ONLOOKERS could have been forgiven for thinking they were in Turin rather than Stratford.
Some of the most memorable scenes from The Italian Job were recreated ahead of this year’s Stratford Festival of Motoring – which is themed on the iconic 1969 film.
Three classic Minis were snapped around Stratford, including the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, ahead of the return of the annual festival on the early May bank holiday weekend (Sunday and Monday May 6 and 7).
The red, white and blue minis Minis were a nod to cars used by Charlie Croker’s gang to make their getaway after stealing millions of pounds worth of gold in one of the most memorable car chases in movie history.
While Stratford’s streets are a long way from Turin, where most of The Italian Job was filmed and set, one scene – the chase through the sewer tunnel – was shot in the Sowe Valley Sewer Duplication system just down the road in Stoke Aldermoor, Coventry.
There won’t be any car chases through Straford’s streets but the Festival of Motoring will see more than 300 vehicles lining up on the town’s streets after a tour through the surrounding countryside followed by a lap of honour.
This year they will include plenty of Italian Job-inspired vehicles, including Minis and Italian supercars.
The free festival will also feature plenty of other family fun.
Local car dealership Listers returns as sponsor for the sixth annual festival, and will be showing off their vehicles on Bancroft Gardens near to the Encore Hotel as well as on Bridge Street.
Ruth Wood, events manager at Stratforward, said: “What better theme for this year’s Festival of Motoring than one of the best known car-themed films ever. We couldn’t quite stretch to car chases through the streets of Stratford, but we managed to recreate a few scenes from the film to get people in the mood for a weekend of Italian Job-inspired fun.
“The Festival of Motoring is always a great success, bringing car fans from across the region and beyond to see an array of vehicles both old and new, and gives us a chance to showcase Stratford-upon-Avon in a unique way.”
