Other automotive icons in car movies

[Ghoste]

Stopped at a buddy's place tonight and we were watching some old car movie and he challenged me to name a car that has been used in the movies as often as the 2nd gen Charger.  I couldn't do it, can any of you?
We could only think of a handful that featured other cars than a 2nd gen Charger.  Two Lane Blacktop and Vanishing Point.  Gone in 60 Seconds.  A handful of others.  The other thing that he pointed out was that most of the ones that featured some other type of car still at least have a 2nd gen in there somewhere for a bit appearance.

[Cooter]

I'm assuming that by your quote about TLBT and VP movies that ANY car movie with another make is "OK"?



"Ride the Bullit" 1960 Plymouth
"The Car" Lincoln?
"Duel" 1971 Plymouth Valiant, Peterbuilt Semi
"Black Cadillac" 1958 Cadillac
"Moonrunners" 1970's Plymouth Fury's
"The wraith" Assorted
"Smokey and the Bandit" 1977 Trans Am
"The California Kid" 1934 Ford and 1957 Plymouth
"Phantasm II" 1971 Hemi Cuda
"Starsky And Hutch" 1976 Ford Grand Torino
"Mad Max" 1970's Ford Interceptor
"Grand Torino" 1971? Ford Grand torino
"Ferris Beullers day off" 19? Porche
"1971 Gone in Sixty Seconds" 1973 Ford Mustang Mach I "Eleanor"
"Convoy" Assorted Semi Trucks
"Back to the Future" 1983 Delorean DMC12 "Time machine"
"

[Ghoste]

Forgot about Smoky and the Bandit and the "striped tomato" of S&H.  I'll give you some of those but I think when I'm thinking of auto movie icons, I'm thinkin gmore of cars that everyone would recognize as being a part of the film.
Christine just came to mind as well.

[Cooter]

But as stated, as I didn't mention "Christine" cause a 2nd gen. Charger DOES make an appearance as Dennis' Blue '68...

[Ghoste]

A secondary role though, the Fury was still the star and the one everyone associates with the movie.  But you know exactly where we were at in our conversation at my buddy's place.  There are tons of little known flicks with little known cars but of the ones where the car and film are linked, the list gets much smaller.

[Cooter]

What was the name of that movie? 20K miles to Graceland? With the '59 Pink Cadillac?

[Ghoste]

Yeah, with Costner right?  I don't know, would you consider that car an integral part of the movie or not?  I guess it was important to the lead character and it is associated with the whole Elvis thing...

[Cooter]

American Graffitti, with Milner's Coupe..
There was a movie out in 1987 called "Catch me if you Can" which stared a 1969 Chevelle  as well as a 1957 Chevy...Not too many people have heard of it..

[Ghoste]

No I haven't heard of it.  It is a car movie?

[oldcarnut]

I use to like watching the Mad Max movies with the modified Ford Falcon Coupe.  It was an Australian car but it reminded me of the AMC Javelins when I saw it.

[Charger440RDN]

There is a car that has been in more movies than any of the ones you guys have mentioned!!! You would have never guessed but it's the............ CHEVY CAPRICE!!!!!!!!

Think about it almost every action movie from the 80's and 90's had these cars in it as a police car or a taxi cab, major stars from Bruce Willis to Steven Segul have driven them in action movies. They used them in the recent Dukes of Hazzard movie too. They even used the Caprice or Impala on every episode of "In the heat of the night".

The Caprice is the most durable GM car ever in my opinion, I had a 1984 caprice in college and I beat the living hell out of that car. I put over 200,000 miles on it and it just wouldn't die.

[Ghoste]

But... do you associate the Caprice with a single one of those movies or vice versa?  The movies I'm talking about are things like Christine or Bullitt or American Grafitti.  A movie where the car is the star or an integral part of the film whether it's important to a primary character or a car chase or road film.  Everyone knows about the General Lee or the 55 Chev in Two Lane and Graffiti.  Most car guys know about DMCL but there are ones that I'm not so sure about.  The pink Caddy in 2000 Miles to Graceland possibly or the T-Bird in Thelma and Louise.  Mad Max for sure the car is integral and associated.  Thelma and Louise is the car integral or just a prop?  I guess that's what I'm looking at, is the car a prop or important enough it nearly needs lines to speak?

[Charger440RDN]

But... do you associate the Caprice with a single one of those movies or vice versa?  

Your'e right, the movies that the Chevy Caprice are in, it was definitely just a background prop and never the focus of any movie. kind of weird though that such an ordinary, bland looking car like the Caprice could end up in so many action movies.  
Maybe it's because it was one of the last rear wheel drive cars in America at the time besides the Ford crown vic and was good for rough action scenes 

[Ghoste]

Cheap and readily available for cars and parts I suppose?  (think of all the polica and taxi fleet auctions they could pillage)

[Charger440RDN]

Cheap and readily available for cars and parts I suppose?  (think of all the polica and taxi fleet auctions they could pillage)

True, there (seems to be) a limitless supply of these cars out there. But still I saw a commercial the other day and they completely destroyed an 80's Caprice. Why destroy an old rear drive car? Why not destroy a Prius?  

[Ghoste]

Because the highly toxic batteries in those little Toyoturds are an environmental hazard and serious threat.

[Cooter]

No I haven't heard of it.  It is a car movie?

Check it out...Good movie, actually had a plot...OOPS, looksl ike it was a 1968 Chevelle...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwxkCQPSr10

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IqQywNrCEo

I also forgot about the CLASSIC Mopar Movie.."HOT ROD", witrh Gregg Henry

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5WAP5qxVWM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bmb1pa5Gvko
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2FhDmnboso
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s24cYesegSo
Yeah, it hadda HEMI

[Charger440RDN]

Because the highly toxic batteries in those little Toyoturds are an environmental hazard and serious threat.

Since the future of automobiles is battery or electric power does that mean we won't see any more action movies with car chases? Seriously who wants to see a Toyota Prius chasing a Honda Accord? 

[aussiemuscle]

"Mad Max" 1970's Ford Interceptor

get it right
1973 Ford Falcon GT

as to what ghoste was saying about caprices in most movies, i think there were more 78 Dodge Monaco (similar years and similar plymouths) that were used in all those 80's TV action shows like A-team, Knight Rider, Fall Guy, S&H, etc. they were always used by bad guys (who couldn't drive ).

[Ghoste]

But again they were just a prop.  There was another Australian movie called "Freedom" where a Porsche was a central part of it.  The kid steals a Porsche and takes off across the Outback or something.  Long time since I've seen it.

[Cooter]

"Mad Max" 1970's Ford Interceptor

get it right
1973 Ford Falcon GT

As if I know anything bout those cars that have the steering wheel on the wrong side....

[Shakey]

VW Beetle

How many Herbie the Love Bug movies were made?   

[Ghoste]

Good one.  You would think with the 70 Charger cameo in the last incarnation that it would have come up sooner. 

[Cooter]

We have one being restored on the CCC..Younggun is doing a fine job...

[DC_1]

I know this is one of your older threads Ghoste, but I thought I would revive it. So basically your asking for movies where the car is a star in the movie and not just a prop. I think I have a couple additions to your list.

Blues Brothers - 74 Dodge Monaco
Transformers - Bumble bee Camaro
Speed Racer - Mach 5
Corvette Summer - 73 Stingray
Cars - Lightning McQueen Lamans car

Thats all I can think of.

[rp23g7]

Because the highly toxic batteries in those little Toyoturds are an environmental hazard and serious threat.

Since the future of automobiles is battery or electric power does that mean we won't see any more action movies with car chases? Seriously who wants to see a Toyota Prius chasing a Honda Accord? 

So true, i watched movie called Jade with David Caruso, on the box it said something like "Greates car chase scene since Bullitt"  It was fillmed in San Fransisco.  late 90's film i think.  The chase was between a 90s Thunderbird and a 90's Taurus.  Lame.  On the first hill jump you could tell when the Taurus landed it blew the CV joints out of it.

[rustafarian]

Movies that the car is tied to the movie - from a car guys standpoint like everyone on here,  THEY'RE ALL TIED TO CARS!!! WE"RE SICK!!!
How many of you enjoy Carlitos Way just to watch the same Mustang go up and down the street in the background?

Vanishing Point  - '70 Challenger
True Romance - '59 Pink Cadillac
The Warriors - '55ish Cadillac Hearse
Jaws - Chief Brodys K5 Blazer with no top
Deer Hunter - '59 Cadillac Sedan - classic - six guys and all their hunting gear and still plenty of room.
Scarface - the leopard skin interior '67ish Caddy convertilble or the '69 Impala convertible?

What's the movie where Ernest Borgnine is a sherriff and his squad is disabled,  so he "requisitions" a souped up '70 Chevelle from a couple of stoners and eventually sends it flying thru a billboard?

ggotta get back to some work here....

[DC_1]

Movies that the car is tied to the movie - from a car guys standpoint like everyone on here,  THEY'RE ALL TIED TO CARS!!! WE"RE SICK!!!
How many of you enjoy Carlitos Way just to watch the same Mustang go up and down the street in the background?

Vanishing Point  - '70 Challenger
True Romance - '59 Pink Cadillac
The Warriors - '55ish Cadillac Hearse
Jaws - Chief Brodys K5 Blazer with no top
Deer Hunter - '59 Cadillac Sedan - classic - six guys and all their hunting gear and still plenty of room.
Scarface - the leopard skin interior '67ish Caddy convertilble or the '69 Impala convertible?

What's the movie where Ernest Borgnine is a sherriff and his squad is disabled,  so he "requisitions" a souped up '70 Chevelle from a couple of stoners and eventually sends it flying thru a billboard?

ggotta get back to some work here....

Except for Vanishing Point, I don't know that any of those you mentioned I would consider the "Car" or vehicle to be a star in the movie. The way I understand the question. The car has to be recognizable to more than just car fanatics and should be considered a crucial element to the movie and its success. I think if you asked 10 people if Sheriff Brody in Jaws drove a Ford Bronco 9 would say yes or wouldn't disagree. But, if you asked the same 10 people if Burt Reynolds drove a Ford Mustang in Smokey and the Bandit, I think 9 would say no way. This is because the car was more than a prop in the movie, it was an actual character. There are countless movies that have memorable cars but not many that have that "Star" status. Even the cars in Bullet I would consider not to meet the criteria because they really were only in a small, albeit memorable, scene in the movie. They are icons for us Charger fans and those other guys (Mustang fans) but again, if you showed 10 people off the street in the 30-50 year old age bracket a picture of those cars and asked them to name the movie they are from, I bet you would be lucky to get 3 who even have a clue. Strongest example already given I think meet this "Iconic" status I would say are the General Lee, Mad Max falcon, Smokey and the Bandit TA, Back to the Future Delorean.

Just my take on things at least.......

[Road Dog]

How about the Munsters Car or Beverly Hillbillys Truck. How about Return to Macon County.....55 Chebby.

[Ghoste]

Did the Clampetts ever do a movie?  The Munsters did and that is a good mention, so is return to Macon County.

[nvrbdn]

ok guys what is the movie where the high school kid has to make a timed run and end up on the football field in the famed 57 chevy that was hidden in a storage box?

[aussiemuscle]

But again they were just a prop.  There was another Australian movie called "Freedom" where a Porsche was a central part of it.  The kid steals a Porsche and takes off across the Outback or something.  Long time since I've seen it.

took me a while to find it as i'd never heard of it
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083971/

[doctor4766]

How bout Starsky and Hutch's Gran Torino??

[Road Dog]

Did the Clampetts ever do a movie?  The Munsters did and that is a good mention, so is return to Macon County.

Yeah, Earnest P Worrel played Uncle Jed.

[Cooter]

ok guys what is the movie where the high school kid has to make a timed run and end up on the football field in the famed 57 chevy that was hidden in a storage box?

THAT's "Catch Me IF YOu Can"....The "run" was called the "Twin City Run"...Some of the Characters were "Fast Freddy", "The Fatman"..

One of the lines in the movie when they were readying the '57 Chebby, was..."427 Big Block Dillon, that's one tough engine..I gave her new cam,mags, and headers"..

All revolved around this kid who wanted to go to college, but had to street race for money. One day he meets this goody, goody chick and offers to "Help" save the school by helping with her bake sale...When nobody else wanted to help, this guy was bringing in huge money by betting on car races...Finally, they decide to bet the whole lot on one race against "Johnny Fatman's" driver. They sabatoge the Chevelle and they wonder how they are gonna race with no car..enter the principal who did the twin city run against Johnny Fatman years ago, and he walks out onto the football field so many paces, picks up the door to this underground vault where the '57 Chebby is buried...GREAT Flick...

[THE STIG]

Here's one nobidy has mentioned, the car is a 69 Brand X GTO Judge but the movie is great, very funny. I highly recomend it, not a family flick though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xOUCZH14Is