Smart Automotive Blog

Where the cars are the stars

David Turney - Thursday, August 06, 2009

At Smart Automotive, we're real and love cars, which means we also love a good car movie.

It's a bit of a bygone era and genre of moviemaking, where the cars truly were the stars.

Muscle Cars running across country, usually on some kind of imposed deadline or task to be done (mostly illegal, but not always), or in the various stages of chase with law enforcement. There's always a fair bit of automotive carnage involved and due to the era, they're automotive gold. That usually draws a tear from any true car nut.

Then there's the movies where the cars are support cast. They carry the story and without it (or them) the story would've been empty.

There was little commercial reasoning for their casting and product placement was scarce. It was a time when cars (and particular brands or models) and people connected. Cars reflected the era and whatever the movie style, it was the cars that brought the story to life. Most of them have definitely contributed to the value of those cars on todays collectible market as well.

Funnily, I was reminded of this disappearing idea when I threw Quentin Tarantino's Death Proof in the DVD player for some automotive R&R. That movie, while paying genuine homage to car chase movies, was made in 2007. I got to thinking about my favourite car movies. I'd never say they're the best; that's way too contentious. But they're definitely up there and they're all in my collection. Any self-respecting car nut should have at least a couple of these in their collection too and we'd love you to tell us what you'd add to the list.

Thunder Road (1958) - lots of tyre noise on dirt roads but hey, that's show biz. Bullitt (1968) - 67 Mustang versus 68 Charger. Mustang wins. The Italian Job (1969) - Mini lover or not, this is some getaway. 1971 was a big year for the road movie. You have Duel - you'll never pass a truck again, Vanishing Point - 70 Challenger R/T. Mmmm, and Two-lane Blacktop (1971) - a personal favourite. 70 GTO and 55 Chevy.

Moved on through the years then to American Graffiti (1973) - American 50's & 60's, car heaven, Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry (1974) - more Chrysler action, with a surprise guest Chevy Impala sedan and Gone in 60 Seconds (1974) - the classic chase, maybe the greatest. Eleanor as a 73 Mach 1 Mustang and 93 cars in all die. An honorable mention to Smokey & The Bandit (1977) belongs here too, because that movie must've sold a ton of 77 Pontiac Trans Ams (with matching vanity plates).

The Blues Brothers (1980) go on a mission from God and wreck some cars and Cannonball Run (1983) brings a world car field to race across the US 'from sea to shining sea'. Christine (1983) stands alone as a car movie, because below the evil relationship between a car and her guy is the idea all car nuts want to believe (males any rate); all cars are girls and they are alive.

What's your favourite car movie?

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