Best car movies of all time!
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 223
From: Nampa Idaho
Wow! Someone else besides me saw that movie?
Old(s) Fart
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 50,815
From: Northern VA
GM Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,982
From: Long Island, New York
I would have to say my favorites are:
Gone in 60 Seconds
American Graffiti
Bullitt
The Dukes of Hazzard (The Movie)
Demolition Man
Corvette Summer
And ones no one else mentioned:
The Rockford Files (James Garner in the Firebird - great chase scenes)
Live and Let Die, The Man with the Golden Gun - James Bond - more good chase scenes.
Gone in 60 Seconds
American Graffiti
Bullitt
The Dukes of Hazzard (The Movie)
Demolition Man
Corvette Summer
And ones no one else mentioned:
The Rockford Files (James Garner in the Firebird - great chase scenes)
Live and Let Die, The Man with the Golden Gun - James Bond - more good chase scenes.
Dr.Olds Illegitimate Son
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 104
From: Katepwa Lake, Sk Canada
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,728
From: Overton NV
I would like to add another, The Wraith with Charlie Sheen, he drove that black Dodge I think it was called a Turbo Interceptor. I have that on vhs I'll have to dig it up and watch it, one of my favs as a kid because it was filmed in my home town of Tucson AZ. (plus it's an awesome flick)
)I kind of liked american grafitti. Oh and loved smokey and the bandit. old school. F/F3 and the remake of gone in 60 seconds new school
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Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Overton NV
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 670
From: Glendale, AZ
'Dazed and Confused' was to the seventies what 'American Graffiti' was to the sixties. Great seventies muscle and and unforgettable closing scene shot in a '70 SS Chevelle. Some kids make a getaway in their parents olds 98 on the last day of school. Two thumbs up!
Ransom
Captain of my ship
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,880
From: Annapolis Valley , Nova Scotia
car movies
I saw corvette summer a long time ago but before that my favorite was Dirty Mary and Crazy Larry anybody remember that one. It was with Peter Fonda. Even before that the first Car movie was Vanishing Point as was mentioned earlier. both of these ended with huge crash and burn. In dirty Mary and Crazy Larry the first car they were driving was 66 Chev Impala same as my first real car.
Randy C.
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,348
From: Albany, OR
I've been through all of these movie selections and I didn't see a vote for a movie that came out in '64 or '65 called "The Lively Set", with James Darren, Pamela Tiffin and Doug McClure. Lots of neat cars, lots of neat racing action, and a happy ending! I paid twice to see it at the movies (75 cents both times; no snacks for me at that one!) it was so good. I was about 15 at the time!
Captain of my ship
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,880
From: Annapolis Valley , Nova Scotia
dirty mary
Still the only one to mention Dirty Mary and Crazy Larry This had the driver Peter fonda and his mechanic forget who that was. They pick up a girl , the blonde chick with the weird overbite smile. They start out in a 66 chev Impala and switch to a dodge charger. It ends with them being chased through a wooded area with tons of crossroads by a helicopter and just when they realize they got away they crash into a locomotive. Huge crash and burn. Vanishing Point had a huge crash and burn when he drove the car into 2 huge bulldozers.
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,052
From: Phoenix, AZ
Did you know the car they crashed at the end of Vanishing Point was a '68 Camaro? Guess with the Dodge boys watching, they didn't want to destroy one of theirs. 
Although they definitely beat on the 440 Challengers. Think there were 4 of them, in total. If you notice, most of the cars seen in the movie are MOPARS. Although there is a pretty cool green Chevelle with dog dishes in one scene.
I've gotta go with Vanishing Point and Bullitt for my two favs. Also liked Dazed & Confused. About to watch The French Connection for the 1st time.
Although they definitely beat on the 440 Challengers. Think there were 4 of them, in total. If you notice, most of the cars seen in the movie are MOPARS. Although there is a pretty cool green Chevelle with dog dishes in one scene. I've gotta go with Vanishing Point and Bullitt for my two favs. Also liked Dazed & Confused. About to watch The French Connection for the 1st time.
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,738
From: West Hartford, CT
I definitely lean towards more real/honest car scenes, don't like totally fake & computer generated stuff. Many have already been mentioned
Gumball Rally - Probably my favorite
2 Lane Blacktop-Raw & for some reason,couldn't look away-m22 hypnosis?
Live & Die in LA - Great chase
French Connection(said to be somewhat unscripted & no permit taken out)
Seven Ups
Bullit
Ronin
American Grafitti - Great Cars
Le Mans - Awesome in car scenes
The Peacemaker - Clooney has one EXCELLENT chase scene
McQ - Seem to remember a good scene or two w/ John Wayne(mid 70's)
It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World - Not bad/not great chase scene but it sure looked like a few stunt drivers had to be sure not to make a mistake in those old tub Chryslers!
Gumball Rally - Probably my favorite
2 Lane Blacktop-Raw & for some reason,couldn't look away-m22 hypnosis?
Live & Die in LA - Great chase
French Connection(said to be somewhat unscripted & no permit taken out)
Seven Ups
Bullit
Ronin
American Grafitti - Great Cars
Le Mans - Awesome in car scenes
The Peacemaker - Clooney has one EXCELLENT chase scene
McQ - Seem to remember a good scene or two w/ John Wayne(mid 70's)
It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World - Not bad/not great chase scene but it sure looked like a few stunt drivers had to be sure not to make a mistake in those old tub Chryslers!
Last edited by bccan; Apr 16, 2009 at 01:14 PM. Reason: Forgot Sumthin
Captain of my ship
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,880
From: Annapolis Valley , Nova Scotia
new & old
Favorite older movie was Dirty Mary & Crazy Larry with Vanishing Point #2 and new movies would be Gone in 60 seconds. Though I imagine the Shelby was trashed when they jumped it on the bridge. If you go to pause and then go frame by frame you could see lots of parts busting and about to break off before they went to new scene angle.
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 7,286
Here's an off-the-wall "car" movie:
My Cousin Vinny
Think about it. Knowing the subtle differences in the suspensions of early 60s GM compacts is the whole key to the trial in the movie. I've always been a Marisa Tomei fan, but the courtroom scene when the DA asks her the firing order of a 1958 327 Chevy is classic.
My Cousin Vinny
Think about it. Knowing the subtle differences in the suspensions of early 60s GM compacts is the whole key to the trial in the movie. I've always been a Marisa Tomei fan, but the courtroom scene when the DA asks her the firing order of a 1958 327 Chevy is classic.
Otherwise I agree with the above and would rate it
"a lucid, intelligent, well thought-out" and concise summary of the relevant features of the movie.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104952/quotes
"Vinny Gambini: Well, how could you be sure you used 16 foot-pounds of torque?
Lisa: Because I used a Craftsman model 1019 Laboratory Edition Signature Series torque wrench. The kind used by Caltech high energy physicists. And NASA engineers.
Vinny Gambini: Well, in that case, how can you be sure THAT's accurate?
Lisa: Because a split second before the torque wrench was applied to the faucet handle, it had been calibrated by top members of the state AND federal Department of Weights and Measures... to be dead on ***** accurate!
[She rips a page out of a magazine and hands it to him]
Lisa: Here's the certificate of validation.
Vinny Gambini: Dead on ***** accurate?
Lisa: It's an industry term."
Old(s) Fart
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 50,815
From: Northern VA
Administrator
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 42,505
From: Poteau, Ok
There was a movie in the 70's with a 41 *****'s, The Hotrod Movie. California Kid, and my all time favorite American Graffiti with great cars and music. There were 2 other American Graffiti movies. My 70's high school days mimicked the original, awesome time.
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 530
Here's an off-the-wall "car" movie:
My Cousin Vinny
Think about it. Knowing the subtle differences in the suspensions of early 60s GM compacts is the whole key to the trial in the movie. I've always been a Marisa Tomei fan, but the courtroom scene when the DA asks her the firing order of a 1958 327 Chevy is classic.
My Cousin Vinny
Think about it. Knowing the subtle differences in the suspensions of early 60s GM compacts is the whole key to the trial in the movie. I've always been a Marisa Tomei fan, but the courtroom scene when the DA asks her the firing order of a 1958 327 Chevy is classic.
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 7,286
Found _Vanishing Point_ on epay, it was waiting for me when I got back off the road...
Interesting bit of Americana
amped up on "Bennies"
I guess the Challenger never got delivered, he was beating the snot out of it anyhow. Nice T&A shots of the desert girl.
Oh, and a '68 Cutlass is seen about halfway thru... my player has no pause feature so I could only catch it in passing.
Cleavon Little, later known as the Sheriff in Blazing Saddles.
I made it about halfway thru the director's commentary also. They used about 8 Challengers. It was "souped up to 160" you know.
Interesting bit of Americana
amped up on "Bennies"
I guess the Challenger never got delivered, he was beating the snot out of it anyhow. Nice T&A shots of the desert girl.
Oh, and a '68 Cutlass is seen about halfway thru... my player has no pause feature so I could only catch it in passing.
Cleavon Little, later known as the Sheriff in Blazing Saddles.
I made it about halfway thru the director's commentary also. They used about 8 Challengers. It was "souped up to 160" you know.
Last edited by Octania; May 28, 2013 at 04:28 PM.
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 63
What about "Hot Rod" the original movie from the 70's?
I'm surprised no one has mentioned the movie called Hot Rod from the 1970's? A rich kid whose dad owned the town and sold "Muntz" stereos drove a 1969 Olds 442 at the drag strip. He faced off against a drifter in an old primer coloured *****'s w a 426 hemi. In the end, despite the best efforts of the rich kids dad to sabotage the *****'s, he ended up beating the guy w the Olds in the finals. He had to return a blower unit he temporarily "stole" from a museum but got to keep the short block 426 hemi that they stole out of a cop car....great movie- see if u can locate it!
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 63
Ooooops
Ooooops- you are right. It seems I did not scroll down through all of the posts- sorry.
I had just purchased my first Olds- a 1972 Supreme which I owned for 20 yrs. This movie came out about a year after I got my first Olds and I remember the flick vividly.
I had just purchased my first Olds- a 1972 Supreme which I owned for 20 yrs. This movie came out about a year after I got my first Olds and I remember the flick vividly.
