Restomods At The Movies: Top 10 Badass Modded Cars In TV And Film

June 26, 2018

#7: This Iconic Chevy 150 From Not One, But Two Movies!

The Chevy 150 in its American Graffiti guise. [Via Pinterest.]

American Graffiti is a film produced during that golden era where George Lucas actually cared about films, rather than just producing sequels and bathing in money. The film, released with the tagline “where were you in ’62?” follows a group of teenage hot rodders in the late summer of 1962. It’s a beautifully shot movie that nails not only the coming-of-age genre perfectly, but also the look and feel of that particular time in America. With a cameo from voice of a generation, Wolfman Jack, it’s as close as many of us can get to experiencing a time we missed. Anyway, I’ve eulogized enough about this film, so let’s get on to the car.

…And as seen in Two-Lane Blacktop. [Via Internet Movie Car Database.]

This modded 1955 Chevy 150 is driven by the arrogant racer Bob Falfa, played by Harrison Ford, but this wasn’t its first appearance on the big screen. It had already debuted in the countercultural road movie Two-Lane Blacktop, where it was owned by a pair of racers known only as The Driver and The Mechanic. The film’s producer, Gary Kurtz, had spent time racing with Richard Ruth, who had built a ’55 Chevy hot rod. This inspired two of the cars that would go on to be used in Two-Lane Blacktop, while the third would be more customized, designated for usage in stunts. Two 454 engines and one 427 were shipped to the studio, and Ruth set about creating the cars. The two main cars featured a Weiand Tunnel ram and twin-barrel Holleys, while the stunt car featured a four-barrel set up, a full roll cage, and independent left and right braking, so it could skid with ease. After the film wrapped, the 454 car was sold, and the two 427s remained with the studio. Not long after that, the cars were retrieved for American Graffiti, and, after being painted black (and a third car being built as a “burn” car), found their way back into the movies.

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