Back to the Future, the cars

[Just Jeepin']

As I posted last night, Netflix is losing some true classic flicks this month, including the entire Back to the Future trilogy.

I started watching the first one this morning, and was immediately struck by the vehicles. Obviously the well-known ones like the Toyota Hilux, but the AMC Eagle wagon was a hoot to spot now that I know about it (I really never paid attention to cars growing up), and the CJ that Marty hitches a ride on (the Ranger wasn't bad either).

Anyway, after catching a glimpse of an old Suburban I decided I should try to spend more time identifying what I was seeing, but then remembered I can only ID about 20 vehicles that have ever existed, so instead I searched the web.

Presented for your edumafication, the vehicles from Back to the Future.

https://backtothefuture.fandom.com/wiki/Motor_vehicles_in_Back_to_the_Future

[Shop-Teacher]

@just-jeepin Thankfully I have these on DVD, so no need for me to panic watch them. Fun fact: I stole the DVDs from a friend's ex-husband. He lent me them, and when I found out he had been regularly driving drunk through our neighborhood, I decided he couldn't have them back.

[fintail]

@just-jeepin I assume you know about IMCDB:

https://www.imcdb.org/m88763.html

[Just Jeepin']

@fintail I did stumble upon it once upon a time, but had long since forgotten about it. Thanks.

[fintail]

@just-jeepin definitely one of the better corners of the devolving hellscape of the internet.

[sn4cktimes]

We did a trivia night many moons ago and one of the questions I asked people was:
“What car does Jenny’s Dad pick her up in?”
A) Buick Regal
B) AMC Eagle
C) Ford Crown Vic
D) Generic Sedan

Most of my friends picked the Eagle on the basis I put it in a question. Hmmmm I might actually put up the vehicle section on a post for Oppo...

[fintail]

On this subject, Doc Brown's Packard came up for auction not long ago:

https://www.goodingco.com/vehicle/1949-packard-custom-8-victoria-convertible/

Definitely a premium paid for provenance, but I'd still call it well-bought. The car has a role in one of the most popular movie franchises of all time, and these bathtub Packards were remarkably sturdy and overbuilt cars, themselves. I'd love to have it.

[Chariotoflove]

@just-jeepin After your post last night, I got my daughter off Youtube, and we watched War Games together. Even better movie than I remembered. She enjoyed it immensely.

Also, that movie is where I got the idea for how to butter corn that Iuse to this day, and my kid got to see where it comes from. Although we now use tortillas because they hold together better.

[Shop-Teacher]

@fintail A guy I used to teach with has a beautiful survivor '48 Packard sedan. It's magnificent.

[fintail]

@shop-teacher An old timer I knew said something to the effect that those cars can pull a house off its foundation - they are almost literally tanks. They seem to have a decent survival rate, which says something 70 years later.

[Rusty Vandura]

@shop-teacher laughs

[Rusty Vandura]

@fintail You know what I don't like about you? You don't call it like you see it.

[Shop-Teacher]

@fintail These are his cars. The Packard is completely original, only some mechanical work has been done to it.

[fintail]

@shop-teacher Beauties. Love the color on the Packard too. I'll take em both.

There's a similar Caddy in BTTF as well, the band's car where Marty is locked in the trunk.

[Shop-Teacher]

@fintail Oh yeah!

[XJDano]

@just-jeepin my wife was watching RENT earlier, and I had them rewind a section to look at a Comanche, then guessed the Range Rover, but apparently the one guy just said “Get of my Range Rover” so that may have been subliminal. I was trying to decide if it was a XJ or MJ because it hd a camper shell.

https://www.imcdb.org/v073520.html

[Just Jeepin']

@xjdano I saw what I think was my first MJ with a shell while driving around last weekend. Wish I could have gotten a photo, looked sharp.