Gumball Rally

[Superman]

Had insomnia recently and turned on the TV while waiting for a pill to work. The movie was Gumball Rally and I was just about to switch channels when I see two babes in a 911 Targa. Okay. As I watched, the ladies were eluding some rednecks and got plenty far ahead of them when the 911 sputtered and conked out, leaving them stranded on the side of the road.

Pretty unrealistic. Everybody knows Porsches never ever break.

I'll bet Wayne and the crew sell WAY more go-fast parts than maintenance parts.

[onefstm]

What a great movie. It is definitely one of my all time favorites and now available on DVD. Actually great quality for a movie that is at least 20 years old. I really enjoy the scenes with the Ferrari Daytona and the 427 Cobra.

[TRE Cup]

One of our client/friends worked on that movie. He did make up, driving, acting (the co driver with John Morton in the Jag XKE that never left the starting garage) And he had a blast doing it. The yellow camaro had a hellacious motor in it for the early filming, but the constant strain of burn outs and high speed driving (yes a LOT of the footage you see was absolutely real speed) caused the motor to blow up. So some hapless rental car agency in Las Vegas was chosen to rent a chevy that donated its engine for the rest of the Camaro sequences. Much better technically than the "official" Cannonball Run movie that came out later with Brock Yates.
Raul Julia (r.i.p.) was the principal driver in the Daytona

Another friend owned the Cobra that was rented/ painted blue for the movie. The L.A River basin scenes bent the frame on the front end for which he received about $8k (lots of bucks at that time when daytona spiders were only 25k new) for the damage

We must have seen it 3-4 times when it first came out in theatres

[onefstm]

TRE,

That is great info on the movie. Was the Daytona an original 427? Can you give me an idea of what is was worth at the time of the filming. Both the Daytona and the Cobra sound amazing during their final race to finish at the end of the movie. Also, in the early scenes of the Camaro near the start of the race, you can tell that it makes big power especially when he passes several cars on a curvy mountain road.

You guys are making me want to put the DVD in tonight.

[S2GART]

I read a interview with the director, I think, and he said a couple of interesting things about the cars in the movie. One, originally the XKE was supposed to be in the race to Calif. The scene where it couldn't start was directly due to Jaguar not wanting to lend a company car. Apparently they were real snooty about one of their cars being in such a movie. So they rented one for the production and showed it doing what Jags of that era did best, sitting in a garage. Two, was about the Mercedes 300SL Roadster. The director owned one and also bought one that Sonny Bono had for sale. The director's 300SL was the one in the beginning of the movie, unfortunately it didn't make it to the end. For the scene when they are speeding through the streets of NY, the actor forgot to shift it out of second gear and blew up the engine. Watch the movie and you will see alot of blue smoke blowing out the back end. That was the director's engine going bye-bye. Bono's car was used for the rest of the movie.
What I like the most about that movie, along with Lemans and Grand Prix, is the driving was real, no special effects. In Gumball Rally when they are going down the highway or through the tunnels in NY you can just about make out what they are saying due to the real world wind/road noise. I think the only really unrealistic thing through out that moving was the motorcycle rider who smashes into things with his bike, yet it keeps going.

[Nitrometano]

jaja, I likeb that movie and I brought it from ebay. When you saw it a few times, you will notice that in some shoots, the babes was running the Targa with the hood opened.

[Pete000]

Darn near the greatest movies ever made ! I think all the cars were the real deal. I saw that movie when it first came out at the movies at a very impressionable age. 15 years old. Been a car guy ever since !

I love the sceen when Mr Guts asked Gary Busey for one of those Rebel yells to get the blood pumping as that Camaro hit the streets !

[jwetering]

Made in 1976 according to imdb.com. Made quite an impression on me at the tender young age of 11, or maybe a few years later when I saw it on t.v.

Raul Julia (as he tears the rear view mirror off the Daytona's windshield and throwing it over his shoulder) "What's-a behind me is not important!"

Those were the real deal Ferrari and Cobra, no doubt about it.

Hands down best movie of that genre.....EVER.

[UK Carrera]

One of my all-time faves. Biggest brother took me along to the cinema to see it when it first came out. Was very pleased when it was recently released on DVD.

Love the start with the sound of the Cobra and Daytona echoing around the streets.

[howie944]

My all time favorite also...The cops on the corner as the Ferrari screams through the city strees...Hmmm Ferrari...Great lines like "man that thing looked like a juke box on wheels" or "Why me Lord"? "Cause yer an A**hole Rosco"..the bike rider's name was I think Kipcheck (or something like that) Just too funny when he's freezing his butt off and burns his hands trying to warm them up on the engine at the gas station. And of course as was mentioned...the two chicks in the Porsche (Coleen Camp was one)..Catch me you can have me!

[TRE Cup]

I think the daytona used was the same one that was used in the streisand movie "star is born". It was eventually restored and sold at auction some years later. Same with the Cobra- Duane sold it shortly after getting it repaired from the movie damage
Back in 1976, the cars were not worth a "lot" of money. the daytona spider was 25k off the showroom floor back in 74, while the cobras were in the 15-18k range.
I knew then what i know now- just had no money to do it with!

[FastCarFan]

Great movie. I am sure it did not win any Academy Awards, but it is great for the sights & sounds.

One of my favorite scenes is when the Cobra & the Ferrari leave the L.A. river basin. (I hope I have this right -- I have not seen the movie in awhile.) The Ferrari gets on the street first & the driver accelerates. Then the Cobra gets on the road & the driver nails the throttle. The Cobra blows by the Ferrari, demonstrating its incredible acceleration. The Ferrari would win a top speed contest, but the Cobra clearly is quicker.

Cool stuff.

- Doug