Are you looking for something to discuss during a pub quiz? Require something to stare quizzically through, pretending it’s a work document, now that the in-laws have insisted on a visit? ClassicCarsForSale can help with the first in our new series of Classic Car Trivia!
Films and cars go hand in hand, with some of the silver screen’s defining moments involving our four-wheeled friends undertaking the sort of actions we all fantasise about performing - smashing up a Mercedes, jumping across roof tops in a Mini Cooper, having a bit of Rita and Sue in the back of a Rover SD1…
The same goes for the small screen, with cars being such a staple in modern life. It’s why we find Victorian-era set pieces so dull - there is no powersliding Jag or Ford Granada executing a handbrake turn in Tesco’s car park to wah-wah music. Their loss, really.
However, you know all of this already. So, here are a few things you probably didn’t. Now, get it read before monster-in-laws try to intercept with tales of the garden centre…
5. Inspector Morse Should Have Driven a Lancia Flavia.
In Colin Dexter’s original novels, Inspector Morse owned a clapped-out Lancia Flavia - which was described as ‘faithful’ and ‘a good buy. Powerful, reliable, and 300 miles on a full tank.’ Whether any actual Flavia owner would agree to these statements is another matter…
Yet, when the TV series came about a clapped out Flavia couldn’t be found - strangely, seeing as it was the late 1980s and ruined Lancias where everywhere, everywhere - the producers then found a Jaguar MK II on a scrapheap. With John Thaw’s connection to older Jags courtesy of The Sweeney, it appeared the perfect replacement - for only £200. Because it just wanted to die, the MK II caused frequent problems during 15-years of production - John Thaw even admitted that it was a ‘complete beggar’ to drive.
4. Triumph Were Apparently Sabotaged by Aston Martin Over 007
Remember the Triumph Stag in 1971 Bond adventure Diamonds Are Forever? Many observant listeners clocked onto the change in engine noise from one shot to the next, from a V8 to a flatulent 4-cylinder. Brush it off as movie-land trivia all you like, but there is an urban legend here that may raise a pre-Roger Moore eyebrow.
Many claim the V8 engine threw a ‘wobbly’, and insist they have proof a Dolomite or Herald engine was dropped in for filming to be completed. However, allegations from the time accused Aston Martin of objecting to the V8 sound - claiming it sounded better on screen than then DBS from the previous movie, and requested a redub. With such a connection between Bond and Aston, how could the producers refuse? The story sounds bizarre, but holds considerable following online.
3. Range Rovers are Lethal Weapon Favourites
Following the success of the third instalment in the Lethal Weapon film franchise, big wigs at Warner Bother Studios planned to gift Mel Gibson, producer Joel Silver and director Richard Donner brand-new Range Rovers donning fine black paintwork as a token of their appreciation. However, with the Range Rovers to be a surprise gift, all that the recipients knew was to turn up for a celebratory lunch - as the film had passed the £100million gross mark in a very short amount of time.
However, Richard Donner had then forwarded the invite off to other cast members - including Danny Glover, Joe Pesci, Rene Russo and scriptwriter Jeffrey Boam. This resulted in a panic at Warner Brothers headquarters and the studio darted around Los Angeles sourcing and purchasing Range Rovers for each new lunch guest - presenting the entire fleet to the happily stunned group after the meal was finished.
2. Pierce Brosnan’s Aston Martin Vanquish Died Another Day
A garage fire at the Malibu home of former 007, and all-round cool guy Pierce Brosnan, broke out during February 2015, resulting in £1million worth of damage being inflicted upon Brosnan’s $14.5 million mansion - destroying everything in it’s path. First-edition books, including James Joyce’s Ulysses, and paintings were scorched, but the biggest tragedy was the Aston Martin Vanquish - hand built for Pierce at the Aston Martin factory.
Looking into the garage and witnessing the car cover engulfed in flames, Brosnan contemplated braving death to rescue his 2002 Vanquish, but had to back off and watch as it was torched. All he has left now is the badge plaques. Luckily, no one was hurt.
1. Steve McQueen Didn’t Actually Do All The Driving In Bullitt.
There has long been speculation as to the amount of stunt driving Steve McQueen performed. Some sources say the king of cool completed the whole thing, as the stunt driver was unable to control the mighty Mustang successfully.
As it turns out, McQueen nearly killed a cameraman during one tricky manoeuvre and his good friend, and stunt double, Bud Ekins was informed to take over. Although he never did the more difficult car control segments for the film, McQueen still drove for a significant amount of time. Something you would struggle to get past health and safety nowadays…
