I found this photo on the net showing Jim Mitchum (Robert's son)) with the replica you mentioned. Thought you might like to see it.
Follow this link to find out that Dukes of Hazard was based on the real life of Jerry Rushing and his family of Monroe County N.C.He signs this tune while driving out to "Hazard" where he ran his stills I think he wrote it but I'm not sure about that.The movie Moonrunner was the first based on his life then the studio made Dukes of Hazard after he still has the car General Lee was based on but it's a plain white 57 Chrysler 300 and called Traveler after Lees favorite mount. Welcome to the REAL story behind the Dukes of Hazzard. The Jerry Rushing story. And Traveler, the father of the General Lee .I have the movie and met The guy who Restored Travel and sat in Traveler for a picture.They set up a bunch of buildings in a hidden spot on their land to party at a small town complete with a jail building to hold anyone that got too drunk to be safe this was Hazard.Listen to a real moonsine runner tell of his life back then and the cars they drove he still has a few of his.
Man, just for a few more (ten) thousand dollars than I've got..... http://hickory.craigslist.org/cto/2536937396.html
Note holes in hood for the FORD letters! The recreation that his son did has a 50 hood on it with with emblem, not letter holes.
Yes, and note 6 volt battery, prob used 54/54 Ford system to retain 6V + ground sys tem, my 50 Merc with 57 T Bird 312 in it was done that way in late 56 when installed, still that way today cept I use an 8 volt batt.
^^^Likewise with my 8th '54 Ford Coupe. 312 with '54 flywheel, bellhousing, etc. 6 volt system with '54 Lincoln 50 amp generator, a literal bolt-in on a Saturday afternoon. In a car port. With my landlord helping. Great outcome...312 was fresh, '57 vintage.
One of my favorite movies, and I collect car movies. For some time I have wondered about: "On the first of April, 1954" ....... and a 1957 Ford??? Ain't Hollywood grand??? But it was good entertainment! Jon.
One of my favorite movies, and I collect car movies. For some time I have wondered about: "On the first of April, 1954" ....... and a 1957 Ford??? Ain't Hollywood grand??? But it was good entertainment! Jon.
In the scene where Mitchum jumps out the window of the office after smashing the guys hat he's supposedly in Memphis. In reality this scene was filmed in the heart of Asheville, as was much of the movie. If you watch closely as he pulls in to park before going inside, he passes a window on the street with the lettering "Asheville Pharmacy". I had my first eye exam on that same cobble-stone street at age eight (1959) by a lady opthalmologist, Dr. Weisenblott. I've seen Thunder Road countless times and never grow tired of it. It was a cult classic if you grew up in the South. It was often paired with Thunder in the Carolinas starring Rory Calhoun at the drive-in movies.....Don.
Just for those who might not have ever seen the movie............ Don http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUFt42urcmk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YHMkEutVjc&feature=related
A little known fact is that Elvis was supposed to play the part of Robin (younger brother) in the movie. When Robert wrote both the song and the script, he personally took it to Elvis when he was staying in Hollywood. Elvis loved it and memorized the lines well as in his early days, he wanted to be a serious actor. He really wanted to do it. But after his manager, Col. Tom Parker found out, he wanted $1,000,000 for the use of Elvis. That was a no since Mitchum's entire budget for the whole film was $650,000. So wouldn't it have been cool for Elvis to sing that song?!? -Cody (Hot Rod Elvis)
Yeah, thanks. Maybe I'll find a few up close pics of the car. It's an interesting machine with all the moonshiner's gadgets and whatnot.
It is sad to admit that I used to own that song on a 45. I downloaded it to a cd a while back . It is still out there . I like that movie
Havn't seen the movie for years, but with all this newly found information, I'll have to watch it again. Its great to know the real story of the cars in the movie.
not true. the car belongs to Roy Tranthum. He ran a bone yard in Asheville where the movie was filmed. He called John Bell (my Rodfather) sometime in the late 60's or ealry 70's and said he was going to crush the coupe unless John wanted it. it sat in the back of John's shop until the late 80's or so when Roy called and asked if he still had it. He offer to foot the bill for the rebuild. I think i may have spent some time in Florida after that (Roy had/has a home there) but it's currently back in Asheville in another friends care. it's had substantial non-hamb upgrades over the years (LT1 crate motor, ifs etc) but still alive and well. it's tentatively scheduled to be at my museum's "White Liquor and Dirt Tracks" event the weekend of January 28 in Mount Airy. Stay tuned for details.
Can't say you NEVER see 3 single barrels on a V8. The Miracle Car & Bike Show I attended last Saturday had a chopped '55 Chevy with a SBC with 3 single barrels. I thought it was 3x2 until my father in-law asked him and he was right, 3x1 with progressive linkage!
I worked with a former 'shiners' son. I learned a lot! I learned that they drilled the plates in the AC unit on old Chryslers, pumped the air into a propane tank so they could 'blow out' the tanks with over 100# of air. I was told about using a center punch to 'dimple' the cumbustion chambers on a MoPar, to allow gas to 'hang' there for a second to cool the heads. I didn't really believe that, till I pulled the heads on a 1970 440. The engine had an 'Iron Cross' stamped next to the number. It was a 'replacement' for the factory engine that died in a 1970 Chrysler 300. I got the engine becaue the guy that bought the car 'new' loaned it to his brother, and he KILLED the body! The right rear quarter was shoved 3 feet into the air over a dirt bank that should have been no problem driving past. Anyway, I broke the engine 'Rod Jousting' 4th of July about 8 years ago. I pulled the heads, sat them on the bench to do the 'shiner' trix. OOOOPS!! Chrysler had already DONE the 'shiner' tricks! There was NO place to put a 'dimple'!
Yea, a lot of the stuff in the movie was 'for real'. I do know that the 57 Ford scene was used again in 'Night of the living Dead', where he ran into the power station.
What street is that? I've lived in Asheville all my life. First saw Thunder Road because it was filmed here, thought I'd recognize things. Didn't recognize a thing, except for the mountains. Guess a lot changes in 50-something years. haha.
.....Sorry, but I can't recall the street name (it has been a lot of yrs.). I'm sure the street is no longer cobble stone as it was back then. Maybe some of the older locals could remember where the pharmacy or Dr. Weisenblott's office was located. I believe many of the twisty mountainous road scenes were filmed on old Rt. 25/70 that ran between Asheville and Newport, Tn. by way of Marshall and Hot Springs.....Don.
You said the white coupe "may have spent some time in Florida." That could be what my friends were talking about. I'll check back with them on Friday. Glad to hear it's still around no matter where or with what upgrades. Lee
Wow--a '51 Ford with a '50 front clip and a Thunderbird Y-block engine. That's awesome! I always wondered what that engine was in the shot that they showed--didn't look right for a flathead. And the '36 in the moonshiner's garage was just bitchen. Thanks, guys, for sorting this one out. Rodder's Journal should totally write about this one. The scenes where Mitchum "flips" the '51 Ford are priceless.
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