Register now to get rid of these ads!

41 Willys from the movie "Hot Rod"

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by CadillacKid, Nov 22, 2006.

  1. CadillacKid
    Joined: Oct 15, 2002
    Posts: 1,507

    CadillacKid
    Member

    Okay, so I did some searching and came up with zilch on this car. Anybody have any info on it? I've seen the movie more times than I can count now, and I've gleaned a wealth of knowledge about the car just from repeated viewings...info like straight axled front end, 426 Hemi powered, blue shag carpet, black front rims and daisy wheels on the back at the start of the movie and centerlines at the end when they stole Sonny Munn's wheels and tires.... But I was wondering Does anybody know anything more specific about the car(s)? I was told that they used 3 different Willys to make the movie...what happened to these cars? What was the difference between them (other than the obvious fact of one having a dropped axle in front)? All steel bodies? What rear end were they running? Wheel and tire brands?

    I guess I just figured I'd ask because there has been quite a bit of discussion on here about other movie cars (Graffitti coupe, Two Lane Blacktop '55, etc.) and there hasn't really been much discussion about the infamous Willys. Also, I'm building a Willys coupe right now and I've been wanting to duplicate that killer grey one...Any info is appreciated! Thanks fellas!
     
  2. Phil1934
    Joined: Jun 24, 2001
    Posts: 2,716

    Phil1934
    Member

    I remember it got painted yellow with HOT ROD on the side in 12" high red letters and made some events.
     
  3. s.r.i.
    Joined: Aug 6, 2005
    Posts: 1,078

    s.r.i.
    Member
    from Hell

    One of the bigger street rod mags did an article on this several years back. I'm thinking it was Borgeson, but I could be wrong, but it was a major parts manufactuer that bought it and actually pro streeted it (tubbed and tucked)> I can't remember which mag, all I do remember was a few of us talking how sad it was that a car with history had to meet such a fate.
     
  4. CadillacKid
    Joined: Oct 15, 2002
    Posts: 1,507

    CadillacKid
    Member


    Wow...that is a damn shame....kinda like what happened with the '57 from Hollywoood Knights...Project X and all...I loved that car the way it started out...yellow. no hood, blower...Done! :D Thanks for the info guys...keep 'em comin! :)
     

  5. ShakeyPuddin55
    Joined: Dec 22, 2004
    Posts: 1,906

    ShakeyPuddin55
    Member

    What a shame..... :(

    [​IMG]
     
  6. Stick Shift
    Joined: Oct 2, 2005
    Posts: 2,558

    Stick Shift
    Member
    from LENA IL

    Well the only difference with the 57 is that it was Project X before it was in the movies. I think it was Popular Hot Roddings project car for years. Well it was one of those magazines.
     
  7. It is a really sad day if in fact that is the same car from the movie.
     
  8. poncho62
    Joined: Nov 23, 2005
    Posts: 1,094

    poncho62
    BANNED

    Thats right...the Project X had about 3 or 4 rebuilds before it was ever in that movie. PHR bought it around 1967.
     
  9. hotrod mike
    Joined: Nov 21, 2006
    Posts: 1,728

    hotrod mike
    Member

    I seem to recall Steve Castelli crashed a few years ago. I remember seeing video of it hitting the fence and flipping over. I don't know if he ever repaired it. Mike
     
  10. I've talked with Steve Castelli about the movie car. He said there were 3 coupes used. One he purchased after the movie (yellow drag car), another was used for interior carmera shots & had the entire rear roof section removed for camera views. No info on the third coupe. Watching the HotRod movie, you can identify 3 different coupes. Hope your liking that willys coupe Steve, I sure miss it. My willys sedan is gonna be totally gangsta - thug though. Carl Hagan
     
  11. 40LUV
    Joined: Dec 30, 2003
    Posts: 1,883

    40LUV
    Member
    from Mid Jersey

    There used to be a company called Mullins that sold street rod steering components. The guy who owned that business had one of those cars and redid it. There was a feature of the car in Street Rodder, probably over 10 years ago.
     
  12. CadillacKid
    Joined: Oct 15, 2002
    Posts: 1,507

    CadillacKid
    Member

    Right on Carl...glad you're digging the sedan...I miss that car too...Any luck with the registration?
     
  13. ProEnfo
    Joined: Sep 28, 2005
    Posts: 1,498

    ProEnfo
    Member
    from Motown

  14. I don't know what is worse, that it has been completely changed, or how tastlessly it was done. They may as well have started with a 'glass shell. Oh well, they bought a piece of history with their own money, I guess it's their right to ruin it.
     
  15. bulletproof1
    Joined: Feb 23, 2004
    Posts: 2,079

    bulletproof1
    Member
    from tulsa okla

    its not so bad...at least it wasnt crushed...maybe someday someone will put it back the way it should be..at least for now its being used..could be ALLOT worse...
     
  16. Check the link in post #13, it would be very difficult to put it back. I sent the people a polite E-mail, I wonder if they will respond.
     
  17. Ghostrdr
    Joined: Oct 24, 2006
    Posts: 374

    Ghostrdr
    Member
    from Missouri

    He's right, I scored some early 70's and late 60's Popular Hotrodding zines at Spoon river, and the Project X was in them. I remembered hearing that was a very old project car in the nineties and even remember some late 1980's features of the car.
     
  18. s.r.i.
    Joined: Aug 6, 2005
    Posts: 1,078

    s.r.i.
    Member
    from Hell

    Mullins, thats it. Knew it was steering. Give me a break, I'm turnin 40 in a few months :D
     
  19. SOCAL PETE
    Joined: Oct 19, 2006
    Posts: 1,204

    SOCAL PETE
    Member
    from Ramona CA

    One of my favorite scenes from that movie...right after the cobra walks TONY in traffic..Tony pulls to the red light. Up pulls the pigs.."Alright Pull it over a$$hole" Tony launches it and scares the crap out of the cop.
    Damn doing that today would get a good pistol whipping or a night stick rammed up your ass.
     
  20. That's funny. I haven't heard the cops called "pigs" in a long time. Even though I have a few cop friends, that post still made me laugh for some reason.
     
  21. 40LUV
    Joined: Dec 30, 2003
    Posts: 1,883

    40LUV
    Member
    from Mid Jersey

    Don't feel bad, I think Borgeson bought Mullins.
     
  22. T McG
    Joined: Feb 12, 2005
    Posts: 1,262

    T McG
    Member
    from Phoenix

    Bill Mullins did have one of the cars, and it was a total pos. He had Dominator Motorsports build a chassis for it, and a monster big block, then went racing. The car easily ran in the 8's, and with a milder big block, was street driven. The car was top shelf regardless of it's style of build. It was more legit race car than just another lame pro street car. The car was bought from Bill by Dave Addison, who sold it right away, and it has seemingly disapeared. And yes, Borgeson did purchase Mullins Steering gears about 5 years ago, and Bill currently is operations manager for RB's Obsolete.
     
    falcongeorge likes this.
  23. T McG
    Joined: Feb 12, 2005
    Posts: 1,262

    T McG
    Member
    from Phoenix

    Ok, heres the real story direct from Bill Mullins. There were three cars, the one that Bill had was the car that was used in all the street driving scenes. The car at the time of filming had a 301 sbc & 4 speed, it had absoutley no floors, and a trunk lid that was about 1" thick with bondo.He bought it in 1990 for $3000. He paid $26,000 for body & paint work, and his comment was, that it was barely saveable. The engine he built for it was a 600" Rodek with two 1050 dominator carbs and dual stage nitrous. It's best time was 8:12 at 160 plus mph.
    The second car is the yellow one owned by Steve Castelli. That car had a big block with a 4 speed, and it was the one they used at the drag strip.
    The third car, and I can hear you guys already crying was the car they used to film the scenes with a couple sitting in the car makin out or whatever they were doing, and the film crew cut the roof off to be able to get the shots they needed! It wasn't a complete car, just a body sitting on a trailer, but still, why cut a perfectly good car. Bill doesn't know what happened to the remains of that one.
    Hope this answers all you questions.
     
  24. CadillacKid
    Joined: Oct 15, 2002
    Posts: 1,507

    CadillacKid
    Member

    So what was the story behind the Hemi? Was it actually in the Willys at all? Or did the movie makers just do that good of a fake job?
     
  25. Ruiner
    Joined: May 17, 2004
    Posts: 4,141

    Ruiner
    Member

    Come on Steve (or as Louver Dude would call ya, Jake), show us some damned pics of the sedan...I want to see what this pile looks like man...gotta get a good look at my competition for the HAMB Drags...hehehe
     
  26. Jimv
    Joined: Dec 5, 2001
    Posts: 2,924

    Jimv
    Member

    How did it look in the movie? was it the same? Any pics from the movie?
    JimV
     
  27. alsancle
    Joined: Nov 30, 2005
    Posts: 1,572

    alsancle
    Member

    Looks kinda the same?
     

    Attached Files:

  28. VespaJay
    Joined: Jul 27, 2001
    Posts: 346

    VespaJay
    Member

  29. CadillacKid
    Joined: Oct 15, 2002
    Posts: 1,507

    CadillacKid
    Member

  30. alsancle
    Joined: Nov 30, 2005
    Posts: 1,572

    alsancle
    Member

    Thanks. I saw that site but the pictures were copywrited - don't ask me why I didn't figure out why the picture I posted was a new shot.
     

Share This Page

Register now to get rid of these ads!

Archive

Copyright © 1995-2021 The Jalopy Journal: Steal our stuff, we'll kick your teeth in. Terms of Service. Privacy Policy.

Atomic Industry
Forum software by XenForo™ ©2010-2014 XenForo Ltd.