I don't know how many of you are regular Wal-Mart shoppers, but those who are may know of the $5.50 DVD bin where mostly that you wouldn't give $0.05 for is piled halfway to the ceiling and defying gravity like a huge Jenga game. Anyway, the other day I shuffled through a few and found 'Bullitt', which has to be one of the best car movies in history. I actually watched the whole movie, even though the 10-15 minute chase in the middle is the bread and butter. I just thought that was a cool flick to find in the otherwise blah selections. If you've never seen it (and it is a hands-down requirement for any self-respecting Ford fan), I strongly recommend it. You probably won't find it at your local video store, though. They don't seem to carry many selections from 1968. Other required viewing is the original "Gone in 60 Seconds", which I saw probably 15+ years before the Nicholas Cage version. Don't expect much in the way of acting, but man, that poor Mach 1 can take a lickin'. If anybody else likes (or dislikes) these movies, please chime in.
Fordman3
Just watched it for the first time about a week ago on SPEED cool old movie, I gotta venture in to walmart now and shuffle through the cheap movie bin like a homless guy through a dumpster:D
I loved the Mach One, but give the charger a little credit. As the biggest Dukes of Hazzard Fan, I love the 69 dodge charger. Infact its my second favorite car of all time. The first being the 1959 Biscayne / Impala. And in a close third, the 87-88 cougar XR7 :)
Other great car movies:
White lightening
Moonrunners
Vanishing Point
Smokey and the Bandit I, II, III
Duel (ok this one is a truck)
edit: its a GT not a mach one. My bad.
I like the original Gone in 60 Seconds, but it's chase seen is over-rated. It's alot of crashing but not very impressive driving. Bullit was ALOT better (and an actual good movie to boot). Vanishing Point, Cannonball Run, Smokey and the Bandit, and LeMans come to mind as well.
the first smokey and the bandit was good, the second one sucked.
Got Cannonball Run for 5 or 6 bux at walmart a while back aswell, you just gotta dig deep!
ive got one to make the list complete
Two lane blacktop
i cant seem to find it anywere:hick:
suprised no one mentiones The Wraith
i like bullitt not only for the chase scene but for the plot itself. good overall movie to me. smokey and the bandit is good too, but the sequels aren't quite up to par
merccougar50,
I agree, the '69 Charger is one of my favorite non-Fords, also. I'm pretty sure the car in Bullitt is a '68, since that's the year the movie is credited as coming out in. I'd have to watch it again to make sure. I'm also a HUGE Dukes fan (if you've seen the movie, did you notice the car the General has to beat at the end, a '67/'68 Shelby Mustang, man, that's a hard one to root for, but they sure do pound each other). It's actually got that in common with Bullitt. Hmm, coincidence? Any other thoughts!?
Fordman3
I was wrong, the Bullit charger was infact a '68. 1969's had the split grill, not the one piece. Also the 69 taillights are different.
I forgot Two Lane Black Top and the Junk Man (done by the same guy as the origional Gone in 60 sec. Infact he was killed in the making of it!). Days of thunder (the origional, 1958) had some good driving, but the cars were old beaters.
In the origional dukes of hazzard shows, the only car to beat the general lee was a 68 shelby (black race car, #00. It was a clone not an actual shelby). It appeared again in the 1997 reunion movie. Perhaps this is why the general raced a mustang in the new movie. Personally I thought the movie was a really good tribute to the origional show.
Does anyone remember a movie titled "HotRod"?Awsome little WIllys in that one.And no list would be complete without "Two Lane Blacktop".
ya now that u bring that shelby up my old man has a 1968 gt500kr shelby i should get some pictures up....
I just remembered another one. Has anybody seen "The Driver" with Ryan O'Neal? I think it's from about '72 or so. It's got some excellent driving in it, kinda like Bullitt, all real. It's another one you'll have to find at the bottom of the bin, or go to Netflix or something. That's where I just recently rewatched it from. He's a getaway driver, in case the title left you hanging. The only Ford I can remember from it is a '71/'72 4-door LTD that would make the General Lee proud. Another must-see.
Fordman3
So am I. That was a cool movie.
One of my all-time favorites. I love how the Trans-Am explodes several times.
You found 'Bullitt' in the bargain bin!? I haven't seen it on DVD for less than $20. Got it on Video a few years ago though.
As far as 'Smokey and the Bandit 2', My cousin has an '80 Turbo T/A that is identical to the one in that movie. I can tell you, the car is not as fast nor does it sound anything like it does in the movie. They put that car out to be so much better than it really is. Way to go Universal Studios!
Don't forget 'Hooper' with the ~'78 T/A and the best movie representing the Ford Thunderbird, 'Stroker Ace'.
What about 'American Graffiti'?
I was actually going to look yesterday in the $6.00 bin (Canada) at Wally World, but they totally removed it for some reason. I 've got some gems outta that bin not automotive related. One that comes to mind as the General Daughter.
Oh I almost forgot. On the "The truth about charlie" there is a bonus it has the original "Charade" on the other side with Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn and Walter Matheau. I've watched the Original more then the remake (I had never heard about it before I bought it )
WHAT Mach-1 ???
It's a '67(maybe '68) GT Stang.... The Mach-1 did not appear till the '69 models...
whooops!!
Was there a movie back in those days that had a mach one in it? Must have been thinking about another car.
The Blues Brothers, The French Connection