Eleanor, a custom ’71 Sportsroof Mustang, stars in ‘Gone in 60 Seconds’. She’s the only Ford Mustang to ever receive a star title in a movie. Stars Marion Busia, Jerry Daugirda, James McIntryre, and George Cole also share the cast list. Filmmaker, actor, and stuntman H.B. Halicky wrote and directed the film. He was very involved. He filled in to do stunts no one else dared to. Sadly, he was killed when the most dramatic stunt in ‘Gone in 60 Seconds 2’ (1989) went terribly wrong.
Plenty of other cars co-star, and they all have names, just like in ‘Cars’. The movie is about a band of thieves who must steal 48 cars within a strict deadline set by a ruthless South American drug lord. The famous ‘Gone in 60 Seconds’ chase scene destroyed a record number of cars. In 36 minutes, a total of ninety-three cars were destroyed. By the end of the film, 127 cars were demolished. The seminal chase scene is considered the best in the business, created by actual filming, not CGI.
Grand Prix
In 1966, MGM and director John Frankenheimer did everything possible to make 'Grand Prix' authentic to Formula One racing. In the backroom, the film’s technical adviser was none other than legendary Le Mans racer and car maker Carroll Shelby. The final product won three Oscars for technical, sound, and visual excellence.
Making the film was director Frankenheimer’s dream project. In 1969 he told Motor Sport Magazine, “To be able to indulge your fantasies with ten-and-a-half million dollars is, I think, marvelous.” Star power drove the film’s success. Hollywood heavy-weights James Garner, Yves Montand, Brian Bedford, and Antonio Sabato starred. A savvy film crew optimized 1960s filming technologies. They used helicopters to angle-in on race scenes and utilized multiple screens to produce amazing shots of the action. The fun kicks off once American driver Pete Aron gets launched off the Monaco Formula One course into the Mediterranean. Splash! The near-fatal crash doesn’t stop this racer from contending for the title.
The Bourne Identity
Even though this is not exactly a car movie, 'The Bourne' saga definitely features some incredible car chases. And it all started with the first movie, 'The Bourne Identity' (2002). The film features a young Matt Damon speeding in a beautiful old school Mini Cooper as he engages in a thrilling car chase through the streets of Paris.
The chase, which pays tribute to the legendary car chase scene in 1969's 'The Italian Job', has Jason Bourne (Damon) and his girlfriend Marie (Franka Potente) in a tiny car driving up street sidewalks, down stairs, head-on into street traffic, and more. Definitely one of the most thrilling car chases ever filmed.
Vanishing Point
This action-thriller road flick is about a dude who wants to race cross country to win a bet. He loves speed and the drug too. His gig is to deliver a supercharged Dodge Challenger Race and Track 440 from Denver to S.F. as fast as he can.
'Vanishing Point' stars Barry Newman, Cleavon Little, and Dean Jagger. Kowalski (Newman), a Vietnam vet, a former race car driver, and a dishonorably discharged police officer, is relentlessly pursued by two cops. He gets some help from a radio station DJ and hippie biker named Angel. On the way, Kowalski also gets propositioned to race a Jaguar E-Type roadster. You know who wins. (The maniac in the Challenger.) It’s a rock and roll movie.
The Hitch-Hiker
They should not have picked up that hitch-hiking sociopath, but then there wouldn't be a movie. Based on a true story, 'The Hitch-Hiker' is a 1953 oldie starring Edmund O’Brien and Frank Lovejoy on the road, and William Tallman as the murderous fugitive. Directed by Ida Lupino, a prominent British filmmaker, this movie was the first film noir by a woman.
The entirety of the film takes place inside of a generic car. The two men are off to a fishing expedition when they made the fatal mistake of giving the wanted murderer a lift. The hitchhiker is a psychopathic misanthrope wanted for murder in several states. The character was inspired by William Cook, who was ultimately executed at San Quentin for his long list of horrific murders.