This was originally slated to be Steven Spielberg's first theatrical feature and he spent over two months on pre-production. He then decided he did not want to do this film and quit to go do The Sugarland Express (1974).
Uncredited film debut of Laura Dern. She can be seen in a few scenes as Maggie's blond-haired daughter. Maggie is played by her real-life mother, Diane Ladd.
Gator's car is a 1971 Ford LTD Galaxy 500 with a 429ci engine, and a four-speed transmission and it is rigged for speed. It was one of two he drove; the other was an automatic.