Though the filmmakers originally wanted to use actual Hemi Challengers to make the movie, when they discovered how expensive they are, they used 440 Challengers with Hemi nameplates as a more cost-effective alternative. The Hemi engine shown in the film was actually inside a Charger.
Five 1970 Dodge Challengers R/T were used during production of the film. As mentioned previously, none of the cars had 426 Hemi, and instead they had 440 Magnum engines, just like one in original 1971 film. Couple of the cars suffered some damage but none was actually destroyed. Different model of the Challenger was used for the ending where it crashes into two bulldozers. Unlike the eight cars used in original film which were all crushed by Chrysler after they saw the film and didn't want to be associated with it because they felt it promoted counter-culture and anti-authority, after filming of this TV remake wrapped Ted Stephens, owner of Stephen's performance in Anderson, Alabama, picked up all five cars and restored "unit one," which served as the main hero car for close-ups and interior driving shots. Stephens still owns all Challengers today.
Two 1968 Dodge Chargers R/T were used for the main chase scene between Challenger and Charger in Utah. However for budgetary reasons all the scenes showing two cops inside the Charger were actually filmed in Challenger which was used as camera car, so its hood had to be painted black. 426 Hemi which was shown to be inside the Challenger earlier in the film was actually in one of the Chargers. During filming of the chase Charger and Challenger were going up to 140 miles per hour. As seen in the film, one of the Chargers was destroyed in the crash scene at the end of the chase, but unlike the other, that one was in poor condition. Second Charger was kept by director of the film and years later he sold it to a fan of Dodge Charger cars who restored it and still has the car in good condition.
Two 1968 Dodge Chargers R/T were used for the main chase scene between Challenger and Charger in Utah. However for budgetary reasons all the scenes showing two cops inside the Charger were actually filmed in Challenger which was used as camera car, so its hood had to be painted black. 426 Hemi which was shown to be inside the Challenger earlier in the film was actually in one of the Chargers. During filming of the chase Charger and Challenger were going up to 140 miles per hour. As seen in the film, one of the Chargers was destroyed in the crash scene at the end of the chase, but unlike the other, that one was in poor condition. Second Charger was kept by director of the film and years later he sold it to a fan of Dodge Charger cars who restored it and still has the car in good condition.
The giant longhorn skull seen at the beginning of the movie is the entrance to the "Longhorn Grill" in Amado, Arizona.
A mission (church) shown near the beginning of the movie is "Mission San Xavier del Bac", near Tucson, Arizona.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content
