Captain Duff 79 Report post Posted July 20, 2014 I was thinking today after hearing the sad news of the death of James Garner how much I loved the Rockford Files, but also how certain cars were key parts of shows like that. Where would Jim Rockford have been without his trusty custom bronze Pontiac Firebird? But than what would Starsky and Hutch have done without the Ford Torino, or the Dukes of Hazzard without the Dodge Charger? And while my own childhood has some great cars to go with such classic TV memories, what is there today to compare? What memories of cars will young kids today have in years to come, because I can't think of any myself? I know some of the young shavers have a thing for the Fast and Furious films, and while I've never seen any of them myself I don't even think that any particular car is a 'star' in any of them? Same for the Transporter ones (only watched half of the first one before I got bored, but can't recall the car used anyway). Is the golden age of a cool car model being integral to a show unlikely to ever happen again? Or indeed, does anyone under 40 have a clue what I'm on about Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
keelerad 256 Report post Posted July 21, 2014 More recently made series that had a car star, Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes (Granada and Quattro) but they were set in the 70's and 80's couple more old ones, always seems to be cop related? Hazel, Triumph Stag Bergerac, Triumph Roadster Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Special K 442 Report post Posted July 21, 2014 Is this not a sign of the times we live in? All the 'classic' cars mentioned are 'muscle'. These days we're into cotton-wooled eco hybrid gooners... .... little boxes (made of ticky-tacky) with no character, charisma or charm. And they all look just the same... Spec K Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Captain Duff 79 Report post Posted July 21, 2014 Yes Alec, cop shows do seem to attract these sorts of single car connections (or at least they used to). I guess in the UK we also had the iconic Mk IV Cortina (Sweeny); Mk II Jag (Morse, but also popular as a villain car in the Sweeny and countless other shows); Volvo P1800 (The Saint); Bodie and Doyle's performance Escorts and Capris and Cowley's Granada in the Professionals Then there was the cop show in reverse Minder where the Capri and Daimler Sovereign were both constant and absolutely perfect for Terry and Arthur. Perhaps as car ownership (fuelled by cheap credit) has grown massively since those times the iconography of certain car models and the aspiration to be able to own them has inversely declined? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Subota Boy 402 Report post Posted July 21, 2014 Is this not a sign of the times we live in? All the 'classic' cars mentioned are 'muscle'. These days we're into cotton-wooled eco hybrid gooners... .... little boxes (made of ticky-tacky) with no character, charisma or charm. And they all look just the same... Spec K Jake Thackray? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hashiriya 52 Report post Posted July 21, 2014 I guess they still exist to a certain extent. Maybe not as iconic but they are certainly around. I know someone who would love an R8 because Ironman drives one for example. Bond cars will always remain a source of aspiration right? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bail 33 Report post Posted July 21, 2014 If I ever have enough "spare" money to spend on silly things I am totally going to buy and make my own versions of this: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Keethos 842 Report post Posted July 21, 2014 The new Sweeny made a thing about the Focus ST....well top gear did anyways But besides the Fast & Furious cars, the only real film with the stars being the cars is by far the James Bond films as Mas mentioned! Films like the first Bourne did have a big car chase with the old Mini but I wouldn't class that as a star per say, it's not something that was specifically cast for the film, more like something that was suitable for that particular chase (in my opinion, I could be completely wrong). Not many films put that extra effort into finding the write car for the film now days or make a big deal out of it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Qu1ckn1ck 44 Report post Posted July 21, 2014 Jake Thackray? Sung by Pete Seeger, written by Melvina Reynolds Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
