Anyone seen the new Ford Puma commercial with Chad McQueen where they use film stock of Steve McQueen in "Bullitt"?
I've heard it's a real kicker, but since they don't sell the Puma in the USA, we can't have a look.
Full Version: Puma McQueen?
Chad McQueen?
The one I have seen, and that has been around for more than a year features Steve McQueen. As you say, it is featuring clips from the "Bullitt" movie. And you are right, it is a great commercial clip. The Puma is on the same San Francisco streets as the Mustang used to be, and they have done some clever computer-generation to make it look like Steve were driving the Puma.
Here is the pretty Ford Puma VK as a rallycar, seen in San Remo, Italy in 1999.
Rainer
The one I have seen, and that has been around for more than a year features Steve McQueen. As you say, it is featuring clips from the "Bullitt" movie. And you are right, it is a great commercial clip. The Puma is on the same San Francisco streets as the Mustang used to be, and they have done some clever computer-generation to make it look like Steve were driving the Puma.
Here is the pretty Ford Puma VK as a rallycar, seen in San Remo, Italy in 1999.
Rainer
The way I heard about it was from an interview with Chad McQueen at Goodwood. I understand Chad is doing some promotional work for Ford in connection with the Puma project. I'd still love to see the commercial.
My mother had taken me along shopping for the day in San Francisco and we noted that the streets had been barricaded off so we had to see what was going on. Well they were filming footage for the chase scene in Bullitt! Imagine my delight. Thanks for reminding me.
There is a site with a link to how they made the "McQueen" commercial. It's http://www.pumapeople.co.uk/index2.htm
Interesting reading.
Interesting reading.
Incidentally...McQueen did NOT do all the driving in the chase scenes.
Myth has it that he was THE driver....not true.
The piece where the (Charger?) ploughs into the servo and explodes...the driver of the Mustang was Steve's stunt-double.
Myth has it that he was THE driver....not true.
The piece where the (Charger?) ploughs into the servo and explodes...the driver of the Mustang was Steve's stunt-double.
Several bodies were imported into New Zealand to be built & sold as kit cars based on the Austin A35. Two cars were originally built & raced in the New Zealand Grand Prix in 1959. One car apparently stayed in the Auckland area while the other ended up up in the lower North Island being raced regularly at the Levin circuit.
No cars raced in the NZ Grand Prix in 1959 or any other year.
I attended every Levin race meeting from 1959 until the circuit closed (1976?) and don't remember any Puma racing there (apart from the "works" car in 1959) - and certainly not regularly.
But they were very pretty little things - without flared wings and modern wheels
No cars raced in the NZ Grand Prix in 1959 or any other year.
I attended every Levin race meeting from 1959 until the circuit closed (1976?) and don't remember any Puma racing there (apart from the "works" car in 1959) - and certainly not regularly.
But they were very pretty little things - without flared wings and modern wheels
Thanks David....interesting stuff. So what does Levin get used for these days?? It hasn't been bulldozed for housing AFAIK.... 
QUOTE (David McKinney @ Sep 3 2007, 10:23) 
Several bodies were imported into New Zealand to be built & sold as kit cars based on the Austin A35. Two cars were originally built & raced in the New Zealand Grand Prix in 1959. One car apparently stayed in the Auckland area while the other ended up up in the lower North Island being raced regularly at the Levin circuit.
No cars raced in the NZ Grand Prix in 1959 or any other year.
I attended every Levin race meeting from 1959 until the circuit closed (1976?) and don't remember any Puma racing there (apart from the "works" car in 1959) - and certainly not regularly.
But they were very pretty little things - without flared wings and modern wheels
No cars raced in the NZ Grand Prix in 1959 or any other year.
I attended every Levin race meeting from 1959 until the circuit closed (1976?) and don't remember any Puma racing there (apart from the "works" car in 1959) - and certainly not regularly.
But they were very pretty little things - without flared wings and modern wheels
Any photos of the original Puma's?, I've just bought a body that was apparently based on an A35 , was supposed to be on the road back in the late '50's, and was called a Puma. It would be good to know if this is one of the originals or if it was a copy! The guy I got it off thought it was a bit short and narrow so he has widened and lengthened the body, but you can see where he added bits so it could be put back to the correct diamensions. It looks a bit like a miniature Cobra, no opening doors, but its so low you wouldnt need them anyway. Any info or old pics would be a great help
Steve
Steve
PM me your email address and I'll send you one
PM me your email address and I'll send you one
This is a "lo-fi" version of our main content. To view the full version with more information, formatting and images, please click here.