11 Documentaries That Will Change the Way You Look at Your Car

In film, a car can make or break a story. It can be the most memorable part or completely define a character. It can determine a key moment in the climax or it could be the setting for two characters climaxing. A car could be a character, or it could be all of the characters. And in all of these situations, cars are evoking some sort of emotional response from the viewers of the films. That's what these documentaries about. The following grouping isn’t ranked, because when it comes to top-notch docs, all of the stories are real, and they all tic a different and exciting box on our gearhead chart. If you're passionate about beautiful machines and the people who pilot them, this is your list. So, in honor of the True/False documentary film festival starting today, enjoy these 10 Documentaries That Will Change the Way You Look at Your Car. 

RELATED: The 15 Best Car Movies Streaming on Netflix Right Now

Year: 1972
Director: Michael Keyser
What it teaches you: Race cars in the '70s were not to be messed with.
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The 1972 flim The Speed Merchants proves that not everything needs 5.1 surround sound and high-definition. Some things are better said with that all-original feel. This classic documentary, narrated by Mario Andretti and Vic Elford (driving the Ferrari 312P and Alfa Romeo T33TT/3, respectively), paints the picture of the wheel-to-wheel racing in the 1972 World Sportscar Championship. Ferrari may have handily run away with the title, but the season featured fierce racing between big-name drivers, which included Jacky Ickx, Clay Regazzoni, Ronnie Peterson, and Graham Hill.

Year: 2013
Director: Matt Johnston
What it teaches you: Sometimes, you have to take the unpaved road to fully experience something at its limits. 
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If the list were ranked, and if it were based upon production values, Easier Said Than Done would lead the charge. The doc peels back the layers of dirt and grime off of rallying, in a truly visceral way. The film follows Chris Duplessis in his pursuit of breaking into the World Rally Championship. You'll see huge powerslides and sphincter-tightening close calls mixed with commentary from current rally drivers, including Ken Block.

Year: 2005
Director: Dana Brown
What it teaches you: Being fearless can often provide the most fun. 
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Anyone who's ever driven off-road will tell you that it isn't comfortable. Now imagine how it must feel to drive off-road for more than 800 miles, up and down Mexico's Baja Peninsula. That's the banzai experience of the Baja 1000, and nothing captures it better than 2005's Dust to Glory. The camera work is incredible, the vehicles are legendary, and the stories are real. Check out this doc to see if you have what it takes to handle the Baja.

Year: 2012
Director: Tamir Moscovici
What it teaches you: Do what you love, not what others want you to love.
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It seems like every car guy dreams of building their own car-restoration business. For Magnus Walker, the dream is a reality. Urban Outlaw documents Walker's Porsche restoration business, but it isn't an establishment that purebred enthusiasts would flock to. Walker collects donor parts from deteriorated 911s and marries them to create custom Porsche vehicles with a distinct flair to them. The quality and cinematography of this doc is simply pristine. Even if you don't have 30 minutes to spare, this is worth the time.

Year: 2008
Director: Keith Cossrow, Bennett Viseltear
What it teaches you: Winners never slouch.
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The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world's premier endurance-racing event, and Audi is the dominant force behind it. Over the past 14 years, Audi has cleaned house at the Circuit de la Sarthe, recording 12 team wins. This absolute mastery is captured in Truth in 24, and features a behind-the-scenes look at the innards of racing royalty. Jason Statham is the narrator. Need we say more?

Okay, maybe one more thing: There's a part two, as well. 

Year: 2012
Director: Infiniti Red Bull Racing
What it teaches you: Even meteoric success takes time to grow.
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Few racing teams will ever experience the dominance that Red Bull has enjoyed in Formula 1. The Red Bull Racing Story does an outstanding job of highlighting these feats in a season-by-season look at the team's outstanding drivers, engineers, and personalities. Despite you're thoughts on the seemingly unbeatable Sebastian Vettel, this documentary presents an inspiring look at what it takes to become back-to-back-to-back-to-back world champions. At a hair longer than 30 minutes, it's a quick flick as well.

Year: 2007
Director: Rory Karpf, Mike Viney
What it teaches you: Work hard enough, and you can achieve anything.
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In life, there are a handful of sporting icons that defined their events and demand respect for the rest of time. Muhammad Ali comes to mind for boxing, Joe Montana for football, and Dale Earnhardt for NASCAR. Dale takes a touching looking at the life of Sr., from his massive victories all the way up to his death in 2001. The film is narrated by the late Paul Newman, a racing icon himself, which helps portray the immense personality that was Dale Sr. Newman said it perfectly, "He was NASCAR." It's fitting that this list features both Earnhardt and Senna, as they both lived on the knife's edge of what was possible in a racecar.

Year: 2009
Director: Eric Bana
What it teaches you: At the end of the day, do what makes you happy. Only you can understand the connection you create with something or someone. 
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You might know Eric Bana from Hollywood blockbusters such as Troy, Lone Survivor, and Black Hawk Down, but it's about time you know him on a more personal level, highlighted by his love for his first car, a 1974 Ford XB Falcon. Most people ditch their first car after a few years. Bana has kept his for his entire adult life, and the documentary chronicles the love affair between them. Jay Leno, Jeremy Clarkson, and Doctor Phil share some screen time with Bana. There's some definite soul searching to be had. Watch this doc and question what you would do.

Year: 2010
Director: Asif Kapadia
What it teaches you: Anything is possible, if you commit yourself fully.
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If you come away from this list and decide to watch only one of these documentaries, make it this one. Senna chronicles the meteoric rise of Formula 1's Ayrton Senna, whom many will attest was the greatest driver to ever grace a grand prix circuit. The footage is breathtaking. The story will break your heart. If you consider yourself a racing fan, you must see this doc. It is undoubtedly one of the greatest documentaries of the past 10 years.

Year: 2012
Director: Andrew Filippone Jr. 
What it teaches you: Embrace not fitting into any one specific category, and don't let how others view your difference hold you back. 
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Director Andrew Filippone Jr. had seen a Buick Grand National in person only time before he had the idea for this documentary. He wasn't a GNX superfan. He wasn't a Buick superfan. Hell, he wasn't even a regular fan of cars. He'll be the first person to tell you that he's not a car guy. Actually, the movie isn't really even about cars. 

The New York-based film maker was simply using the GNX as a tool to portray another message that really struck him. That idea deals with not really fitting in anywhere, the idea of "dislocation, as he put it. He had read a book called Hunger of Memory by Richard Rodriguez that focused on ambition pulling somebody or something away from one group and partially putting them at another level. But that person or thing was still born from that original position, so there's no full resolve of fitting in anywhere.

That's what the Grand National was used to represent. It's a Buick that could torch supercars. It's the ultimate dark horse, reaching stories higher than anybody would expect. The story of this car in itself is an addictively mysterious timeline. Just watch the first five minutes of the film below. You'll be hooked.