More Really Cool Cars
by Mark on 8/22/2005 (4)
Smokey and the Bandit Pontiac Trans Am: The all new Pontiac Firebird was introduced for 1970 and represented a new high for Pontiac styling. The front bumper and grille were molded out of Endura rubber and were painted the same color as the car to give it a bumperless appearance. 1977 saw a new "Batmobile" front end with quad square headlamps and ever more complex engine choices. 1977 would be the year that firmly established the Firebird as the performance car of the 1970s. Burt Reynolds drove a Black-and-Gold Special Edition 6.6 liter V-8 Oldsmobile engine model Y-82 185 horsepower Trans Am in the unexpected movie hit "Smokey and the Bandit", that drove the Firebird's popularity (and sales) to new heights. Sally Fields and an ice-cold Coors beer not included.
1968 "Bullitt" Ford Mustang GT: A Highland Green 1968 Mustang GT 390 Fastback was the car of choice for Steve McQueen's character in 1968's Bullitt. Lieutenant Frank Bullitt chased a black Dodge Charger R/T driven by suspected murderers through the streets of San Francisco in what is considered one of the greatest chases ever caught on film. The enhanced Ford GT V-8 325 h.p. S code package included heavy duty suspension, stiffer front and rear springs, F70-14 wide oval WSW tires mounted on slotted and painted 14-in styled steel wheels with GT hubcaps, trim rings and dual exhausts with chrome "quad" outlets. Perhaps THE muscle car of the 1960's for perhaps THE 1960's Hollywood muscle guy.
Mad Max Ford Falcon: The car started life as a standard 1973 XB GT Ford Falcon Coupe, a car exclusive to Australia. And for the first few years of its life, this is pretty much how it stayed. Then in 1976, film makers Byron Kennedy and George Miller began pre-production on Mad Max. They needed a vehicle to feature in the film as the black police 'Interceptor' - a high performance, evil looking Australian car. Around the same time, Murray Smith was hired on as part of the Mad Max crew. One of his tasks was to put together the Interceptor, and he started by acquiring the XB Falcon mentioned above. Then Murray, along with Peter Arcadipane, Ray Beckerley, and various others, proceeded to modify the car to what was needed for the film. The main modification is obviously the Concorde front end, and the supercharger protruding through the bonnet (which is for looks only). The result? One real mean car for an even meaner Mad Max.
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