I saw the movie when it first came out, I was 12 or 13 years old at the time. To say this movie made an impression on me would not be enough, it totally jacked up my mind to the point that I knew right then that I was going to own and drive a hot rod, but not just any car but a 32 5 window. I bought the model kit when it came out (A.G. II) and I still have it. My parents planned a vacation to Universal Studios, so my girlfried and I went along (around 79 or 80) and guess what I saw there! Milners coupe. The first thing I did was jump the rope and check it out. My girlfriend (now my wife of 25 years) took my picture next to the car. I bought my 32 coupe in 1985 and I'm happy to say.......I still own it! To sum it up, That movie and That car changed my life.
Milners coupe wasnt the best rep for the times at least not in my area, but at least Lucas tried to get the main feeling, by using a real duece, and chevy powered. Most of the coupes n roadsters were full fendered during that time, the cops were on our ass then. So I adjusted for it because of the effort for reality that Lucas made in so many other areas.
i dont think any one knows for sure where the real 32 is,,,ive heard for years it was in nj,,,,along withthe 55...there is a nice copy in nj,,,it has been contracted to paul (milner) for when he is at events on the east coast,,looks pretty close,,rear fenders,,not perfect in the front,,and is an auto,,,but still kool to see it around,,,
The August 13 issue of "Autoweek" came in the mail today. The main article in this issue is the 75th birthday of the '32 Ford. Anyway there is a small article on the AG coupe. It says: "American Graffiti Coupe" "Now owned by Rick Figaro.....the work was handled by Johnny Franklin of Santa Rosa, CA......" I have no idea if this is accurate, but I've been subscribing to Autoweek for 32 years and it's a respected magazine, although they rarely write about hot rods. ....?????...
So many newbies here...........I posted this prob 7 years ago when we would go off on AG posts. I was 4 years old, my folks took me to the theater because dad grew up in the 50s,60s........I wore my PJs because they thought I would fall asleep. My folks bought me a Sprite (big treat in this day and age of sodas EVERYWHERE) and my mom tried to cover my eyes during the "moon" scene...........................that whole movie wrecke dme for life. My wife and I still watch it several times a year. My young son will grow up with that movie as well...............................
Doh!I'm trying to let this thread go but......That would be weird cos I,ve seen Mr Beck's "copy"and you wouldn,t throw it out of bed!!Its a steel rod he bought just to do THE coupe.Apparantly he chopped it once,thought it wern.t right,went back to states for a remeasure then chopped it again.Why would he want 2,especially as the Figari coupe is getting some doubters.If so,I,m putting in a bid right now for the "copy".One rusted Thames van and 2 jammy dodgers.BY the way nice pics KiwiK.Am I done?
anybody have pictures of Steve Glucoft's yellow 5 window? his car has verifiable history that puts it on the streets in the same town and at the same time as when Lucas was in in high school. not saying the Mr Lucas coppied the car, just that it was there then.
this is what it looked like when he brought it home... actually this is still what it looks like, just not on a trailer..
BTW, speaking of all the bad clones. The biggest mistake I alway see is the rear axle. Most of the clones make the rear end too narrow and too far forward. The stance of the original is, to me, what makes the car so appealing. Oh yeah, and the damn radials....
Hey Paul, I didn't know about this coupe,... can you steer us to more pictures or info on this Deuce ?,..... this would tie in with the story I was told years ago about Lucas wanting the Graffiti coupe channeled, that's why the grill was sectioned, but they couldn't get it channeled in time to start the movie.,....... what's the story or history on this 5/W ?
I stand corrected on the un-channelling. That Street Rodder coverage was what I mostly what I was thinking about. I also had a paperback book on the making of the movie. Don't remember the name of that book, but it had tons of details, dialouge, and neat stuff.
Good move. I think that is what a lot of youngsters need nowadays: a little direction, a dream, a hobby. Most everything else is served up on a plate, or so far away they have no chance of attaining it. The internet and communications have given them a massive view of the world that we never had when we were young, and they either grasp it, or they are left feeling daunted and intimidated, rejected even. Excuse me while I stop waffling, boring day at work
10-4. That may be because most are running a Ford 9" with the stock crossmember. There are a lot of weird parts under that car. To get it right you have to be a little crazy or a lot of smart. I prefer to think that I am the latter. Or is it the former? No. Wait a minute...
Milners coupe was g@y compared to that 58 Impala! The Merc was a sh!tbox and should have been the logo for Ol Skool Rods.. The 55 was about as perfect as you could get when it comes down to the term Hot Rod or what one should look like... I hate blondes but cant help but to fantasize about one in a T-Bird.... Hell, i married a girl who loved the movie as much as i did and now that we are divorced one of our biggest arguements was over who got the soundtrack wich is the f@cking best album ever! More American Graffitti sucks more @ss than Elton John & George Michael jacked up on viagra fighting over rainbow colored tootsie pops! Anybody looking for a Covico wheel??...If you dont know what one is you should be ashamed of yourself!.... Outside of that chick showing her t!ts in Fastimes its the BEST childhood memory...
Now I'M corn-fused...what car is this supposed to be? this one IS channeled, and has a suicide axle??? ( o.k., o.k., I guess I'll go read the last page...) It looks better, like this, by the way.
Awsome Story!!! Great Pics Please let us hear the whole story when your buddy returns. Makes perfect sense Lucas and this car in the same town same time and that is what he baised the Graffiti coupe on. Geez kind shoots holes in the thoughts of the other guys who said the coupe wasnt a real hot rod??? and it was a hollywood story!!! Well since I am stirring up the pot on misinformed storys and poeple and their no fact bias theorys. Gee why does it say the coupe had a 283 in all the early storys and now it has a 327 in it?? mmmm I am just going to sit back and watch on this one. (I have my theory)
Go on whats your theory?Off the top of my head I remembered it as like a 305 or something a bit oddball but I.m reading 327 with a 57 chev rearend,which answers the rearend query.A 327out of a Vette sounds good to me considering when the film was made.Im looking a bit obsessed with this story?
Alright!!! Well I know the car has a 1966 327 in it now but I just think its awfull funny that they got all the rest of the parts correct in the early articles about the car and they keep saying stock 283 stock 283 but as the car got more popular and a sat outside untill the motor filled up with water for years the car gets rehabed and sold and all of a sudden its a 327 327 MMMMM odd dont you think? I talked to Steve Fitch the guy who bought the coupe from the studios and asked about the motor he said he had it rebuilt and saved the block and heads and it was a 327 but he installed a bigger cam said the one it had seemed stock. I think some motor swapping went on in the studio back lot. It is not a big deal and at the time I bet no one cared but (non running old junk out running small block back in) I beleive the motor that it has today is different than the motor it had in the movie. Yea I know its still a vintage small block chev so who cares?? Me and a few others who just want to know all the real stories not the ones that have been told so many times that the people telling them start to beleive them!
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