Ahh the Mirth Mobile! The sky-blue 1976 AMC Pacer that belonged to Wayne and Garth in the movie Wayne's World. The movie that gave us hours of pop cultural phrases and references that would last through most of the late '80s and early '90s. Not! (just kid'n). The movie that taught us that being weird isn't a bad thing and that it doesn't matter what kinda car you drive. It just matters that you live to party! So party on guys, as we talk about the Mirth Mobile.
All About the Pacers
What was special about the Pacer? The Pacer is a Point A to Point B, basic transportation type car. AMC produced Pacers between 1975 and 1980. The no thrills base model only had about 90 horsepower. There was a V8 option for the Pacer, however due to the fuel crisis they were not in much demand. Let's face it the Pacer was built for fuel economy. Obviously the Pacer didn't make it long, due to its styling (bubble like), lack of power and low room for cargo or passengers.
Wayne's World AMC Pacer
What's special about Wayne and Garth's AMC Pacer? Well how many Pacers have you seen with a red licorice dispenser? In the first movie it shows Garth pulling a piece of string red licorice from a dispenser mounted on the head liner. Need a drink? No problem! Their Pacer had a full bar tap installed on the dash above the glove box. Need to jam down? At first the guys just had a in dash AM/FM Cassette Deck. But later in the movie they got their big break and Wayne splurged for a portable CD player with a cassette adapter. On the outside their Pacer wasn't just a regular run of the mill pacer either. It had mis-match wheels and tires. Not to mention a sweet little flame decal! Party On!
Final Thoughts
Next to Daisy Duke's 1980 AMC Golden Eagle Jeep CJ-7, the Mirth Mobile may be the most famous AMC featured in film or tv. If nothing else it wins the award for most famous AMC Pacer ever in film or tv! Being a child of the '80s and '90s, I don't know how many times I've watched Wayne's World. Not to mention how many times I sang the Wayne's World theme song. But I can tell ya that the Mirth Mobile wasn't high on my list of vehicles to own. Till next time, keep fighting for the right to party!
Do you ever wonder where Hollywood finds movie cars? The answer is in the view above. Most tv/movie cars are provided by companies like Cinema Vehicle Services. The video above features the company who provided the Gone In 60 Seconds, 1967 Shelby Mustang GT500 aka Eleanor! They have also worked on a number of other production cars as well. They do a lot of custom work to provide world class quality autos for film and tv. However they also do everyday prop cars as well. Prop cars include everything from garbage trucks to police cruisers.
If you would like to learn more about their company, check them on the web at http://www.cinemavehicles.com/. You can also find out more about Fireball Tim, the movie car designer and host of the video at his site: http://www.fireballtim.com/. See ya next time!
I can't think of a better song or video to describe growing up in the '70s and '80s. Mark Willis talks about a number of things throughout the song. Everything from peeling stickers off his Rubrix Cube to his parent's first microwave. I was a child of the '80s and '90s, but I'm well aware of the references! But let's not get too side tracked, what about the cars in the song and video?
The first part of the video shows Mark driving a clone of the General Lee, a 1969 Dodge Charger from Dukes of Hazzard. The song references the show, by saying Daisy Duke was his first love. Later the song talks about another classic auto from Smokey and the Bandit, 1977 Pontiac Trans Am. The lyrics from the song hint "...black trans ams..." In the video there are a few kids hanging out some where, sitting on a parked Bandit Edition Trans Am. The car is later seen in the video along side the General Lee.
That's all for now. Enjoy the video. Don't forget to checkout our store for some great stuff from Dukes of Hazzard and Smokey and the Bandit. You might even find a Mark Wills album too! For those who would like to read the lyrics, see our reference information below!
Since Toyota has been in the news recently with the huge recall on gas pedal assemblies. I thought I would do a quick post about my favorite Toyota Truck ever featured in film, Marty's 1985 Toyota 4x4 Xtra Cab Truck from the Back to the Future Trilogy.
Haven't seen Back to the Future? You can find it in our store!
Early in the first Back to the Future film, Marty McFly nearly falls over after seeing the truck above for the first time. His reaction "Check-out that 4x4!" He told his girlfriend, Jennifer that he would love throw a few sleeping bags in the back of the truck and take it up to the lake. He told her, someday that truck would be his. Little did he know that it would later happen, but only after trip to the past changes his future. When he arrived home from 1955, it was sitting in the garage with a single-coat wax job by Biff Tannen.
The truck made a short return in the beginning of Back to the Future II as well. The scene pretty much just connected the two films. However the truck does comes up in conversion. The future McFly family is sitting around the table, talking about how Marty broke his hand in an auto accident during a street drag race. The conversion serves as some foreshadowing as to what happens at the end of Back to the Future III.
The truck got it's big break near the end of the final movie. Marty and Jennifer are shown riding through the suburbs in the truck. They're on their way to the crash site of the Delorean. While stopped at a red light, Needles Tannen Douglas J. Needles challenges Marty to a race. The light turns green and Marty floors it in reverse and does a 180. Looking back, the couple watches Needle's near miss with a Rolls Royce. Marty changed the future by avoiding the accident that would have cost him his music career.
Staged up and ready to roll...
...in reverse! Do you think Michael J. Fox did his own stunt driving?
Note the license plate and KC light-covers.
Notice the missing front license plate? What about the double bars on the light bar uprights?
Yeah... That would have hurt.
Final Thoughts
I give the truck's appearance two thumbs up. I like the wheels and all the extras. I think it was a good fit for Marty's character. It would be a fairly easy truck to replicate and show as a movie vehicle clone. There were a lot of these trucks made. Who knows, I might get around to making one someday. It wouldn't be my first Toyota truck! Till next time, remember "...the future is what you make it...so make it a good one!" See ya in the future!
Holy Schnikes, On Screen Cars is featuring the Plymouth Belvedere GTX from Tommy Boy! We could only hope that Chris Farley would have reacted that way to this post. We'll do our best to honor his memory. But let's talk about the car! If you've seen the movie Tommy Boy, you would agree that it deserves mention on this site. The two main characters are seen in the car through out most of the film. For the benefit of those who have not seen the film, I will offer a short spoiler-free summary.
Movie Summary
Tommy Callahan Jr. (played by Chris Farley) has just finished college and returns home to Ohio to work at his father's automotive parts manufacturing plant, Callahan Auto. Shortly after Tommy returns home his dad Tom Sr. gives some news that he will be getting re-married to a younger lady (who happens to be a gold digger). The wedding takes place with tragedy striking as Big Tom Callahan Sr. dies during the reception. The company is in jeopardy and Tommy Boy decides to hit the road with his buddy Richard (David Spade) in the GTX to see if they can save the company from going under. That's about the extent I can go without spoiling the movie.
Don't forget there's more.
Looking for the movie? You can find it in our store!
This is probably the last scene where the Cragar SS wheels are still looking good. In this scene Tommy was trying to get the drivers door shut after bending it backwards.
Early in the movie, Richard says "I dropped in a 440 Magnum with a six-pack." I hate to burst Richard's bubble, but in the clip above you can that the engine has an air-cleaner for a single four barrel, 440 Commando. After looking at a real 440 Six Pack breather you can see the difference. The engine is also a "Commando" and not a "Magnum." Keep in mind that these cars came stock with either a 440 Super Commando or optional 426 Hemi. It's not completely Hollywood's fault. It's possible that multiple cars were used. The un-damaged version of the car could have a non-stock 440 Magnum with a Six Pack.
The missing door was replaced with a child safety gate, like the one seen here.
The door was later replaced by a piece of card board. You can also see that the convertible top has been replaced with a blue tarp.
That over pass reminds of the Blues Brothers.
Final Thoughts
Tommy Boy is one of the funniest Chris Farley movies of all time. Farley and Spade always come through in every film they're in together. Far as the car factor goes, I'd have to say it's a ten. It's not popular as a car movie. But I think it diffidently qualifies as one. One last interesting fact before we sign off. This isn't the last movie David Spade drives a 1967 Plymouth GTX. Mater of fact, Spade drives one later in Joe Dirt. Don't worry, On Screen Cars will be bringing that car movie as well! See ya next time.
wheels are still looking good. In this scene Tommy was trying to get the drivers door shut after bending it backwards.
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