Magic Mopar Movie Moments featuring Jeeps, Chryslers and the Mighty Dodge!
It's that time of year when lists get made: best smartphones of 2018, most popular holiday destinations, top ten internet fails. Not to be outdone, we've compiled our own list here at Hi-Tech Autoparts:
Magic Mopar Movie Moments featuring Jeeps, Chryslers and the Mighty Dodge!
Ok, not the catchiest of titles, but the research has been fascinating and thanks to the website www.imcdb.org (Internet Movies Car Database), not that hard to do.
MacGyver (Jeep Wrangler YJ) 1986-1992.
This somewhat beat-up Wrangler made frequent appearances on the show and seemed well suited to the hero's practical, adventurous approach to life.
Jurassic Park (Jeep Wrangler Sahara YJ) 1993
The open top Wrangler plays a best supporting role in this movie, allowing Sam Neil to pop through the roof and get a better look at the Brachiosaurus!
Dukes of Hazzard (1969 Dodge Charger R/T) 1979-1985
The classic ‘General Lee’ was the undoubted star of this series (closely followed by Daisy Duke of course – who was often seen driving a Jeep). Fun fact—229 Dodge Chargers were used in this series, only 19 survived.
Bullitt (1968 Dodge Charger R/T 440) 1968
Long before the Charger was the good ol’boy in Dukes of Hazzard, it featured as the baddie’s car in one of the most iconic movie car chases of all time—a motorized duel with Steve McQueen in a '68 Mustang. By all reports, the Charger outperformed the Mustang in power and handling.
The Blues Brothers (1974 Dodge Monaco) 1980
The film used 13 ex California Highway Patrol Monaco’s to represent the ‘bluesmobile’. Some were modified for speed, others for interior shots. A mechanic spent months modifying one Monaco so it would ‘fall apart’ at the pull of a lever. Many more were purchased (at a bargain $700 each) only to be demolished in the movie’s spectacular chase finale.
Vanishing Point (1970 Dodge Challenger R/T 440 four-speed) 1971
The movie stunt coordinator, said he requested the Dodge Challenger because of the "quality of the torsion bar suspension and for its horsepower.” An explosive-laden Chrysler Camaro replaced the Challenger for the final shots of the car smashing into the police roadblock. (The Challenger was used to tow the Camaro into the waiting bulldozers).
Christine (1958 Plymouth Fury) 1983
Ads were placed across the US to source the cars used in this movie. They purchased 23 and 16 were used for filming and the rest for parts. The filmmakers also used Modified Plymouth Belvederes and Savoys during the shoot. By the end of the movie, only three ‘Christines’ remained.
Lone Wolf McQuade (Dodge Ramcharger) 1983
One of Chuck Norris’s better movies, this one features a supercharged Dodge truck that literally digs its way out of a giant hole! Norris stuck with the Ram for his TV series Walker Texas Ranger, driving a 1995 Dodge Ram 1500.
More recently, we’ve seen plenty of Jeeps featuring in TV series such as Breaking Bad (Walter drives a Jeep Commander) and The Walking Dead, which features a whole range of Wranglers, Cherokees and Grand Cherokees.