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History American Graffiti Cars

Discussion in 'Traditional Hot Rods' started by WCreighton, Jan 31, 2020.

  1. WCreighton
    Joined: Jun 22, 2019
    Posts: 25

    WCreighton

  2. While we're at it how about the 56 or 57 Vette that's parked at the drive-in?
    [​IMG]
     
  3. The Red car in front of the Milner Coupe looks more like a '33/'34 to me, but it's hard to tell from the pictures. I know nothing about either it or the "T" so I'm no help. May have just been local cars that were used and the owners paid some money. Some of the studios also had cars.
     
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  4. SbcMike65
    Joined: Nov 26, 2018
    Posts: 42

    SbcMike65

    I agree with the previous post. Red coupe looks to be 33-34. More than likely majority of the cars were probably rented. I belonged to street rod clubs in SoCal in the 70-80's and knew people who rented their cars for movies. One of them had a 30 highboy, black pinstriped flames with a chopped windshield and deuce shell. His car was used in the Jeff Bridges film "Starman". A club in the Valley had some of their cars used in the "Hollywood Knights " (title?). Seemed like at the time the going rate was around $150 a day, but I don't know that to be factual, hearsay. My. 2 cents
     
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  5. WCreighton
    Joined: Jun 22, 2019
    Posts: 25

    WCreighton

    Thanks for the responses guys. Hopefully someone will know more or know the owners.

    Will
     
  6. Mr48chev
    Joined: Dec 28, 2007
    Posts: 33,861

    Mr48chev
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    There is probably no info on them unless it is possibly buried in the film credits. Filler cars that they paid a daily fee to the owners for and said owners may have also picked up a few coins as non speaking background extras.
    I think the guy driving the T did have a speaking part telling "Milner" that the dude in the 55 was looking for him.
    I drug my wife to the show on one of the first nights it showed in the theater but have never been hung up on the cars in it like some guys are 47 years later. It was fun to watch and reminded me of Cruising Yakima Avenue in Yakima Wa on Friday nights or the Renton Loop http://rentonloop.com/ in Renton WA where you could pick up a street race sitting in the parking lot of Dag's (thanks Larry) drive on and cruise out to East Valley Highway by the radio station to square off. I got caught sitting after racing a Road Runner there in 1969. Stopped to talk to the guy I raced against on the side of the road rather than a crowded tavern parking lot where my car would have disappeared.
     
    Last edited: Feb 5, 2020
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  8. ramblin dan
    Joined: Apr 16, 2018
    Posts: 3,609

    ramblin dan

    I believe the same 55 was used in the movie Two Lane Blacktop. Back years ago some of these prop cars from movies that were built would go up for sale. My aunt lived and worked in California would sometimes send me a list of props for sale from movie studios which included movie twolane.jpg wsxy.jpg ojqfma[1].jpg cars. I'm sure a ton of these cars from these movies were borrowed though. At the time of filming who would of thought they would be worth anything?
     
  9. I think the movie sparked a whole new generation of hot rodders...
     
  10. bchctybob
    Joined: Sep 18, 2011
    Posts: 5,190

    bchctybob
    Member

    Look on the internet for fan sites.
    I was looking up an episode of Perry Mason the other day to find out who a particular actor was, I looked at a fan site called “perrymasonshow.com” or something like that and they had listed every episode, the cast, errors, filming locations and even featured cars ( I noted a custom Buick Riviera by Barris)
    There may be several fan sites for American Graffiti.


    Sent from my iPad using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
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  11. Hot Rods Ta Hell
    Joined: Apr 20, 2008
    Posts: 4,670

    Hot Rods Ta Hell
    Member

  12. Cyclone Kevin
    Joined: Apr 15, 2002
    Posts: 4,223

    Cyclone Kevin
    Alliance Vendor

    8AAA8C16-E368-4621-853E-2316C0ADEA51.jpeg
    So looking these stills over, I See a difference in windshields, radiator, valve covers, mirror location and headlight height. If it’s the actual car, it no longer resembles what it once was.
    I always wonder what happened to the 2CV, the Vespa, Edsel, Black 55 Ford Fairlane, White 60 Chevy HT. And so many other including the 36 Ford P/U with the parachute on the tailgate? It’s actually a 41;).
    Good luck in your search.
     
    Last edited: Feb 2, 2020
  13. dan c
    Joined: Jan 30, 2012
    Posts: 2,520

    dan c
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    i recall a piece in "street rodder" about the main cars. most were pretty bad. crappy chop on the merc and the milner car radius rods kept tearing up the frame. they advertised it for $3,500 (pre- release) and didn't get any takers!
     
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  14. Speed Gems
    Joined: Jul 17, 2012
    Posts: 6,433

    Speed Gems
    Member

    The '41 Ford P/U is covered in this thread. https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/cars-of-american-graffiti.873559/
     
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  15. ramblin dan
    Joined: Apr 16, 2018
    Posts: 3,609

    ramblin dan

    Rod and Custom also did a piece on the original Deuce used in the movie and it was in pretty rough shape and had spots where brackets were welded to the frame for cameras for the film.
     
  16. alfin32
    Joined: Jun 20, 2006
    Posts: 1,588

    alfin32
    Member Emeritus
    from Essex, Ma.

    There's also a '37 Ford P/U off to the left of the head on shot of the drag race, I believe.
     
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  17. WCreighton
    Joined: Jun 22, 2019
    Posts: 25

    WCreighton

    Thanks for the discussion everyone. The T always struck me as really badass and the perfect look.

    Will
     
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  18. Crayons
    Joined: May 31, 2019
    Posts: 122

    Crayons
    Member

    I'd like to see more of the Hudson. ..
     
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  19. nomadmrk
    Joined: Dec 19, 2012
    Posts: 1

    nomadmrk
    Member

  20. The white 58 Chevy is in the Ray Evernham collection. (from Hendricks Motorsports) Ray bought it and had a museum quality restoration done on it to make it exactly as it was in the movie, only better. Candy Clark was in Vegas for the unveiling and said it had never looked that good. As to that red t-bucket, if it ever was in the movie it has had so many changes made that it's irrelevant.

    Would still like to hear about the Vette though.

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Feb 3, 2020
  21. rudestude
    Joined: Mar 23, 2016
    Posts: 3,048

    rudestude
    Member

    No one has brought up this one yet..unless I missed it...its been around for a long time and is still around 1580600157366957885271322186145.jpeg 1580600133212652121937288853078.jpeg 15806004208715022080387358755992.jpeg 15806003786461667862767984746147.jpeg 15806001892605799959140564962786.jpeg 1580600343548464099153060445900.jpeg

    Sent from my SM-J737V using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
  22. WCreighton
    Joined: Jun 22, 2019
    Posts: 25

    WCreighton

    Rudestude,

    I love seeing the ‘40 in the movie, but I always thought it looked way better before the quads...

    Will
     
  23. Was that 1940 coupe the Don Hockenberry car ?
     
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  24. rudestude
    Joined: Mar 23, 2016
    Posts: 3,048

    rudestude
    Member

    It was Barris built
    Owner was Tom Hocker

    Sent from my SM-T387V using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
  25. SDhotrod
    Joined: Oct 11, 2008
    Posts: 650

    SDhotrod
    Member

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  26. WCreighton
    Joined: Jun 22, 2019
    Posts: 25

    WCreighton

  27. prpmmp
    Joined: Dec 12, 2011
    Posts: 1,129

    prpmmp
    Member

    Without a doubt!! Streetrods were fairly new and the aftermarket was starting to take notice!! The term Streetrod gets a bad rap on this forum but if not for there influence and the aftermarket plus Movies our Hobby would be a lot different today!! ( just my Humble opinion as I was 19 yrs old when American Graffiti was released) Pete
     
  28. Ghost28
    Joined: Nov 23, 2008
    Posts: 3,200

    Ghost28
    Member

    Always good conversation about this movie.
     
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  29. WCreighton
    Joined: Jun 22, 2019
    Posts: 25

    WCreighton

    Well if the T posted above is actually the former movie T that’s a shame...

    Will
     
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