Wednesday 13th December 2017

Wolf of the Autostrada: Time For Tea?

A Yellowbird, a Countach, a Testarossa, a Vantage and more in Ruf's superb 80's nostalgia fest

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How appropriate that, at the time of year when you typically find yourself reflecting on the last 12 months, one of the very best videos of 2017 has arrived. It's been produced by Ruf to celebrate 200,000 likes on Facebook; if this is what's on offer for that many likes, what on earth will happen at a million?!

The video, Wolf of the Autostrada, is fantastic. It doesn't appear to make an awful lot of sense, it should be longer, and on YouTube it's only in 720p, but it's five minutes of pure joy nonetheless.

Here's a brief synopsis: there's a Ruf CTR, a Ferrari Testarossa, a Lamborghini Countach and an Aston Martin Vantage. Good start. They're driven by chaps you might know, including Valentino Balboni, Stefan Roser and Sam Hancock. Getting better. This isn't just cruising around either: there are locked brakes, powerslides, burnouts and what would appear to be some very high speeds. Marvellous.

All this is in addition to a fantastic 80s soundtrack, some incredible pastel suits and more than enough engine noise from six, eight and 12 cylinders. Watch it. Watch it now. Then watch it again. Bravo Ruf!

Watch the video here.

[HardMiles]

Just having a poo with a fresh coffee on a working from home day, ideal timing PH!! :-) thanks!

[Gameface]

That is among the best things I've ever seen!

Had goosebumps watching it. My childhood came flooding back.

Valentino in a Ferrari!

[Dixy]

Had my heart in my mouth when he spun the Vantage. I decided the moral was if you want to drink with your mates by a Ferrari a Lambo or a Porsche, if you want to pull a bird by an Aston.

[Krikkit]

Dixy said:

Had my heart in my mouth when he spun the Vantage. I decided the moral was if you want to drink with your mates by a Ferrari a Lambo or a Porsche, if you want to pull a bird by an Aston.

And if you want someone to give you a big sausage you buy a Porsche?

Great stuff, some very expensive cars being absolutely nailed as well.

[gforceg]

That's great fun.

Around 2:30 where the TR is drifting around behind the Lambo...woah.

[howardhughes]

Just fantastic. A reminder of how true cars are supposed to be.
Epic, thanks for sharing.

[cookie1600]

How did Simon Kidston manage to recreate my specific dreams and nocturnal musings (no, not those ones) from 30 odd years ago?

In my early twenties I was going to work hard enough to have at least one of those magnificent machines and had pictures of the Aston, Countach and Testarossa cut from car magazines on my wall to inspire me to achieve it. Unfortunately lack of talent, a mortgage and tax have meant I haven't achieved that 80's fantasy just yet, but I'm still dreaming.

And yes, I would spin the Aston for the grape picker.

[Burnham]

gforceg said:

That's great fun.

Around 2:30 where the TR is drifting around behind the Lambo...woah.

That was awesome! Great to see these cars being driven like this 30 years after they were made.

[sidesauce]

Giorgia Pagliacci - mmmmmm... She reminds me (in spirit at least) of a younger Monica Bellucci. Not the best actress but to be fair, I could care less and evidently neither did Mr Hancock from the look of it!

Keep the cars boys, the lady will do me just fine.

[givablondabone]

Brilliant!

[InductionRoar]

Fantastic video. Mr Balboni is just a naturally suave man. You can't teach that.

[ducnick]

It’s missing a Lister mk3 to completely take me back to that fastlane cover.

Great to see Mr Balboni is still handy with the spanner’s.

[DeejRC]

Bloody genius.

Simon Kidston deserves proper Wayne's World treatment for this!

[Gandahar]

Sh it day at work and came home to that. Fantastic.

I hope they only had to do that Aston spin in one shot considering the armco.

All those cars are so iconic now.

[howardhughes]

ducnick said:

It’s missing a Lister mk3 to completely take me back to that fastlane cover.

Great to see Mr Balboni is still handy with the spanner’s.

Ahh Fastlane magazine. I remember seeing a white Porsche on the cover. 0-100 in ten seconds! - Awesome.

[Gameface]

howardhughes said:

Ahh Fastlane magazine. I remember seeing a white Porsche on the cover. 0-100 in ten seconds! - Awesome.

Dage flatnose 911 turbo.

That was the first car magazine I ever bought.

Still have it.

[howardhughes]

Gameface said:

Dage flatnose 911 turbo.

That was the first car magazine I ever bought.

Still have it.

Any chance of a photo of the cover? that would make my day!

[Gameface]

It's not to hand at the moment. But I will dig it out. It's a an overhead shot of the white flat nose going down a motorway with the wording you've already mentioned.

[Gameface]

Have a look at this. Maybe our minds are playing tricks and it was performance car?

https://m.ebay.ie/itm/1988-Dage-Porsche-935-Lancia...

[Rich_W]

Mr Kidston has made several films over the years.

https://vimeo.com/kidston


Love the F1 vs Veyron

https://vimeo.com/190857938