You wear a leather jacket, carry a sawed-off shotgun and hold a massive grudge against the roving scuzzball biker gang that killed your wife, your kid and your best friend. Civilization has broken down, there is no justice beyond yourself, and the Weiand supercharged V8 under your Interceptor's hood is your greatest weapon and only trustworthy companion.
Mad Max came and went in 1979 for American movie goers. I vaguely remember the trailer that year but the movie itself only lasted in the theatres a few weeks before disappearing.
Max Max was filmed in Australia on a shoestring budget in a series of small towns in the Outback. The story followed Max Rocatonski, (portrayed by an unknown Mel Gibson), a young cop in post-atomic war Australia. Both police cars and biker gangs drive vehicles held together with spit and glue and using an ever dwindling supply of gasoline and oil.
Max, a member of the only law enforcement available, the Main Force Patrol, prowl the highways attempting to keep motorcycle gangs from taking over remote towns and farms. The problem early on is there are more bad guys than good and the cop cars keep getting wrecked. Max is the best at what he does however, and after taking out a bad guy named Knight Rider, Max, his friends and family are in the sights of the bad guys.
The Main Force Patrol attempts to keep Max from resigning from the force by offering him "candy" - a super powered police car. The last of the V8 Interceptors. A 600 horsepower monster of a cop car.
The car is the star of Max Max. Once Max takes the wheel and goes our seeking revenge, the audience gets the best scenes for of the movie.
Depite the massive success Max Max had in Australia and Japan, American audiences gave the film a lukewarm reception. It would be three years later with the release of the sequel, "The Road Warrior" would Americans fall in love with Mad Max and seek out the prequel.
My VHS copy of Mad Max was hideously dubbed with American voice overs. The original is available on DVD now with the original dialogue.
After seeing both movies, I knew I had to have a car like Max's. Sure, the concept of barreling along the highways of post-SHTF America makes no sense, but the car was very cool. I first thought the body was that of one of my favorite auto makers, an AMC AMX from the late 60's. However, I later learned the full story of the Ford Falcon hardtop only found down under.
By the way, the "blower" on the manifold as well as the red switch on the stick were props. The blower was not connected and only ran as an effect.
But now, you can learn more about that and if you have $60,000 laying around, there is a guy in Australia who will build you your very own V8 Interceptor with original design and parts including the blower, the custom grill, overheard radio, dog seat and torn seat covers. Check it out here.. That is where the quotation from today's post comes from..
According to the article, he has already built eight or so and shipped them to the Japan and the U.S. as well as around Australia.
Sorry I don't have a customer MFP Interceptor myself, but I can direct you to Mad Max
on Amazon. Many have said that Mad Max and The Road Warrior created the entire 80's post apocalyptic genre of films and music and having witnessed it first hand, I have to agree. Check out the movie and don't kid yourself. You will be in the market for a cut down Coach gun and a pair of leathers yourself.
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2 comments:
Very well written. Professional.
Michael
Michael - get out of here. Thanks for the feedback. You know this isn't work. A hobby is something you love to do but don't make money from. A job is something you make money from but.. well you know the rest.
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