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In my first memories, I still recall a flash of orange trailing a plume of dust as it crashed through a makeshift barrier that read “Bridge Out” and then took flight across the width of a seemingly endless river (much wider than the above photo, I assure you!). The frame would freeze, the Balladeer would chime in, and then cut to commercial…
Less than three weeks from today, the Oscars, or Academy Awards, will honor the people who create much of our popular culture (for better or worse). And while the scene I described is from television, it’s amazing how much of our shared automotive culture is derived from both the big and small screens. These modern day fables are so pervasive that many cars featured therein become stars in their own right, attracting as much attention as the stars themselves.
Remember the DeLorean? Most people remember eighty-eight miles-per-hour, the flux capacitor, and Mr. Fusion before they can recall a single fact about the actual car. Or Bullitt? Lt. Frank Bullitt drove a 1968 Ford Mustang GT fastback while tracking down and dicing with the ‘bad guys’, who drove a Dodge Charger R/T.
I can’t name a single actor from that film off the top of my head except for Steve McQueen, but without effort I remember McQueen peering backwards out of the Mustang’s window at the guys trying to catch him, while tire smoke poured out from under the car. The shadowy dark-green Mustang became such an icon that Ford made a special edition, called the Bullitt, celebrating the iconic ’68 in 2001 and 2008. And it is almost impossible to remember McQueen nowadays without the vehicles of his more memorable films: the Le Mans Porsche 917K (short tail) and The Great Escape Triumph 6T motorcycle.
And some cars are so iconic that they eventually overshadow the actors. Remember Chitty Chitty Bang Bang or Viper? The only things I recall from those productions are the cars! Obviously art imitates life when it comes to our love affair with cars and so this month, in celebration of the upcoming Oscars, Petrolicious will be focused primarily on the cars and culture that Hollywood has helped promote.
But don’t worry we’re not shifting our focus completely, just shining a proverbial spotlight (pardon the pun) on the cars and characters that Hollywood has made larger than life. Our first article has already gone up, but if there is any particular movie or TV car that you’d like us to highlight, let us know below and we’ll do our best. And if, like me, the “General” still haunts your memories–rest assured we will be featuring the Dukes of Hazzard.
Image Sources: amcarguide.com, kinja-img.com, therpf.com
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Dear Yoav,
As owner of a grey NSX, I would have expected that you let your biaised feelings talk and that you mention The Wolf 🙂
And because your head is often turned towards Europe and, thanks a lot, to France, you might be interested to know that the Mustang Cab was brought to celebrity over there partially through a movie starring Louis de Funès: Le Gendarme de Saint-Tropez 😉
Winston
How about the white Jaguar XJ-S Ian Ogilvy drove as Simon Templar in Return of The Saint? I wanted that car like none other (except an Aston Martin DB5) If you just did cars The Saint drove in films and tv, you could include Lagonda (The Saint in London with George Sanders), the Volvo P1800 /1800S, the Jaguar XJ-S and, if you must, the Volvo C70.
Nothing stirred the imagination of the young fellas of my era than the Aston-Martin DB5 in Goldfinger and Thunderball…I remember the first kid on the block to get the toy model of the car was an instant hero! It was the first time I realized there cars from Europe and elsewhere that were just as fascinating as Fords, Dodges, and Chevys….ah, so long ago!
Obvious choice for me is an Alfa Romeo Spider in the Graduate – I often wonder if it was chosen because the Spider was/is the most romantic car ever made, or the movie has made it so. And my thumb up for a yellow Fiat 500 in old Miyazaki anime, Lupin the Third (both in TV series and Castle of Caliostro).
Be seeing you!
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Hmmn .. so lets see now … being of a certain age …. hmmmn … pop culture and cars ;
The only thing seeing a DeLorean brings to mind the sleaze grifter that ole Johnny Z was and the way he shafted the Irish tax payer as well as every poor slob that ever bought one of his cars
Mustang’s ? Mustang’s remind me that they once were considered secretaries cars built on top of the boring as nails Falcon until Carol Shelby got his hands on them and lent them some cojones/credibility
To be honest … I can only think of one movie that ever really affected me car wise [ enough to go and buy one as a matter of fact ] The somewhat lame movie ” Bobby Deerfield ” and the Alfetta GT he drove in the film . Not … because it was in the film … but rather because the car was such a brilliant and usable design … by GG !
Don’t get me wrong . There’s movies with cars in them I enjoy .. such as ” Ronin ” [ S8 , various Citroens etc ] .. ” Downhill Racer ” .. ” Spy Games ” [ green 911’s both ] … ” Barney’s Version ” [ Citroen DS , XKE etc ] .. ” The Company You Keep ” [ Volvo wagon ] But other than ” Bobby Deerfield ” its the movie that sticks with me .. the cars being the ‘ supporting ‘ actors
But hold on . There was one TV series … British as a matter of fact that did stick a car in my mind and heart for what will no doubt be a lifetime of an unfulfilled dream . ” Inspector Lindley ” and the Bristol 411 he drove in the TV series . Though in truth IL caught my interest with his 411… but it was LJK Setright that cemented it
Ahhhh … so there was one !