It might not surprise you to hear that I have a lot of quirks. One of my wife’s least favorite ones is my inability to remember anyone’s name while at the same time knowing the exact make, model, year, color and option packages of the car that they drive.
Personally, I think that’s a great skill, since cars are the true window to the soul. Based on the vehicle a person owns, I can almost immediately tell if they’re confident or insecure, frugal or deeply in debt (note that I didn’t say “rich” or “poor”, since the painfully rich usually drive crap), and even if they have as many automotive screws loose as me. Let’s face it; if a parent shows up at my kid’s birthday party driving a beat up E90 stick station wagon, who gives a shit what his name is? We’re gonna be best friends.
Thanks to this strange skill of mine, with movies and television I’m a really harsh critic of car casting, particularly in smaller, supporting roles. Some get it just right while others flub it. Here’s some examples:
The show Breaking Bad really deserved some kind of award for car casting. The producers barely made any missteps, with the possible exception of Skylar’s Jeep Grand Wagoneer which is a bit too much of a “classic” car for a struggling family to own (a beat-up and worthless ZJ or WJ Grand Cherokee would have been a better choice). Everyone talks about the casting of Walter White’s Aztek as genius, but I think it might be too “niche” and trying too hard to be uncool. No, some of the bit players are better. Like this:
One of the best has to be dirty-deed-doer Mike Ehrmantraut’s black Chrysler Fifth Avenue. As we’ve mentioned before, Chrysler sedans always have an air of menace about them. Black Lincolns or Cadillac sedans are intimidating, but a Chrylser following you means your ass is certain to get kicked. The Volare/Lebaron-based Fifth Avenue is a bit pathetic compared to the Imperials of days past, and the condition is less than steller. That perfectly fits Mike’s character, an older guy that might be a bit past his prime and doing tasks he never thought he would, but sure as shit will get the job done, dammit.
The 1984 film Repo Man is a cult classic that featured the late, great Harry Dean Stanton so you can already guess that it was bizarre. The movie ultimately centered around an old, rather generic car with a strange, other-worldly cargo in the trunk.
The rather colorless 1964 Chevy Malibu was perfect: the kind of ubiquitous, almost-invisible car you’d see plying the streets of early eighties LA. Today, you’d cast a twenty-year-old bronze Camry with faded hood a dented bumper corner in the role.
The rather colorless 1964 Chevy Malibu was perfect: the kind of ubiquitous, almost-invisible car you’d see plying the streets of early eighties LA. Today, you’d cast a twenty-year-old bronze Camry with faded hood a dented bumper corner in the role.
To be honest, I found the lead character in the series Californication a bit insufferable. Hank Moody (played by X-Files actor, JFK Jr classmate and Yale PhD candidate David Duchovny) is a New York writer who moves to California with his family and tries to nurse his writer’s block with a slow descent into booze, drugs, and women. The degrading condition of the once-glamorous car that he purchases on his arrival to LA–a black Porsche 964 Cabriolet–matches the arc of the protagonist.
Like Hank, the car seems to get cooler as the filth and battle scars accumulate; far more so than if it were immaculate with a hokey personalized plate. Also, regardless of appearance both car and character can still function well enough to complete the tasks at hand.
What are similar Emmy- or Oscar-worthy car castings you can think of? Remember, you’re Autopians so forget even thinking about mentioning Bandit or KITT Trans Ams, A-Team Vans, Bluesmobiles, Delorean time machines. Other websites might be good with it but don’t bring that weak shit in here, people!
I’m talking about more obscure selections of vehicles that just perfectly enhance the characters and mesh with their raison d’etre. Don’t be afraid to call out some sacred cows either, like how could Jim Rockford afford new Pontiac Firebirds every year when he rarely if ever got paid for his work? Right?
Your first two example film/tv series Breaking Bad and Repo Man both showcase a Tercel 4wd. In Repo Man its the Yuppie car that has the main charachters chastising the owners. 30 years later the Tercel 4wd is Jesses car in Breaking Bad to show that he’s very far away from upworldly mobile.
The Cars in ‘Children of Men’ Renault Advantime, Citroen CX Break and Fiat Multipla all with the patina of 20 years of economic and environmental decline.
The beat-up, chalky-paint blue Land Rover Defender in Vera.
Cousin Itt’s Messerschmitt KR175 in the Addams Family movie.
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Higgins’ Audi 5000 in Magnum PI (although technically, I think it belonged to Robin Masters). It fit his character well – refined enough to hand over to the valet at the country club, but buttoned-down and nothing so garish as a Cadillac or Jaguar of the day.
Good call…Robin 2!
Also, it’s only mentioned but may have been shown in a flashback, but the Audi was preceded by a Jaguar XJ6, which also seems appropriately Higgins, reflecting how dashing he was (or at least would portray in his stories) when younger.
The Plymouth Belvedere in Adam12 .
This black and white patrol car has an overhead valve V8 engine. It develops 325 horsepower at 4800 RPM’s. It accelerates from 0 to 60 in seven seconds; it has a top speed of 120 miles an hour. It’s equipped with a multi channeled DFE radio and an electronic siren capable of admitting three variables, wail, yelp, and alert. It also serves as an outside radio speaker and public address system. The automobile has two shotgun racks, one attached to the bottom portion of the front seat, one in the vehicle trunk. Attached to the middle of the dash, illuminated by a single bulb is a hot sheet desk. Fastened to which you will always make sure is the latest one off the teletype before you ever roll. – Malloy.
Will Trent’s Porsche 911 with Rat, Traitor and Snitch spray painted on it. He is as obsessive about the car as he is with his portable micro cassette recorder.
Homer Simpson’s Croatian Pink Sedan
Ash’s (Sam Raimi’s) 1973 Delta 88
Nick Nolte’s Caddy Convertibles in 48 Hours
Uncle Jesse’s white Ford pickup
So, so many…
My wife was watching an Australian soap opera type show, set after WW2 called A Place to Call Home. The aristocrat daughter drove a ’61 Corvette which I found facinating overseas. Oddly enough it had Crager mag wheels on it in the beginning, which much to my wife’s irritation, caused me to complain that they weren’t around then. And then, suddenly, without any mention in the show at all, it showed up in later episodes with the original hub caps. Sorry for boring everyone with my pet peeve.
I always thought the great (also Albuquerque-set) In Plain Sight had a perfectly-cast car in Mary’s purple Ford Probe.
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I think Ford got after them for showing that smoking bad Probe as it wasn’t around long.
Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul absolutely nail the cars. Disagree as to the Wagoneer and Aztek, too – in 2008 an Aztek would have been between 3 and 8 years old, and there were plenty of them around that just … no one wanted. Same with Skyler’s car – though they’ve experienced more popularity recently, back in 2008 when the series starts they weren’t really anything that special. Other great car casting: Fring’s Lexus, Saul’s Caddy, in Better Call Saul, Jimmy’s car, etc. etc.
I think Gus Fring drove a blue Volvo wagon, which was perfect for him. Luxurious and utilitarian, but doesn’t draw attention to an average Joe who runs a chain of fried chicken joints.
I love Swedish detective Saga Norén’s Porsche in Broen. Like everything else about the character, it’s…unexpected but brusque. If I recall, her Danish counterpart Martin Rohde (whose surname sounds almost like the Danish word for “a mess”) drives a messy minivan which he ends up sleeping in as his marriage and life fall apart.
Uncle Rico’s Dodge Tradesman conversion in Napoleon Dynamite is pretty spot-on.
Home Alone – Dodge Omni Little Nero’s pizza delivery car
Wayne’s World – Garth’s AMC Pacer
The car casts of 8 Mile, Good Will Hunting, The French Connection, Life on Mars, The Professionals, Arthur’s cars in Minder. It’s a big long list, but the cars were well cast.
Joining the party late, but I did not see any mention of Gotham (yeah, I know!), but the car casting in the show had some real hits. The weird past/present vibe of the comic book world let them use a pretty eclectic collection of cars, including a Citroen DS, Avanti, Volvo 1800, mid-60s Lincoln Continental Convertible, Imperials, Dacia 1300, Ford Econolines from 1964-1997, countless Chevys/Dodges/Fords/GMCs/etc. from the 60s through the 2000s.
There are also 13 “unknowns” that someone on staff here should start a “What’s that car?” series.
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How has NO ONE mentioned Sabrina, Kelly and Jill’s cars on “Charlie’s Angels?” Of course Sabrina drove the sensible Pinto, Kelly had the in-between Mustang II with the Landau roof and Jill went full-on sporty with the Cobra II.
Alan Partridge’s Kia Optima with “Alan Partridge drives this Kia” graphics on the side. Steve Coogan generally nails his characters automotive choices.
What was that show he did where the guy drives a “Mustang 351”?
Saxondale!!
Nick Nolte’s gold 1970 Ford Custom/4-door post in “Who’ll Stop the Rain” (1978).
TCB
I thought the BMW 850 driven by Detective Nurmi in the Finnish drama Deadwind (Netflix name, it is titled Kaarpi in Finland) was a great fit for the character and the show. It was black on black, matching Nurmi’s calculated and brooding character and the very dark nature of the show. They frequently took it when investigating murders and it only left them stranded once. When Nurmi had to take a leave of absence for a medical issue he was not certain he would survive he gave the keys to his partner and said something to the effect of “Only you know what my car is worth”. He knew what he had alright.
Later in the show he drives an electric Porsche of some kind. If the switch was supposed to symbolize anything for his character I didn’t pick up on it. Maybe the production company just got sick of the upkeep on a 30 year old German supercar. I hope that’s not why they did it, because Nurmi is obviously an enthusiast. I didn’t take his words when handing over the keys as an invitation to sell the car. It felt more like he wanted to know it would be taken care of until he hopefully got back.
Speaking of BMWs and getaways: how about George C.Scott’s ’56 BMW 503 from “The Last Run” (1971).
I believe the opening scene has him balancing the carbs and getting interior bits ready for Trish Van Devere (whom he later married) and bigmouth Tony Musante.
Luke’s 1999 GMC Sierra Z-71 in the OC. The black paint, the chrome, the lift kit, the surf rack. It totally fit his image as the antagonist of the show. It felt very intentional in a world where the kids could have just about anything they wanted.
Jim Rockford’s Pontiac Firebird Esprit. I have always wanted to own that car. Also, the Mini from the Italian Job.
Val & Eddie’s old Jeep J200 Gladiator from Tremors was perfectly cast. Just the kind of beater a couple down and outs doing handyman crap in the middle of nowhere would have.
If the Library of Congress doesn’t choose that classic for preservation then they should all be fired. Or voted out. I have no idea how the Library of Congress actually functions. Regardless that movie is a hoot and if we get nuked the survivors need to have access to it.
As the Reels & Wheels guy, I have a few key ones I always come back to:
I was abnormally excited when the real-life Taurus interceptors appeared b/c at the point, Detroit was a hellhole. “You’re coming with me”
Paul Giamatti’s Saab 900 vert in Sideways. Has an intellectual but battered vibe that his character also embodies. He may not want a 9-3 (maybe can’t afford it) because its Swedish-ness has been tainted by the American parts bin. Would rather a fine vintage with a few blemishes from the right “terroir” than one that’s been doctored up and prettified to sell, and in the end makes it less striking and unique.