In anticipation of Boffo box office for the movie Ford v. Ferrari…
by Mike Gulett –
Wallace Wyss, a prolific contributor to My Car Quest with both articles and art, has announced that, in anticipation of the new feature film Ford v. Ferrari (US title) or LeMans ’66 (GB and European title) he has culled through his more than 100 fine art paintings and picked ten that he is offering as a set of prints on fine art paper for collectors for $200.
“I am betting that this movie, after its release Nov. 15th, will replace ‘Le Mans,’ Steve McQueen’s movie, as the ‘go to’ movie depicting Le Mans,” says Wyss. “That’s because it’s the ’60s, not the ’70s, it’s promising much more interpersonal relationships, and because the technology of filming has improved so much compared to when McQueen did his film.”
Wyss also thinks the youths born since the year 2000 only know of Le Mans distantly. “I was shocked to see one of the female stars of the movie, at the time she was cast, didn’t even know there was a 24 hour race and yet she lived in England, right across from France where Le Mans takes place.”
“I have been painting these cars since 2009,” says Wyss, whose first painting for sale was a portrait of Shelby as a Grand Prix driver.
“My art doesn’t show the cars in a Le Mans environment,” Wyss says, “because this work– for the most part–already existed at the time the new film was being made,” says Wyss. “But since I shot most of the original pictures at Monterey and other events, I am sure they depict real cars, not replicas.”
Because of the expense of the original race cars, the film company sourced replicas, such as the Fords from Superformance in Irvine, CA.
“If anyone feels the prints are too small for their 1,000 sq. foot living room, I offer the option of upscaling any of them as giclees on canvas, 20″ x 30″, which are embellished with oil,” says Wyss, those at a premium price.
Wyss traces his growth as a a car enthusiast back to the ’60s, when he first met Carroll Shelby at the Detroit Auto Show. Wyss’ art specialty is ‘60s race cars, though he has a second passion in depicting prewar coachbuilt French cars done in streamline moderne style and it was one of those paintings that constituted his first museum sale.
As a motoring historian, Wyss has authored or co-authored six books that touch on ‘60s LeMans racing, including Shelby’s Wildlife, the Cobras and the Mustangs, The Super Fords, GT40 Photo Archive, SHELBY: The Man, the Cars, the Legend, Cobra and Shelby Mustang 1962-2007 Photo Archive: Including Prototypes and Clone and Ford GT40 and the New Ford GT (the latter still available from trueford@aol.com).
Those interested in the portfolio can reach Wyss by email at mendoart7@gmail.com.
Wallace Wyss – photo by Brian Winer
Included will be:* 1964 Ford GT40
* 1969 Ford GT40
* 289 roadster at track in Europe Bondurant at the wheel
* GT40 roadster being drive on street in Riviera
* Ferrari P3/4
* Shelby in cowboy hat 1966
* Shelby as GP driver 1956 or 1957
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