[Alvin]

Originally Posted by gtoric

It has been theorized that McQ is a shortened version of McQueen.

Check out the Header Quote (below) and #6 here http://www.ridelust.com/10-best-cars-chases-of-the-70s/

Bullitt, released in 1968, is sometimes credited with the car chase boom of the 70s



For those of you around back then, the 70’s were awesome. We had bell-bottoms, disco and the Pontiac Trans Am. We were also inundated with the 70’s style car chase. You see, in the 1970’s they would generally use the same car throughout the entire chase scene. If directors could, they would try to get away with using only one car for a more authentic look and feel. Damage that occurred during filming could now be seen throughout the entire chase. These were filmed before computers, high end editing software and product placement. The results are some of the best car chases ever captured on film.

[frank.g]

While I was still running the SD Registry, sometime in the mid-late 90's, I had the opportunity to interview Jim Wangers. One of the topics was his involvement in placing Pontiac's in movies, such as "Thunderbolt and Lightfoot" and McQ. He confirmed to me that all these vehicles were non-SD's (Why would the studios spend $500 on a feature that would never be seen?). We also discussed the missing decals. At that time, the car companies were very concerned about government and insurance company intervention in their business, and they were regularly making business decisions to keep a low profile, such as the self imposed bans in racing. One of the other ways they lowered their profile in movies where "spirited driving" was likely to occur, was to require that identifying markings, such as the decals, be removed. If you view other movies from this era, you will see similar deletions. You gotta love the lawyers!

[Alvin]

Originally Posted by frank.g

While I was still running the SD Registry, sometime in the mid-late 90's, I had the opportunity to interview Jim Wangers. One of the topics was his involvement in placing Pontiac's in movies, such as "Thunderbolt and Lightfoot" and McQ. He confirmed to me that all these vehicles were non-SD's (Why would the studios spend $500 on a feature that would never be seen?). We also discussed the missing decals. At that time, the car companies were very concerned about government and insurance company intervention in their business, and they were regularly making business decisions to keep a low profile, such as the self imposed bans in racing. One of the other ways they lowered their profile in movies where "spirited driving" was likely to occur, was to require that identifying markings, such as the decals, be removed. If you view other movies from this era, you will see similar deletions. You gotta love the lawyers!

Thank you Frank for the Wangers input and history...although an AD-Man might have slapped on a set of cheap-o SD455 decals on a base engine model for same $ saving reasons...show vs go for Marketing to movie audiences? but, as you said, the insurance AND let's no forget the '73 / '74 "Gas Crisis" where major concerns @ the time. Cool.

On the de-branding of vehicles I've noticed this occurring on many network and movie programming in recent yrs continuing now into 2014.

Ex: On some of my Mrs fave TV series, such as "Bones", initially had scenes with actors driving in and drive by in Chevy Suburbans...then for a couple of seasons they were sponsored by Toyota, and then the actors were in all Toyota vehicles, with one none-to-subtle episode w the Emily Descenile "Bones" character describing features of her Prius to her partner as they rode to a murder scene. For what ever reasons, Toyota sponsorship ended for this specific show. Contract end?

Now they are back to older Suburbans in drive by scenes and it is obvious when "black tape" is used to cover the Chevy, Toyota, etc. grill and body badges.

Same "black-out" vehicle debranding noted more often on many other programmings.

[Alvin]

TTT

[Alvin]

Better late than...? Update 1973 FireBird Year One Twin-Turbo LS7 "Brewster McQ" Checker Out!

[Alvin]

Dig the license plate

[Alvin]

[Alvin]

Originally Posted by Alvin

Check out the Header Quote (below) and #6 here http://www.ridelust.com/10-best-cars-chases-of-the-70s/

Interesting to have rec'd latest issue of HMM w this "Bullitt" cover car

[Overkillphil]

Originally Posted by Alvin

Dig the license plate

That's sweet! That particular year and color T/A has always been a favorite of mine.

Here's the video link to the Year One version. I really like the subtle details while maintaining the integrity of the original car. The boost gauge where the clock is in the tick tock tach is perfect!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lK11LrGa-RI

[Alvin]

Originally Posted by Overkillphil

That's sweet! That particular year and color T/A has always been a favorite of mine.

Here's the video link to the Year One version. I really like the subtle details while maintaining the integrity of the original car. [b] The boost gauge where the clock is in the tick tock tach is perfect![/b_

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lK11LrGa-RI

It's minute details like that that make this an awesome ride IMO

[Alvin]

TTT

[Alvin]

Originally Posted by Alvin

...you make as to said treatment of his TA.

[Wareagle]

Alvin - should have used a Butler 535-541 ci. Pontiac engine in that YO McQ T/A - There good for 850 pump gas hp and its still Pontiac powered - like this Clone 70 T/A

[Alvin]

Just happen to flip through cable channels and McQ now just began playing on TCMHD - Turner Classic Movies

[Hammertime Mike]

Yup, I caught it last night too. Recorded it this time.

[Ponchy]

Originally Posted by Overkillphil

The Rockford files got me interested in 2nd gen Birds. The McQ movie made the 70-73's my all time favorites.

I still remember my dad watching the pilot episode of The Rockford Files.
I don't think I'd ever seen him so thoroughly entertained by a single tv show ever.
He watched it religiously through its entire run, and was actually a bit agitated when it finally left the air.
….and he was impressed with the car, too...I remember him pondering if that one came with a six cylinder engine.....

This whole thread has been a real blast from the past for me and thanks to Steve V for making me aware of its existence.
I've lived in this area since 1966, so I remember when the movie was being filmed, although I was just a kid at the time.
In those days, people didn't relate "the movie industry" to this area, so when word got out that John Wayne was in town, you can bet the filming of the movie made the front page of The Seattle Times, The Seattle Post-Intelligencer and probably half a dozen other local papers for days on end (and there's a little bit of a story in that nugget, too).
I don't think we'd had a "big star" in town since Robert Stack showed up to film "Namu the Killer Whale" in the mid 60's.
It's wild to watch the movie and see him pulling out of a house on Beacon Hill, then in the next scene, he's out in LaPush, which is on the coast (there's like hundreds of miles between the two places).
Almost everything you see of the downtown area is either gone now, or about to go, too.
Sadly, the only thing constant is change and Seattle's changed a lot in the years since that movie was shot, but for those of us who remember "The Big City with the Small Town Feel ", its a nice walk down memory lane.
Nice to know the cars are still around and still up here....maybe if I'm lucky, I'll be able to catch one in a museum or at a car show some time.


Ponchy

[Ponchy]

Originally Posted by Silver Judge

I like the movie McQ a lot. BadASS and filmed in my neighborhood. That chase with the laundry truck is right down the street, then it's right up the street, then back down the original street again...........Ha!


I heard somewhere that John Wayne was originally offered the role of Harry Callahan in Dirty Harry.

Supposedly John Wayne and his agent thought something along the following line--

"oh, god, this script isn't a good idea, this rogue cop beats the holy living snot out of suspects first, asks questions later and he carries a massive .44 magnum. We'll pass on this one it's not good for John Wayne's public relations image"

Well, after the HUGE success of Dirty Harry, out comes McQ. .44 Magnum? Umm, isn't that a rather small & ineffective weapon? So McQ character goes out and gets a gnarly MAC-10 submachine gun, LOL

John Wayne invents the drive by....



...looks like he may have also been carrying a .45 auto, too....



...but I remember the ubiquitous .38 snubbie, which looks almost insignificant in his big ol' paws....

[Ponchy]

Hopefully this GIF works.....

[Drag Star Le Mans]

Ponchy your GIF worked great! You can still get to that location but Seattle has turned into a poo hole so don't go alone and if you do carry a gun.

[Ponchy]

...trust me, there are parts of Seattle that have ALWAYS been a "poo hole"....I know, I used to live in some of those places.
Thanks for letting me know about the GIF.