People who have seen the movie "Mad Max" maybe can't forget Mel Gibson's car: yep, it was a Ford, a Falcon XB GT to be exact, but you might know as the V8 Interceptor.
"Mad Max" serie start in 1979 but there's an interesting story about this famous car from the 1973. Today I want tell you something about the changes made to the car to make it look like a very threatening car.
A STORY ABOUT REDESIGN
In fact the starting point of the Falcon XB GT was a used GT 351 hard-top: this muscle car was sold only in Australia during the 70s in limited edition and, let's face it, this car already seemed very strong and powerful, but apparently not enough!
Ford GT 351 (1970)
To the original GT 351 were added on the roof and the back two spoilers, and a typical Concorde's front became famous through the fans; however, still not satisfied, they decided to extend the wheel arches to put on bigger wheels from a van, they painted black all the body for a total dark look, the bottom matt and the top shiny (very stylish), moreover they added a dummy carburetor on the hood.
Ford Falcon XB GT - V8 Interceptor
AT THE END...
At the end of shooting, the car has been put up for sale but there were no customers... Let me tell you that in another life I'd have bought one, but I would have kept it maybe just for two, three days... Here, in Italy, the gasoline costs more than wine, and the Falcon XB GT is not such a little car!
However, I leave you today with a funny video with different clips from the movie and some detail of the car.
THINGS ABOUT THIS CAR
much love - Nicoletta
TAGS:
#ford #madmax #fordgt #movies #oldies #design #musclecar #falcongtxb #gt351 #v8 #interceptor
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Comments (24)
Love the Falcon xB, wish they were sold here in the 'States.
Picking nits, but, that's not a dummy carb sticking out of the hood, but a dummy supercharger. Still, in the original film, it seemed as if everyone was souping up their cars - the cherry red Bel Air (that got destroyed by Toecutter's goons) had eight velocity stacks sticking out of the hood. (Yeah, they were also fake.)
Even though they were a Ford product, they struck a deal with AMC to make a limited run of 1,500 because they were an immediate hit with audiences in 79. The limited edition AMX's (as they were known as) weren't legally allowed to obstruct the view with a blower of that size...but, they did, however, come with a under the hood supercharged 383! The body style came off of the Matador assembly line which would eventually become the AMC Spirit. The problem with AMC was...well, there was NO problems! The cars ran so well that they never needed anything but routine maintenance. I had an '83 Spirit straight 6 with 4 speed. The one thing I needed was an alternator and there was no internet at that time. It took me months to find one and then still had to rebuild it just for comfort's sake. Other than that, plugs, oil, water..the usual. That'sa all it ever needed. As for those 1,500 AMX's? I don't know how many remain (if any) and if there are a few, the price tag on those has GOT to be 6 figures..at least! The 383 was the standard Road Runner/Barracuda power plants. The reason that AMC got the deal was because the cost of exporting such a coveted machine from the Australian factory wouldn't have been feasible nor were American facilities equipped for Falcons by 79. Mustangs were the primary muscle for Ford. Always have been. Always will. Ford made ANOTHER MAJOR blunder when they completely overlooked the public's taste for muscle and Shelby and Iacocca BOTH should have seen that coming! The Falcon's production line is almost identical to the Mach 1's of those same years so, that's a cop out in my opinion. Look at the new Trans Am's. Has price or time of labor kept anyone (who can afford one) from buying those? The new GTO's have more demand than supply by 2 to one! Now, the Mavericks are back too! Ya wanna keep oil alive - cuz oil's on it's way out! Wanna keep someone going to a gas pump? Give em 455cc with a blower and twin 4 barrels! We (the US) with enough oil to burn more than we could ever want! Sure, keep making electric. Im all for it..but, don't dangle something like Max's XB and expect me not do anything devious I can to get one! That thing is a work of art! Ya got your Mona Lisa, Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon and then, ya got THIS! I don't ask for much in life but, damn, this is the only thing I want -since I can't have that other Falcon. Ya know, the one that hits light speed!
Ah the V8 interceptor how can one not forget this wonderful Falcon these were such great movies growing up in Oz cult status although we had to refer to petrol as gasoline for the US market! I remember reading an article when these movies were released in the US that local law enforcement set up radar traps outside cinemas and made a fortune for lead foot movie goers !
Hi congratulations - your post has been selected by DriveTribe Classics Ambassador for promotion on the DriveTribe homepage.
Much love! Thankss
Love the interceptor! Thanks for that cool post, promoted to Best of Classics!
Thank you very much Clemsie! I'm so happy that you enjoyed my post! Thanks!
I really did! I hope you've got many more coming from us :)