Post-apocalyptic movies and stories have been around for a long time. Terminators, George Orwell’s 1984 and many others dabble in possible futures of our world and society. The Mad Max series started back in 1979, showing us a wild and strange possibility. Recently released, Mad Max: Fury Road hit the big screen and it’s clear to see that hot rods will take us far into the future.
Many of the main vehicles in the movie are based on vintage vehicles. It makes sense really. In a world where resources have dried up and modern electronic technology has nearly disappeared, vintage vehicles would make the most sense. No computers to deal with, few circuit boards or microchips to replace; classics would become the most reliable mode of transportation. The cars in this movie aren’t just old classics though. They’ve been modified to fit the harsh and war-like landscape.
Of the many hot rods in the film, one that stands out is a ’32 Duece Coupe. Driven by a storyline character named Nux, this 5-window car runs on a super-turbocharged (yep, both) V8 with nitrous added in just for giggles. One of the other vehicles that stands out is Immortan Joe’s Gigahorse. Built from two 1959 Cadillac Devilles and running on twin V16 engines, this car is a monster. “In a world where nobody had one of anything, it seemed a fait accompli that he would have a pair of 1959 coupe DeVilles,” Production Designer Colin Gibson tells Bloomberg Business. “We spent two months making them operational.”
Seeing such a heavy hot rod influence in a major blockbuster film proves our hot rodding culture is alive and strong. For more info on the Mad Max: Fury Road vehicles, go check out this article on the Bloomberg Business website.