The Italian Job

Coventry 1968, new sewer system. Stoke Aldermoor to Baginton Airfield. At the Stoke Aldermoor end the location shots for the film 'The Italian Job', starring Michael Caine, were shot. The Mini Coopers driving through the tunnel. The contractors were Streeters PLC, Goldalming, Surrey, Coventry 1968 new sewer system - click to enlarge photos

The French stunt team are still in business. Remy Julienne (born April 17, 1930) is a pioneering French driving stunt performer, stunt coordinator, assistant director and occasional actor. He is also a former rallycross champion and 1956 French motorcross champion. He is a veteran of over 1,400 films. Notable large film projects in which he has arranged stunts, consulted or manufactured special stunt cars include The Italian Job and six James Bond films, five of which were directed by John Glen and three with his sons Dominique and Michel.

It wasn't an Italian job, mostly Willenhall men were on the construction, some Surrey men but the vast majority were Coventry men.

This is under the Green Lane subway to commemorate the event: Italian Job

More here on the Frenchmen

I've been an Italian car enthusiast for years having owned all sorts of Alfas/Lancias etc. and did the trip to Turin many times including all the sites in the film there. That included driving around the roof top test track at Lingotto - the old Fiat factory where this part was filmed. They reckon they used over 20 Minis in the film but no-one thought to keep the chassis numbers and no-one is certain what became of the ones used. Would be worth 'multi-lire' now.

Thank you, you are very informative and interesting. If you know any Coventry men who worked on the tunnel, or could find out. Please inform me. Regards, johnb

Not too sure if this will help you in any way, the company that installed the drainage system was called "Kinyar Moody" not too sure on the correct spelling but it's close. The head depot was just off the London Road near the waste depot. I installed a telephone network for them at the same time as the filming. I worked for GPO at the time. (Always very muddy, I remember that). Regards. Colin

You nearly got it RK, It was Kinnear Moody

Hmmm. Not sure why but for some reason they've painted over the Italian Job mural in the Green Lane subway.

That subway was on our route to school every morning, it was the only safe way to cross the Kenpas Highway. There was no graffiti or mess in the subway in those days. The new sewer ran right under the middle of our school playing fields but I don't know if that particular section was ever used during the car chase? During the period it was being dug our favourite oak tree was fenced-off so we could no longer lounge in its branches during the lunch break

I remember reading recently that the subway was in such a terrible state that it desperately needed cleaning up, so I guess the mural must have been vandalised so much that it warranted a paint-over job Sad though

I never really used the subway but I occasionally cut up through Green Lane to get on to the A45 if the lights are busy at the Kenilworth Road from Earlsdon. As such you could see the mural clearly from the Green Lane junction - it looked fairly untouched to me?!

Not the actual coach but right model Not sure if the one used was a Mk1 or Mk2 I do know it returned to service as a coach after filming and was scrapped in the 1990's This one was the first in Warwickshire, only about 50 were made, if any one is interested there is a good website on Harrington Coaches

Link to Charity Run for Variety the Children's Charity