George Miller’s post-apocalyptic Mad Max movie series has left its burnt rubber tracks across movie and TV screens across the world, it’s one of the most popular action film franchises ever, and is still going strong today with several new additions to the series coming out! Did you know that when the first movie, Mad Max was released to American audiences in 1979 Mel Gibson’s mellifluous voice was dubbed over by an American actor? They feared audiences wouldn’t be able to understand an Aussie accent, and have regretted that decision ever since! It didn’t stop the movie from being an instant cult classic, and when its sequel Mad Max 2 came out in 1981 it was called The Road Warrior in the US, but the Aussie accents were left intact and it was a smash hit!
Everybody loved the iconic lonely figure of Max himself, and the whimsical supporting cast members like Feral Kid and the Gyro Captain, but the real stars were the cars! These stripped-down, super-charged mechanical beasts were made for mayhem, and any of today’s luxury features like rear window shades for cars were long gone! These babies were built for one purpose, to hunt and kill across Australia’s dystopian future desolation! Let’s take a closer look at some of our best-loved rides from The Wasteland!
Max’s Yellow Interceptor – This fast and sturdy vehicle was a modified 1974 Ford Falcon XB sedan that had once served as real a Melbourne police car. It had a 351ci Cleveland V8 engine and some other modifications like a L88 Corvette bonnet scoop and a front spoiler.
Max’s Red Van – This eye-catching, but still fairly normal vehicle was a Holden HJ Sandman Panel Van. An HJ Caprice replaced the front end, and it was fitted with Ford XC GXL headlights. It was powered by a 308 V8 with M21 manual 4 speed transmission. The body was also fitted with GTS fenders, and a 1970’s style luggage rack completed the domestic picture.
Marauder Snake Truck– This highly modified monster truck was built from a Ford F-100 Ute with a custom-made Nitrous Oxide booster system, a cobra painted on each of the doors, and the cab cut off to fit a boat-style windshield.
Mack Truck – The big rig used to pull the oil tanker was a 1970s Mack R-600 sporting a “cool power” engine setup that employs an aftercooler on the cylinder head with a tip turbine fan, and a twin-stick transmission. The Mack’s most distinctive feature was the railway engine cowcatcher mounted to the front as protection against crash impacts! Armoured plates welded in front of the radiator were cut with air slits for ventilation, and armoured cages were placed around the wheels.
Max’s Pursuit Special – This menacing black muscle car was a Ford Falcon XB GT coupe with a V8 engine and a supercharger protruding through the hood which could be toggled on and off. The car is scarred and burnt from Max’s dangerous journeys, making it look very much at home in the post-apocalyptic Wasteland.
Australians are proud of Mad Max’s legacy, the films are a national treasure, although they might prefer a brighter future for themselves than what the films portray!
