Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[VIDEO: Jay Leno promotes new show, damages 1970 Challenger]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/19/video-jay-leno-promotes-new-show-damages-1970-challenger/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/19/video-jay-leno-promotes-new-show-damages-1970-challenger/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/19/video-jay-leno-promotes-new-show-damages-1970-challenger/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Jay Leno and friend - Click above to after the jump

Ha ha ha! Jay Leno likes cars and has a new show on NBC this fall, which, while not focused on cars, will have something to do with cars now and then. In fact, Jay went ahead and cut a trailer for his new show featuring somebody named "Rich Mantooth," comedian Fred Armisen and a Vanishing Point-style 1970 Dodge Challenger (knowing Jay, it probably is the Vanishing Point Challenger). Just after making fun of Fred for taking subways, Jay bangs up his Dodge and hi-jinks ensue! But for reals, if this is a taste of what Leno's new show has to offer, we'll probably be checking it out. Full trailer after the jump. And thanks for the tip, Andrew!


Gallery: Jay Leno and Bertone Mantide


[Source: thrfeed.com]



Continue reading VIDEO: Jay Leno promotes new show, damages 1970 Challenger

VIDEO: Jay Leno promotes new show, damages 1970 Challenger originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Aug 2009 13:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1970 Dodge Challenger1970DodgeChallengerChallengerDodgeDodge ChallengerDodgeChallengerFred ArmisenFredArmisenJay LenoJayLenoLenoVanishing PointVanishing Point ChallengerVanishingPointVanishingPointChallengerWed, 19 Aug 2009 13:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Rotten Tomatoes rates top 50 movie cars]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/15/rotten-tomatoes-rates-top-50-movie-cars/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/15/rotten-tomatoes-rates-top-50-movie-cars/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/15/rotten-tomatoes-rates-top-50-movie-cars/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Click the image above for more classic movie car pics

It's no secret that we're passionate about cars, and we're pretty sure you feel the same way. We're also big fans of the silver screen, especially when a great car or truck is a big part of the plot. The movie mavens over at Rotten Tomatoes feel the same way, and they've compiled a list of the top 50 movie cars in the history of motion pictures.

The list is chock-full of classics from movies like Bullitt and Vanishing Point, but there are also a lot of hidden gems, like Pepe the Little Mule from Romancing the Stone, or the 1973 Ford Falcon XB GT Coupe from Mad Max. One omission that we would have like to have added was Gary's red Ferrari Mondial from Weird Science, but while we could argue forever which vehicle should rank where, we'd say this is a pretty darn good list. We've posted Rotten Tomatoes' top five movie cars after the jump and some of the classic movie cars in the gallery below, but it's definitely worth checking out the entire list. RT even added some great honorable mention vehicles, as well. Thanks for the tip, catgirlshyla!

Gallery: Top Movie Cars


[Source: Rotten Tomatoes]

Continue reading Rotten Tomatoes rates top 50 movie cars

Rotten Tomatoes rates top 50 movie cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 May 2008 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Bullittcar moviesCarMoviesmoviesrotten tomatoesRottenTomatoesVanishing PointVanishingPointWeird ScienceWeirdScienceThu, 15 May 2008 11:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Inside Line pits Challenger against Challenger in Vanishing Point-inspired road trip]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/06/inside-line-pits-challenger-against-challenger-in-vanishing-poin/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/06/inside-line-pits-challenger-against-challenger-in-vanishing-poin/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/06/inside-line-pits-challenger-against-challenger-in-vanishing-poin/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click either image for exclusive pics of Inside Line's road trip

Seems like you can't revive a modern day muscle car these days without having a classic movie tie-in. The Ford Mustang has got Steve McQueen's classic Bullitt, and the Dodge Challenger has got Vanishing Point. In fact, we've already seen one Vanishing Point-inspired Challenger meet its maker on Turn 2 at Road America. Inside Line recently had its first turn behind the wheel of a 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 and also decided to pay its respects to Kowalski's opus. They took the brand new Challenger on a little road trip following the fateful path of Kowalski in the movie from Denver, Colorado to San Francisco, California. Just for kicks, they brought along a vintage 1970 Dodge Challenger that's a near perfect copy of the one used in Vanishing Point. The classic iron was, however, packing a slightly modified motor putting out 607 horsepower, but details, details... The article is definitely worth a read if only to vicariously absorb what it feels like to go 170 mph in a new Challenger, and the Inside Line team was also kind enough to supply us with a few of their spare high-res images for an Autoblog exclusive gallery below.

Gallery: Inside Line Challenger SRT8 road trip


[Source: Inside Line]

Inside Line pits Challenger against Challenger in Vanishing Point-inspired road trip originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 May 2008 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2008 dodge challenger srt82008DodgeChallengerSrt8dodge challengerDodgeChallengerinside lineInsideLinevanishing pointvanishing point chal...VanishingPointVanishingPointChal...Tue, 06 May 2008 19:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Vanishing Point Challenger replaced with... regular Challenger SRT8]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/05/vanishing-point-challenger-replaced-with-regular-challenger-s/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/05/vanishing-point-challenger-replaced-with-regular-challenger-s/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/05/vanishing-point-challenger-replaced-with-regular-challenger-s/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



In case you missed our update on the original post: mere days after rolling out a neoclassic Challenger done up like the lead character in Vanishing Point, Erich Heuschele stuffed it into a tire wall at Road America. Hey, things happen. At least only his ego was bruised; the damaged car was driven 200 miles without incident, proving that the scarring was little more than a flesh wound.

The nice thing about being in an automaker's inner circle is that you can make a phone call and get a car dropped off like a cup of coffee from an intern. Breaking the early morning stillness of a Sunday sunrise, an orange Challenger SRT-8 sporting black stripes rode into the pits at Iowa's Mid America Motorplex. One Lap rules preclude running for points after a vehicle replacement, so co-drivers Heuschele and Gillies are competing for giggles and exposure at this point. Never fear, though, the white-dunked Challenger is currently undergoing repairs, and should resurface for the Targa Newfoundland.

[Source: CarDomain]

Vanishing Point Challenger replaced with... regular Challenger SRT8 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 May 2008 07:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>challengerchallenger one lapchallenger srt8ChallengerOneLapChallengerSrt8one lapone lap challengerone lap of americaOneLapOneLapChallengerOneLapOfAmericavanishing pointvanishing point chal...vanishing point one lapVanishingPointVanishingPointChal...VanishingPointOneLapMon, 05 May 2008 07:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Vanishing Point Challenger meets tire wall at Road America]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/03/vanishing-point-challenger-meets-tire-wall-at-road-america/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/03/vanishing-point-challenger-meets-tire-wall-at-road-america/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/03/vanishing-point-challenger-meets-tire-wall-at-road-america/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Click above to see what the Vanishing Point Challenger looked like before

The Chrysler employees who entered the prototype Dodge Challenger in this year's One Lap of America may have taken the car's Vanishing Point theme a bit too seriously. Just like in the classic film, the stark white Challenger came face to face with a solid object. The car met its demise in Round 2's time trial event at Road America after getting loose through turn 1. It then left the track and came to a stop perched atop a tire-wall. This course of events departs slightly from the original movie plot, where the Challenger did not meet its destructive fate until the final frames. The film version also somehow managed to survive its own slew of off road adventures without much harm, proving that Hollywood doesn't necessarily mimic real life. Fortunately the Challenger driver, Erich Heuschele, came away from his off track excursion unscathed. The crew has reported that the car will be out for the remainder of events, though it was spotted leaving the track under its own power so a return might be a slim possibility. Check out the source link below for more images of the carnage.

Gallery: Dodge "Vanishing Point" Challenger



5/4/08 - 2:40 PM EST - UPDATE: The team came back today with a second, orange Challenger, but since One Lap rules forbid changing cars mid-campaign, they're out of the running for points. On a related side note: one of the Chrysler employees drove the wrecked Challenger some 200 miles with no mechanical issues. The vehicle is current at a friend's shop, being repaired and prepped for the upcoming Targa Newfoundland Rally.

[Source: Car Domain Blog]

Vanishing Point Challenger meets tire wall at Road America originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 03 May 2008 20:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Click above for high-res gallery of the Dodge "Vanishing Point" Challenger

It's good to know that there are folks at Chrysler who are still having a good time despite the rubbish state of auto sales in the U.S. The best evidence of this is the automakers's entry this year's One Lap of America "cross-country" race. Chrysler's Vice President Ralph Gilles and Erich Heuschele, Vehicle Dynamics Supervisor for SRT, are entering a blank white Challenger inspired by the 1970 Dodge Challenger that stars in the cult film Vanishing Point from 1971. The plot of the original movie revolves around a guy named Kowalski who has to deliver a white 1970 Challenger from Denver to San Francisco. He's aided by a blind DJ named Super Soul who listens to the police band and delivers helpful if not clairvoyant info to the protagonist over the radio. It's fitting then that Gilles and Heuschele have entered the One Lap race this year under the names of Kowalski and Super Soul, and the car they'll be driving is the very first preproduction Challenger prototype that was ever driven on public roads. It's been rescued from the crusher and slightly modified with a fresh coat of white paint (the first ever seen on a new Challenger) and new wheels to more resemble the original. Check out our gallery of the "Return to Vanishing Point" Challenger below, and glimpse the fun film Chrysler produced after the jump. Thanks for the tip, Michelle!

Gallery: Dodge "Vanishing Point" Challenger


[Source: Chrysler]

Continue reading Chrysler enters Vanishing Point Challenger in One Lap of America

Chrysler enters Vanishing Point Challenger in One Lap of America originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 May 2008 11:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>kowalski and super soulKowalskiAndSuperSoulone lapone lap of americaOneLapOneLapOfAmericareturn to vanishing pointreturn to vanishing point challengerReturnToVanishingPointReturnToVanishingPointChallengervanishing pointvanishing point challengerVanishingPointVanishingPointChallengerFri, 02 May 2008 11:56:00 EST<![CDATA[VIDEO: Dodge Challenger fan commercial rates highly]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/26/video-dodge-challenger-fan-commercial-rates-highly/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/26/video-dodge-challenger-fan-commercial-rates-highly/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/26/video-dodge-challenger-fan-commercial-rates-highly/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Click above to view fanboy promo

The quintessential car chase may have been immortalized in movies like The French Connection and Bullitt, but there have been dozens of chase flicks with everything from Pontiac Trans Ams to Dodge Challengers as the star. The 1971 movie Vanishing Point served as a classic for Mopar faithful, as the film centers around a troubled car delivery guy trying to get a supercharged 1970 Challenger from Colorado to San Fransisco in 15 hours while the fuzz is on his tail.

With an all-new Challenger on the horizon, one fan took the time to make a video tribute to the muscle car vs. police movie, and the early reviews are positive. The amateur movie maker took clips from the original movie and spliced in Chrysler b-roll of the 2008 SRT Challenger for a very well produced faux promo. We were especially impressed with the effects employed to superimpose clips of the new Challenger in action over the old movie clips. Hit the jump to watch the one-minute short, and if you haven't seen the original movie, we've also embedded the original theatrical trailer for Vanishing Point. Thanks for the tip, Mitch!

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: Dodge Challenger fan commercial rates highly

VIDEO: Dodge Challenger fan commercial rates highly originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Mar 2008 20:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Dodge ChallengerDodgeChallengerhemimoviesupercharged challengerSuperchargedChallengerVanishing PointVanishingPointWed, 26 Mar 2008 20:03:00 EST