That’s right readership, we’re going four door crazy today with two of the most celebrated American sedans in gearhead movie history, the 1966 Impala from Dirty Mary Crazy Larry and the 1971 Ford Custom 500 from White Lightning. Before we go any further down the road though, let’s check the result of our last death match, which was on Thursday because I sucked out loud on Friday. My B –
[box_dark]The last battle was between the 1968 Barracuda from Highwaymen and the 1967 Corvette from King of The Mountain
1968 Barracuda DEFEATS 1967 Corvette
Dennis Hopper died a fiery death in his 1967 Corvette at the end of King Of The Mountain. Sadly, his junk got beaten to death again by the 1968 Barracuda. Beat it Hopper![/box_dark]
Today we’re throwing two of the movies’ best four door cars against one another in a death match for the ages. We’ll first start with the bad ass 1966 Impala from Dirty Mary Crazy Larry. This car at least sounded like it had a four speed in it, jumped bridges, survived a fairly violent off road excursion during a chase and is eternally cooler than the Charger all of the lead characters ended up dying in at the end. Oh…umm spoiler alert? The car is used as the get away vehicle after Larry Rayder and Deke Sommers extort $150,000 from a guy who runs a grocery store. The two want to use the money to jump into professional level NASCAR racing and they’ve applied their race car skills to this car, which is one of the great sleepers in any movie…ever. It sounds boss, looks like a granny car and gets thrashed to the max. Eventually they hide the thing in a barn while trying to fix it and then get hold of the ill-fated Mopar (which lost its death match a while back).
Another car which will love forever close to the top of the sleeper charts is the 1971 Ford Custom 500 used in the movie White Lightning that starred Burt Reynolds. In our eyes, the rear star was the car because it was packing big block, four speed, moonshiner goodness (except in the scenes where it appears to have an automatic). Gator McKlusky turns and works for the feds to nab a crooked sheriff and in the process runs moonshine and kicks loads of ass. There are tons of off road chase scenes where the Ford is mercilessly sped through mud, over whoop-d-doos and jumped. The big four door spends most of its time sideways and evading the cooked local law enforcement. The soundtrack is just about 100% filled with the sounds of a closed air cleaner equipped four barrel running WFO and moaning for its life. The car is also brown and looks like every other big early 1970s Ford ever…except this one hauls bucket loads of tail.
SO NOW IT IS UP TO YOU! COMMENT BELOW TO VOTE ON WHETHER THE MORE DOOR 1971 FORD CUSTOM 500 FROM WHITE LIGHTNING OR THE CREW CAB 1966 IMPALA FROM DIRTY MARY CRAZY LARRY SHOULD WIN THIS DEATH MATCH! IT IS THE BEST FOUR DOOR BATTLE WE’LL EVER HAVE. CHOOSE WISELY!
Close but I gotta go with the Ford from White Lightning. Both times I’ve seen that film I’ve seriously wanted to build a replica of that car, its friggin cool, powerful and in a pinch could idle past a cop without raising an eyebrow….
So true! I’m a chevy purist but also would like to build a one of Gafor’s Ford.
Gator all the way……….the Dirty Mary car is cool but the Ford is BOSS………..plus the reasons above, i to would love to replicate the Gator more door………..awesome brownie goodness!
“Only two things in the world I’m scared of.”
“Only scared of two things? What’s that?”
“Women and the police.”
Gator gets the win today!
Roy Boone: Ready?
Gator McKlusky: I was born ready!
GATOR! Hammer down that Police Interceptor!
I’ve been run down by a few of them Police Interceptors. The GSP used them for years as well as the local County Sheriff.
Gator McKlusky’s Ford.
Gator’s Ford for the win!
Gator’s Ford. Both are jump cars, but jumping onto a floating barge wins!
Gator’s 500 is a favorite of mine and I am glad to see it made it into your death match!
The ford is bad ass
I’m only going with the Impala because ’66 is my favorite year Chevrolet, and everyone else instantly went with the Ford. I like both movies and the cars in them either way, haha.
The Ford rules!!!
White Lightning!
Gator’s Ford.
The Ford. I’m looking at every early-70’s LTD I see now as a result of seeing that damn car…
This a tough one to call. It’s no secret that I am a fan of big Chevies and the Larry’s subtle looking Impala does it. I like the line that Deke says to Larry when Larry wants to know what he did to make it faster. “I just hit it with a bigger hammer.”
But, I have to go with Gator’s Ford. Dual quad 428, 4 speed, Butt Stain Brown Metallic paint, and racy white letter tires on glossy black wheels. I like it. I like it a lot.
I am a die hard Chevy guy, but I gotta go with the Ford.
You guys are all smokin’ crack.
Put down the pipe.
Chevy all the way!!!
Ga-tor – Ga-tor – Ga-tor – Ga-tor – Ga-tor – Ga-tor- Ga-tor – Ga-tor
(Think John Belushi and To-ga…)
Not a Ford guy but I gotta go with the dual carb big block goodness. The image of the underhood shot has stayed with me for decades.
Let’s not forget the big air jump onto the barge…
One More for the Ford. In’75 my brother bought a retired Mass State Police
1972 Ford 500. Very similar to Gator’s car. The blue /gray two tone was painted
over in the just the dark blue. It had a 429 and a 3:00 gear. From 30 mph on it
a surprise that something that big could go that fast. Plus just cruisin at 55 freaked out
the other motorists .
I own a 1971 galaxie converted to a 4 speed. It is truly an attention getter on the road . As much as I appreciate a 66 impala the 71 4 door ford is. A beautiful sedan. ” keep that thing between the ditches”