Speaking of harnesses and safety, has anybody seen the recent double feature horror exploitation flick Grindhouse? The chase scene in Quentin Tarantino’s “Death Proof” (the three hour film’s second half) between the wild stunt chicks in a 440 powered ’70 Challenger and Kurt Russel’s ’69 Charger is sheer movie magic. But did anybody notice that Zoe the stunt chick straps herself to the hood of the Challenger using belts that attach to the Challenger’s door frames? Wait a minute, door frames on a Challenger?
You roll down the window on any Challenger or Barracuda and there’s no frame whatsoever to loop a belt around. It took me a few minutes of scrutinizing the on screen action before it hit me. A pair of Ford Pinto upper door/window frames had been added to
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It probably took some thinking, a junkyard tour and a few dead ends before the team realized the Pinto door frame is pretty close to filling the need. Look closely at the car on screen and you’ll see the odd gaps between the add-on Pinto window frames and existing Challenger A-pillars and roof drip rail contours. All the same, the end result is an amazing – and hilarious - action sequence that’s sure to go down in Mopar movie history with the likes of “Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry” and “Vanishing Point” – two movies “Death Proof’s” cast openly references in the dialogue. Rent it or go see it if you get the chance.
One lesser known classic Mopar moment is the chase scene in Robert Altman’s 1970 comedy adventure film “Brewster McCloud” starring Sally Kellerman, Shelley Duvall and a Tor-Red 1970 Road Runner Sedan. A buddy whose into obscure films turned me onto the Road Runner’s presence in the movie and showed me the chase sequence several times on his laser disc copy of “Brewster McCloud”.
The chase scene also involves a 1970 ½ Camaro Z/28 (that flip flops between a split-bumper RS car and a one-piece-bumper regular Z/28 from shot to shot), several 440 powered Mopar cop cars and a wild red 304 Gremlin with a stick shift that blows a ton of donuts and smokes the right rear tire as Sally Kellerman’s character attempts to distract the cops from the chase. But it was the chased Road Runner I scrutinized most. My film school buddy tells me one of Altman’s themes for the film was of the “flightless bird”, and we all know real roadrunners (of the flesh and blood variety) are great at running, not so much at flying, and so the Plymouth Road Runner’s presence is a metaphor of sorts. Whatever.
I was immediately drawn in by the opening sequence of the chase that centers on the Road Runner’s Air-Grabber as it slowly rises up from the hood. Then there are scenes where driver Shelley Duvall grabs the Pistol Grip four speed and rips gears like Ronnie Sox, the silver and black factory upholstered bench seat and door panels also shown in the frame. As the car veers, slides and bombs past the camera, clues are added.
The Dana 60 rear axle plays peek-a-boo several times and in a jump scene, the factory issue D-shaped skid plate is fully visible. I’m thinking to myself, is this a Hemi Road Runner? The Dana 60 confirms at least 440 status. But remember, the only 440 you could order in a 1970 Road Runner was the 6-Barrel. The 440 4-barrel was only sold in the GTX. Yet the movie car lacks the red and black 440+6 stickers on the hood you’d expect to see. So can this be a Hemi powered example that’s hammered around the screen for over 10 minutes? Could be. Then again, I looked for Hemi-specific torque boxes but didn’t see any. It remains a mystery. Check online sources for a copy of “Brewster McCloud” or scope out excerpts on YouTube.
In the mean time, check the expiration date on your safety harness. It may be time to make another donation.
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