, Ohio.

The film, by Andrew Fillipone, Jr., looks at a car that is as much of an anomaly now as it was during the years it was built, from 1984 to 1987. The Regal Grand National, a boxy black coupe that still sported Buick portholes emitting the superheated air from a 3.8-liter turbocharged V6, had little to say to its brethren like the Buick Century, Skylark and Park Avenue. And any speaking it did do was usually centered around tire smoke and bystanders gasping, "Golly..."

You can watch the trailer below. And if you're near the National Trail Raceway in Hebron, Ohio on August 4, you know whose party to crash.

Continue reading Buick Regal Grand National documentary Black Air coming in August

Buick Regal Grand National documentary Black Air coming in August originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Jul 2012 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>andrew filippone jr.black airbuickbuick regal grand nationaldocumentarygnxgrand nationalmoviesregalregal grand nationaltrailervideoThu, 19 Jul 2012 14:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20281219/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/07/19/buick-regal-grand-national-documentary-black-air-coming-i/20281219/article-detail.xml 20281219 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/gnmoviepreview_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/gnmoviepreview.jpg <![CDATA[Station Wagons: The Documentary?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/21/station-wagons-the-documentary/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/21/station-wagons-the-documentary/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/21/station-wagons-the-documentary/#commentsFiled under: , ,



It's no secret that the Autoblog corporate offices are teeming with station wagon fans. Give us the choice between a 1965 Buick SportWagon and a brand new Ferrari, and, well, we'll choose the Ferrari every time. But we still like the wagons.

So with excitement we watched the trailer (video available below) for "Wagonmasters," a documentary by a couple of Wake Forest University students covering the iconic American station wagon. The trailer begins with shots of a 1966 Pontiac GTO wagon, which, despite its absolute hotness, was never actually built by GM. The white-hot grocery-getter looks to be a GTO wagon recreation owned by Rocky Boyles in Raleigh, N.C.

It's an easily forgiven blooper that hopefully doesn't portend a disappointing documentary. A little less easily overlooked is an uncredited quote used in the trailer that says, "The wagon is a thing of the past and I doubt will ever be produced again." How about the Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon? BMW 328i Sports Wagon? VW Jetta Sportwagen?

The documentary's official website says the film "offers glimpses into the lives of such wagon enthusiasts, and tells the story of the station wagon as it represents a changing America over the last one hundred years." Despite the possibility of flaws, we'll hold our final judgement until after the film is screened July 28 at this year's Concours d'Elegance of America in Plymouth, Mich.

Continue reading Station Wagons: The Documentary?

Station Wagons: The Documentary? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Jun 2012 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>concours delegance of americadocumentarygto+safarigto+wagongtosafarigtowagonstation wagonvideowagonmasterswagonswake forest universitywake+forest+movie+about+station+wagonswakeforestmovieaboutstationwagonsThu, 21 Jun 2012 11:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20261076/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/06/21/station-wagons-the-documentary/20261076/article-detail.xml 20261076 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/wagonmasters-grab_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/wagonmasters-grab.jpg <![CDATA[Audi releases first <i>Truth in 24 II</i> trailer]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/27/audi-releases-first-truth-in-24-ii-trailer/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/27/audi-releases-first-truth-in-24-ii-trailer/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/27/audi-releases-first-truth-in-24-ii-trailer/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Truth in 24 II Trailer

Three years ago, Audi released the documentary Truth in 24 highlighting its three-car effort at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Despite the Four Ring's success at the race in the last decade, they were undoubtedly the underdogs to the much faster Peugeot teams that year, making for a Hollywood-like ending when Audi managed to take home the victory with teamwork and a little help from the weather.

The first film was such a success that Audi announced earlier this year that they would release Truth in 24 II, once again featuring their three-car team battling Peugeot at the world's most famous endurance race. We're fully expecting the film to be packed with drama, as last year's 24 Hours of Le Mans was one of the most action-packed and closest races of all time. Two bad crashes ended the race for two of the Audi teams, leaving a single R18 TDI to battle the Peugeots.

Sadly, with Peugeot having pulled out of the sport quite suddenly in January, it will also be the last such battle at Le Mans for the foreseeable future - all the more reason to watch the documentary when it comes out in a few weeks. For now we just have the trailer, which you can watch by scrolling below.

Continue reading Audi releases first Truth in 24 II trailer

Audi releases first Truth in 24 II trailer originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 Apr 2012 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>24 hours of le mansaudiaudi documentarydocumentaryle manspeugeottrailertruth in 24truth in 24 iitruth in 24 ii trailertruth in 24 trailervideoFri, 27 Apr 2012 12:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20225299/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/04/27/audi-releases-first-truth-in-24-ii-trailer/20225299/article-detail.xml 20225299 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/truth-in-24-ii-trailer_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/truth-in-24-ii-trailer.jpg <![CDATA[Chevy releases mini-doc on Camaro5 Fest 2011]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/19/chevy-releases-mini-doc-on-camaro5-fest-2011/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/19/chevy-releases-mini-doc-on-camaro5-fest-2011/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/19/chevy-releases-mini-doc-on-camaro5-fest-2011/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Last year Chevrolet aimed cameras at the the 150 Camaros making the drive to Phoenix for Camaro5 Fest. The footage has been pieced together into a ten-minute documentary called Alter Ego, a celebration of owners in celebration of their cars.

It's more than that, though, since it pauses to take a look at the model that made the Camaro name, and the annus horribilus of 2002 when Camaro production ceased.

There's also lots of tire smoke. Naturally. Scroll down to watch.

Continue reading Chevy releases mini-doc on Camaro5 Fest 2011

Chevy releases mini-doc on Camaro5 Fest 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 17:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alter egocamarocamaro5camaro5 festcamarofestchevroletdocumentaryvideovideosyoutubeThu, 19 Apr 2012 17:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20217704/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/04/19/chevy-releases-mini-doc-on-camaro5-fest-2011/20217704/article-detail.xml 20217704 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/camaro5festdoc_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/camaro5festdoc.jpg <![CDATA[Watch this mini-documentary about Viper's domination of early ALMS]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/11/watch-this-mini-documentary-about-vipers-domination-of-early-al/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/11/watch-this-mini-documentary-about-vipers-domination-of-early-al/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/11/watch-this-mini-documentary-about-vipers-domination-of-early-al/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



If you were confused when we chose the 2013 SRT Viper GTS-R ALMS race car as the second-best debut (behind the 2013 SRT Viper production car itself) at the 2012 New York Auto Show, then maybe you're not familiar with the Viper's racing pedigree. Fortunately, the American Le Mans Series has produced this excellent mini documentary that helps explain why the Viper's return to racing is a very big deal.

While the Viper had been racing in various series both domestic and international before entering the inaugural season of ALMS in 1999, it began a streak in this fledgeling North American motorsport that was, in a word, dominant. During the 1999 season, Team Oreca won six ALMS races in a row in the GTS class with their Viper GTS-R racecar. The only reason the team didn't sweep the eight-race season is because they missed the first two races. Team Oreca and the original Viper GTS-R came close to sweeping the 2000 season, though, winning eight of ten races, only falling twice to their arch rivals from Corvette Racing. Their winning streak spanned two seasons and 12 consecutive races. They also won their class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1998, 1999 and 2000.

Unfortunately, factory support for the program ended in 2001 and the Viper's dominance quickly evaporated as private teams could not match Team Oreca's OEM-backed success. Still, under the wing of Team Oreca and backed by Dodge, the Viper GTS-R amassed an impressive record of 16 race wins in 18 starts. And that's why the car's return to ALMS' GT class is a very big deal. Check out the video after the jump.

Continue reading Watch this mini-documentary about Viper's domination of early ALMS

Watch this mini-documentary about Viper's domination of early ALMS originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Apr 2012 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>almsamerican le mans seriesdocumentarydodgedodge viperorecasrtvideoviperviper gts-rviper srt-10viper srt10Wed, 11 Apr 2012 16:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20212646/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/04/11/watch-this-mini-documentary-about-vipers-domination-of-early-al/20212646/article-detail.xml 20212646 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/viper-gts-r-alms-2_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/viper-gts-r-alms-2.jpg <![CDATA[Audi reveals Truth in 24 II is coming]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/29/audi-reveals-truth-in-24-ii-is-coming/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/29/audi-reveals-truth-in-24-ii-is-coming/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/29/audi-reveals-truth-in-24-ii-is-coming/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Audi took the NFL Films crew to the 2008 running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and with the footage gathered created the rather excellent documentary Truth in 24 (it's still free to view on iTunes and YouTube). It turns out Audi took a crew to last year's race as well, and soon we'll be treated to the sequel, Truth in 24 II.

We'll assume Audi had no idea how exciting that race would end up being, with Allan McNish in one of three R18 Ultras flipping out - literally - just two hours in, and a second Audi crashing out six hours later. After a battle of fuel, tires and pit stops the fight with the Peugeot 908s went to the last lap, making the 2011 race the fourth closest Le Mans run in 79 editions.

A forum member at Ten-Tenths said "The film should be finalised over the next 8 weeks" and that it will deal much more with the race than the backstory. If that timing is correct, it should come just in time to get us ready for this year's running.

Audi reveals Truth in 24 II is coming originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Mar 2012 09:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>24 heures du mans24 hours of le mansaudidocumentarymotorsportsmovietruth in 24truth in 24 2truth in 24 iiThu, 29 Mar 2012 09:33:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20202451/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/03/29/audi-reveals-truth-in-24-ii-is-coming/20202451/article-detail.xml 20202451 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/truthin24ii_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/truthin24ii.jpg <![CDATA[Illegal Detroit scavengers use machines that help build city to tear it down]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/23/illegal-detroit-scavengers-use-machines-that-help-build-city-to/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/23/illegal-detroit-scavengers-use-machines-that-help-build-city-to/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/23/illegal-detroit-scavengers-use-machines-that-help-build-city-to/#commentsFiled under:



The two documentarians who made the Oscar-nominated Jesus Camp, Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady, have turned their cameras on Detroit, feeling it "may well be a harbinger of things to come for the rest of the country." In an excerpt of their new documentary, called Dismantling Detroit, Ewing and Grady look at a group of men who use American metal, in the form of vans and pickup trucks, to dismantle American metal, in the form of Detroit buildings.

The point is to get to scrap metal, and scavenging trade that has led to issues like power outages when thieves cut telephone lines to get to the copper. The men in Dismantling are likewise said to be engaged in illegal activity, but the results of their activity seem to be no more than one less abandoned building on the block.

Head to the The New York Times or YouTube to watch the clip and listen to a few other Detroiters' takes on what might be happening, and why. Fair warning, the video contains some explicit, Not Safe For Work language.

The documentary will premiere at this year's Sundance Film Festival.

Illegal Detroit scavengers use machines that help build city to tear it down originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>copper theftdetroitdetroit documentarydismantling detroitdocumentaryheidi ewingnsfwpickerspickingrachel gradyscrapscrap metalsundanceMon, 23 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20153673/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/23/illegal-detroit-scavengers-use-machines-that-help-build-city-to/20153673/article-detail.xml 20153673 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/detroitsteeldoc_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/detroitsteeldoc.jpg <![CDATA[<i>Senna</i> races to the top with best documentary debut of the year]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/17/senna-races-to-the-top-with-best-documentary-debut-of-the/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/17/senna-races-to-the-top-with-best-documentary-debut-of-the/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/17/senna-races-to-the-top-with-best-documentary-debut-of-the/#commentsFiled under:

Senna

Still haven't managed to see Senna? Then you are, first of all, missing out, because it's one of the all-time great racing films in the history of cinema. You're also part of a narrowing group of outsiders, as moviegoers flock to see Asif Kapadia's masterpiece in greater numbers than any other documentary this year.

According to Indiewire, Senna, which opened at just two theaters (one in New York and one in Los Angeles) brought in a whopping $73,497 on opening weekend. That's split between $40,713 in LA and $32,784 in New York, according to reports, for a handsome average of $36,749 per theater.

Those are numbers worthy of the greatest driver in the greatest era of the greatest spectacle in motor racing the world has ever known. And as befits the late, great Ayrton Senna whom the film depicts, it doesn't look like it'll be slowing down any time soon.

Senna races to the top with best documentary debut of the year originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Aug 2011 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asif kapadiaayrton sennadocumentaryopening weekendrecordsennasenna documentarysenna movieWed, 17 Aug 2011 08:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20019170/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/08/17/senna-races-to-the-top-with-best-documentary-debut-of-the/20019170/article-detail.xml 20019170 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/sennamovieposter-630op_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/sennamovieposter-630op.jpg <![CDATA[CNBC to air hour-long report on BMW]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/11/cnbc-to-air-hour-long-report-on-bmw/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/11/cnbc-to-air-hour-long-report-on-bmw/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/11/cnbc-to-air-hour-long-report-on-bmw/#commentsFiled under: , ,



CNBC will air an hour-long program this Wednesday on the brand behind the roundel called "BMW: A Driving Obsession," which the news channel bills as "the fascinating story behind a once small, struggling company that transformed itself into a global luxury car powerhouse." The four featured highlights will take looks at BMW World, art cars, the BMW tech center and Rolls-Royce.

The page's breathless descriptions - "...where every dimension of the cars and company is engineered in search of perfection" - make us think this might be more for the casual car follower, not the enthusiast, but it's safe to say our DVRs will be reporting for duty come showtime.

The program gets four airings this Wednesday, July 13 starting at 9 p.m.t EST, but you can get previews now with a few extra-feature videos already on the CNBC site.

CNBC to air hour-long report on BMW originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Jul 2011 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bmwcablecnbcdocumentaryprogramtelevisionMon, 11 Jul 2011 08:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19987267/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/07/11/cnbc-to-air-hour-long-report-on-bmw/19987267/article-detail.xml 19987267 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/bmwintrov2-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/bmwintrov2-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Ford turnaround featured in CNBC documentary this Wednesday]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/11/09/ford-turnaround-featured-in-cnbc-documentary-this-wednesday/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/11/09/ford-turnaround-featured-in-cnbc-documentary-this-wednesday/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/11/09/ford-turnaround-featured-in-cnbc-documentary-this-wednesday/#commentsFiled under: ,

CNBCCNBC is delving into the rebirth of Ford as an automotive force to be reckoned with in a new documentary called "Rebuilding an American Icon." The show will take viewers behind the scenes at the Blue Oval to see how the company managed to navigate through the automotive implosion of 2009. While the documentary will feature the usual raft of interviews with executives, CNBC says that it was allowed deep access to the company's day-to-day workings, and even followed the engineers responsible for breathing new life into the Explorer.

Additionally, CNBC says the program takes the time to focus on the stout competition facing Ford as it moves forward, including cars from the likes of Kia and Hyundai.

"Rebuilding an American Icon" debuts on Wednesday, November 10th at 9 p.m. ET, though it will rebroadcast at 10 p.m., 12 a.m. and 1 a.m. should you happen to miss it.

[Source: CNBC]

Ford turnaround featured in CNBC documentary this Wednesday originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Nov 2010 08:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cnbcdocumentaryfordford documentaryrebuildng an american icon documentaryTue, 09 Nov 2010 08:26:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19707575/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/11/09/ford-turnaround-featured-in-cnbc-documentary-this-wednesday/19707575/article-detail.xml 19707575 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/11/cnbc-250_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/11/cnbc-250.jpg <![CDATA[Report: Documentary on closure of Ohio GM plant earns Oscar nomination [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/05/report-documentary-on-closure-of-ohio-gm-plant-earns-oscar-nomi/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/05/report-documentary-on-closure-of-ohio-gm-plant-earns-oscar-nomi/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/05/report-documentary-on-closure-of-ohio-gm-plant-earns-oscar-nomi/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

HBO Documentaries' "The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant" - click above to watch video

Workers at General Motors' Moraine Assembly plant thought they had a couple years. That's what former company CEO Rick Wagoner had said when he announced the eventual shutdown of the plant back in June of 2008. Workers were expecting to continue building Chevrolet Trailblazers, GMC Envoys, and Saab 9-7Xs until 2010. While not good news, it was tempered by the timeline, allowing workers to search for alternate employment without as much panic.

That's not how things played out, however. In October 2008, it was announced that the last day for Moraine Assembly would be December 23 of that year. Merry Christmas. HBO Documentaries' The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant is an in-depth look at the effect the wind-down takes on the workers and their community. The film looks beautifully produced with a story woven in the compelling words of humanity. We're not the only ones who think so, either. It has been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Short. There's a promo video after the jump so you can see what we're on about, and be sure to check HBO's schedule to see when it will air again.

[Source: The Detroit News]

Continue reading Report: Documentary on closure of Ohio GM plant earns Oscar nomination [w/video]

Report: Documentary on closure of Ohio GM plant earns Oscar nomination [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gearheads that hear the name Tribeca are as likely to think of a Subaru crossover as the Manhattan neighborhood. But this year the Triangle Below Canal street was infused with a heavy dose of octane as Racing Dreams wowed the crowds at the Tribeca Film Festival. The documentary, directed by Marshall Curry and produced by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, profiles three aspiring racing drivers in their teens as they work their way up through the karting ranks on their way to NASCAR. If you're getting cheesy visions of Randy Quaid coaching a little-league Days of Thunder, think again: Racing Dreams was deemed such a masterfully crafted cinematic journey that it was awarded Best Documentary Feature at the festival and voted the second best film overall by the audience, commanding repeat screenings to meet viewer demand. We'll look forward to catching the film ourselves, but in the meantime invite you to view the promotional festival trailer after the jump.

[Sources: Tribeca Film | Image: Bryan Bedder/Getty]

Continue reading Karting documentary Racing Dreams takes top honors at Tribeca film festival

Karting documentary Racing Dreams takes top honors at Tribeca film festival originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 May 2009 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Truly great racing films are few and far between. Steve McQueen was responsible for more than his fair share, Grand Prix has its charm, and we're sure there'll be plenty more classics mentioned in our comments section below. But the pantheon of motorsport pictures is set to grow over the course of the next couple of years. First came word that Tobey McGuire signed on to play (and produce) the late, great Phil Hill in The Limit. Now reports emerge of another potentially great film to put the "motion" into motion pictures.

Although details are few and far between at this stage, the as-yet-untitled documentary on the life of Ayrton Senna is scheduled for release some time next year. The film is being orchestrated by British director Asif Kapadia, produced by Working Title Films (the studio behind such contemporary hits as Smokin' Aces and Frost/Nixon as well as several of the Coen brothers' films) and benefits from the full cooperation of the Senna family and the Ayrton Senna Institute. Before you go scratching your head raw trying to figure out who will play the gone-but-not-forgotten three-time world champion F1 driver, we'll point out that the film will be constructed from original footage, including some never-before-seen reels of the champion.

[Source: NYTimes Wheels | Image: Pascal Rondeau/Getty]

REPORT: Ayrton Senna documentary starts rolling originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Click above to view video after the jump

As enthusiasts, we sometimes make the mistake of referring to Honda as a car company. Honda started out as a motorcycle manufacturer, and now makes everything from generators to IRL engines to robots. The Japanese automaker has produced a series of short films to give the rest of the world a better idea of what it's all about. There are three videos so far, and the latest of these short documentary-style productions is about Honda's unique view of failure. The video, titled "Failure: The Secret to Success," provides insight into the thought process of company founder Soichiro Honda, and how he viewed failure as a means to winning. It also shows how much Honda, a successful car company by all accounts, has failed in the past and what it's learned from those missteps. Have you ever seen an orange 1996 Civic? Neither have we, and you'll know why when you watch the video after the jump.

The short film includes appearances by racing team chiefs, designers, engineers, and the one and only Danica Patrick. The video is just over eight minutes long, and it's available to view after the jump. It's worth your time whether you love the big H or not.

[Source: Honda]

Continue reading VIDEO: Honda's strategy of winning through failure

VIDEO: Honda's strategy of winning through failure originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Episode 30 of the Ford Bold Moves documentary has just been released. It's the final episode in this long series of short videos that has chronicled Ford and its journey down the Way Forward path since the middle of last year. No doubt by this time the producers had hoped to show a triumphant Mark Fields, mullet blowing in the wind, declaring directly into the camera that he had, indeed, shown this company the way forward. Looks like they ran out of tape before that could happen, so episode 30 turns its lens towards the Showroom of the Future event that Ford held for its own employees and the media last month. You'll see what we saw inside of Cobo Arena where about two dozen future Ford, Lincoln and Mercury products are shown hanging out under white sheets. We think Ford should just yank the sheets off for everyone to see and get an honest thumbs up or down reaction from the public. That way they can judge if they are heading down the wrong path and still have time to turn around if needs be. Regardless, episode 30 is meant as a morale booster for any Blue Oval fan. There's just something about Fields staring into the camera and passionately exclaiming "We can do this" that makes me want to run out and score a touchdown.

[Source: Ford Bold Moves]

End Scene: Final episode of Ford Bold Moves documentary originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Jan 2007 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford's Rouge plant is an icon in automotive manufacturing, having at one time built the Model A, military warcraft after WWI and during WWII, 40 years of the Mustang and currently the F-150. It's over 100 years old, but you wouldn't know it while on a tour of the facility. Ford has revamped Rouge to be a cutting edge manufacturing plant, not only with all the latest high-tech production processes, but also with a lot of green technology to lower the plant's impact on the environment. The best example of this is the plant's living roof, the largest of its kind in the world, that filters storm water running into the Rouge River, keeps the plant cool and protects the roof. We haven't taken a tour of the facility yet ourselves, but Episode 25 of the Ford Bold Moves web documentary is the next best thing to actually getting of our duffs and driving to Detroit.

[Source: Ford Bold Moves]

Ford Bold Moves - Episode 25: A little bit of Rouge originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Dec 2006 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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