• from JALOPNIK FILM FESTIVAL: Whether you think Monte Hellmans cult, 1971 road film, Two Lane Blacktop is a masterpiece of nuance, or the ultimate WTF moment in cinema, you could shortly own a major piece of it: the grey-primered 55 (one of three Chevy 150s from the film) is going to auction, heading to Barrett-Jacksons Scottsdale auction in January. Blacktop is best known for its sparse use of dialog, not-quite-sparse use of cars, and thin, dreamy plot. The films taciturn protagonists, played by a Fire and Rain-era James Taylor and the late drummer from The Beach Boys, Dennis Wilson, travel the country in a very quick 1955 Chevy hustling drag races. They meet a blowhard in a 1970 Pontiac GTO Judge (Warren Color Me Gone, Baby! Oates), with whom they somehow wind up at odds. A cross-country race for pinks sort of happens, but sort of doesnt. Oh, and nearly everyone sleeps with a female hitchhiker who doesnt say much, either (Laurie Bird). But the main character is that 55 gasser. Three cars were used for the shoot, including a stunt car and the 427-powered main car, which went on to appear in American Graffiti. This one, the owner says, was the heavily rigged camera car used for interior shots, and has been restored to match the main cars on-screen appearance, including its iconic beam-axle front end. The drivetrain has been updated, but matches the original cars setup: a tunnel ram 454, Muncie M-22 rock crusher four speed and Oldsmobile 4:88 rear. Its also got the same lightweight bits: fiberglass flip nose, doors and trunk lid, and Lexan windows. The car comes with documentation including a photo album of the restoration; a certificate of authenticity signed by original builder, Richard Ruth; framed photos from the 1970 shoot, and photos from a recent reunion with James Taylor. Theres no price estimate yet, but for reference, that American Graffiti 55 sold for $25,300 back in 2005, and a 350-powered recreation version is going for $35,000. Real vintage gassers with racing provenance can fetch big money, but its hard to estimate how much value the cult film will add to this car. Either way, itll no doubt wind up well-bought and enjoyed by a Blacktop fan.
Posted on: Thu, 30 Oct 2014 09:15:37 +0000
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