Drive it like you sold it: 6 epic car commercial locations
Grand Pacific Drive, Sydney Photo Silas Baisch / Unsplash
Today’s car commercials are computer-generated fantasies, blandly mindful of not upsetting the advertising authorities by glamourising speed. Only a few years ago it was very different with cars and crews being flown to the most exotic locations to create memorable mini movies that would sell, sell, sell. Here are six of our favourite spots and where to find them on the map.
Chapman’s Peak, South Africa
This amazing, cliff-hugging drive out of Cape Town has been the scene of many a car shoot to show how numerous cars hug the curves. Mercedes-Benz chose a slightly different route, deciding to depict the true story of what happens should you happen to not make one of those turns. A spectacular and sobering commercial. Find out more about Chapman’s Peak.
Dades Gorge, Morocco
When Cadillac took its ATS on a tour of the world’s most exciting roads in 2012, the narrow and perilous Dades Gorge in Morocco provided a major challenge to car, driver and film maker alike. Find out more about the Dades Gorge.
San Francisco, USA
Controversially Ford resurrected an icon when it launched the Puma in 1997, by digitally installing Steve McQueen behind the wheel and recreating the famous chase sequence from Bullitt on the streets of San Francisco. You can follow in his wheel tracks on the famously steep slopes before taking the Pacific Coast Highway (itself the star of many a car commercial) on an extended road trip.
Kalahari Desert, South Africa
The Haskeenpan in South Africa’s Kalahari desert is the proposed site for the next Land Speed Record attempt. In 1999 BMW shot here, showing off the pace of its M5, just not quite how you might expect.
Queensland, Australia
Peugeot’s campaign for its absolutely-ordinary 405 was anything but. A blaring Berlin soundtrack straight from Top Gun and fiery fields of sugar cane ensured that this advert would never be forgotten. Given the health and safety implication it’s likely never to repeated, either.
Streets of the world
Shell’s Ferrari F1 advert was said to be the most expensive commercial ever made. Today they would probably fire up the computers but in 2007 they fired up the engines of five classic Ferrari F1 cars and closed roads in Rome, Monte Carlo, Rio de Janeiro, New York, Hong Kong and Sydney (where the Grand Pacific Drive features). The production alone was said to cost £2m. Money well spent if you ask us.