Interceptor Vs Pursuit Special: Which One is the Real Name?
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The Black on Black V8 from the Mad Max franchise has kept its identity a mystery for over 40 years, as fans to this day continue to debate "What is the real title of the 1973 Ford Falcon XB GT Coupe from the 1979 Australian car chase classic 'Mad Max'?"
With many to this day convinced it is and forever will be known as The Interceptor, MFP presents the definitive answer as to what is the real name of this mysterious Black V8 police car once and for all.
We take a look into the production history of both the original Mad Max, and the follow up sequel Mad Max 2 from 1981, along with discussing the history of the names Interceptor and Pursuit Special and dig deep into production evidence to offer the best possible answer.
#madmax #PursuitSpecial #v8 #roadwarrior #georgemiller #musclecar #documentary #australia
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In Mad Max the standard “cop” cars were just called Interceptors. The black Interceptor the one Max drives throughout the movies is the Pursuit Special Interceptor, last of the V8s.
Big bopper was pursuit and March hare was an interceptor cars, as was max’ yellow car.
@@cj6666666999 yes ... you had pursuit yellow and max was the interceptor ..same cars same colour just had different roles .. the v8 black interceptor was a car built to stop max leaving the force (might of been built from nightriders car is the theory I've had since watching it)
@@pidster767 Night riders car was Holden Monaro H.Q . 1972 model .
@@specialse i knew that was waiting for somebody who knew their cars 😉 respect brother
Dude. 15 fuckin minutes and it's answered by this, lol. I'm out!
I always took it to mean that in the film's lore the car model was an Interceptor and the "Pursuit Special" was a designation. Even now this is common when police agencies buy cars from manufacturers but with certain must have specs like an uprated engine, better cooling, chassis reinforcement or whatever and that particular specification of the car become denoted as like Dodge Charger Highway Patrol Spec.
“Last of the V8s” seems chilling in 2022.
They said that in the mid- late 1980s but the V8 wasn't done and still isn't.
Perhaps the name is ambiguous as the car itself was a hybrid put together by the MFP mechanics-a ‘piece from here, a piece from there’. In the Mad Max world it probably wasn’t officially titled anything due to just being built as a totally badass incentive to keep Max on the roads as a MFP officer.
''Kick him in the guts Barry!''
@@TheAndre8900 kick IT in the guts Barry
@@TheAndre8900 IT. Kick it in the guts ...
Technically “Hybrid” means powered by both ICE and EV… so you are incorrect. What you are referring to is “Custom Made/Built”… pretty obvious you have never modified a car or done an engine swap 😂 nice try
Ya....true enough
My grandmother used to make those XB ford falcons in the Ford Broadmeadows plant. She is gobsmacked when I show her the prices they sell for today lol. Her last falcon I believe was the EA/EB before she retired
I like that it goes by 4 or so different names, as it makes it seems more like a legendary story told by word of mouth, where some storytellers use different names. Miller also leans into this theme a lot with Mad Max so it fits
Interesting take I always thought that the titles referred to a designated function of the car, not the model of the car itself. Pursuit cars were used to give chase to to suspect while the interceptors did the final take down, the pursuit special would have been a hopped up version for running down a particularity fast or difficult target.
The Pursuit Special is the official cop designation for it in Mad Max. In Road Warrior it was called the last of The V8 Interceptors. (It'd be a shame to blow it up.)
SPOILER ALERT He blows it up.
@@s3dchr It was a line from the movie. When the mechanic is disarming the bomb he has on the fuel tank.
@@Shatterfyst Ah, I see, ok.
The pursuit special is the car the night rider steals in madmax 1
@@s3dchr You're confusing the time line
Interceptor made sense to me simply due to the fact that Ford used it for years to market its high performance V8s. It was later supplanted by Cobra Jet and Super Cobra Jet, so it would be like someone saying "It's the last of the Super Cobra Jets". I always assumed that it came about because Pursuit Special referred to the car, and Interceptor the units with the higher power engines.
As an American, I'll call it gorgeous. Kudos to Ford of Australia for wanting the 351-4V (Call it the 351 Cleveland or 351 Cobra-Jet if you want, essentially the same engine) to shoehorn them into these cars
When the mechanic refers to "The last of the V8 interceptors" he is referring to the Ford 351 Windsor engine (which was different than the standard Ford 351) under the cars hood, not the car itself. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_small_block_engine#351W
No, 351C (Cleveland) - - not 351W
"Interceptor" remains to this day Ford's line of police packages in the U.S. and abroad occasionally. Until the discontinuation of the Crown Victoria, it was always V8, though it remains as the factory police package as other models current. "Pursuit" was Ford Australias version, being six cylinder based, and I'm not certain whether the line continues this day, but they served counterpart. In the film, the respective models reflected their roles within MFP. Max (the Dark One) and March Hare were Interceptors, having the V8s. Faster cars allotted to certain requirements. Big Bopper filled the chase or Pursuit role, probably more common to take on more benign assignment. Pursuit Specials were modified cars, uptuned from their stock performance, essentially Hotrods devised from whatever pieces could be locally sourced to gain an advantage seeing scarcity as new replacement vehicles set on. Often being a Pursuit car with an Interceptor or better engine retrofitted, or even impounded cars confiscated and pressed into service as contracts could not be fulfilled. To answer the query, both are true regarding Max's black car. It was an Interceptor, as Max's rank was Interceptor, and it was a Pursuit Special as the car itself was an uptuned one off. Should also note, the "phase IV" denotes a John Goss engine. These were the cars that when offered to the market, they were threatened with being banned unless so many police versions were available to municipalities so they could be ..."Interprecepted".
I love the idea of it having multiple designations, it makes the car more mythical. it being "the last of the V8 Interceptors" already cemented its status. and let's face it, all 3 of those names are cool.
"A rose by any other name..." It doesn't matter what you call it, it's still the coolest movie car ever. Chris Nolan's "Tumbler" in his Batman trilogy is a distant second IMHO. The entire franchise, minus "Beyond Thunderdome" is one long crazy car chase, an absolute must own for every gear head and wrench turner on the planet. I hit the lottery and I'm having one built...with a real blower.
Christine will ALWAYS be number one, but I agree the Last of the V8s is a true movie legend, and boy did it make an impression when I first saw it. We didn't have almost any V8s on our streets at that time.
@@VideoDotGoogleDotCom Christine was different, the movie was about the evil spirit that possessed the car and anyone who owned it. Beautiful car though. I'd take Eleanor over Christine any day if we're talking about cars with girls name. Christine was too high maintenance, she required your soul.
I mean if we're talking sweet movie cars, I gotta go with the 1989 Batmobile
The yellow 4 door that Max drove was designated the interceptor. All black cars were hopped up and designated pursuit specials
Yep. Which is why I am leaning towards the first black Landau we see in Mad Max 2 driven by a "Bad Cop" was a pursuit special as well. It was giving Max a run for his money.
I feel lucky to have lived through a time where i could drive and ride the vehicles used in mad max. The time of the "last of the V8,s" is now here.
The standard yellow cars were interceptors and the black one was pursuit special. The one the became Mad Max's iconic car was a modified pursuit special that was called "the last of the V8" during the scene where Goose and the mechanic guy showed it to Max. So supposedly, V8 engines were already very scarce at the time in the first movie. Thus in Road Warrior, a V8 was extremely valuable rare, due to apocalyptic world.
The last of the V8s (I think) was a foreshadowing of the Holden and ford tv adverts that used the same line (oil crisis of the 1970s and dealers stopping to build V8s ... Until the bean counters realised they were loosing sales). V8s in Australia have always been rare to an extent with most models being straight sizes with V6 s becoming available in late 1980s
The idea of goose being the Lord humongous would have been a whole extra level of awesome.
Yes.. but he was burned to a crispy critter.. humongous face was obviously burned .
Be it the interceptor, pursuit special or my personal favorite, the Black-on-Black, it will always be an iconic car.
RIP Vincent Gil The Nightrider😥
Max's "Interceptor" was different from the other yellow MFP cars though. His had chrome wheels, a raised back end and different spoilers, so it was different to the standard patrol cars with yellow rims. I think the production was a bit hazy on what defined an :Interceptor". The black-on-black car was called an "Interceptor" so that name stuck. I always understood the term "Special" to mean a one-off custom vehicle, so I always thought of the dark blue Monaro as a "Pursuit Special" and the black falcon as a "Interceptor Special". Just my personal take on things.
Top mark's on this one. I enjoyed learning a few new things I didn't know and I have seen a lot of MM docs and footage! I always thought Pursuit Special was the correct name because the night rider stole it in the first movie.
Nice video and I think you are right, the radio sequence that you are referring to is right after Max drives off into the 'Prohibited Area' (@ 1hr 18mins and 32sec of the film). It definitely refers to the car as a Pursuit Special.
The last of the V8 Interceptors! Arkie Whiteley, R.I.P girl, pure gorgeous, the gyro captain was well lucky! X
And that twin turbo LTD was badass. Back then turbos werent very popular due to the technology not being quite there yet, there weren't really using intercoolers and the turbos were super laggy but they always look ruthless
I remember cars like these on the highways, driven by cops, we called them "Candy Cars", yellow Xc coupes that ran up and down the highways,"Intercepting" speeding motorists. Back before radar cops use to catch you and clock you. I use to get excited and proclaim, "Look Dad, a V8 Intercertor"....
I'd like to see those dual overhead cams in a Cleveland.
Mate, these are quality. Love the deep dive into the name.
No, they are not good. Narrator.. slow the fuck down. Are you on speed?
Thanks for deliving into this. I'd noticed the inconsistent naming but never thought too much about it.
Great information. You can see the Pursuit Special or Interceptor in Orlando at Dezerland Park & Auto Museum along with the original "Batmobile," all the James Bond vehicles, and other beauties. Car enthusiast dream! 😎
It's been for sale at 2 million. I'm in space coast fl just 60 miles east. If you have 2 million I'll go get it. Lol take good care. Best regards 👍.
The last race in the 2013 F1 season. Everybody was saying “The last of the V8’s.”
I always took the last V8 part being due to department inventory. (Note: this is NOT canon) The police department was likely granted parts allocations for the department vehicles, given they had a mechanic. However, due to the limited funds and and lack of materials, this department acquired a set of V6s (local enforcement vehicles) and at least four V8s (standard Pursuit vehicles) along with performance parts for at least two of the V8s (the Specials) rather than V8s for all of the vehicles (making the use of a V8 a pretty big deal for the department). After the destruction of the Monaro Pursuit Special and the Big Bopper led to the loss of two of the V8s and one set of performance parts, the V8 added to the Falcon Pursuit Special was the final high performance V8 engine the department had official access to (not counting cars seized from criminals). In other words, the Last V8.
Interesting theory. But I am guessing that since the MFP is fictional, we will never know. BTW Fords in Australia in the 70s were straight 6s, normally 200 or 250cid. There was no V6 in Australia at the time. My guess though is that the Pursuit cars are probably 302 V8s, and the Interceptors are 351s.
In Iraq in 2008 we were doing convoy security. The name of our operation was "Operation Hunter V8 Interceptor" in honor of Max - who was part of his own convoy in MM2: RW. When we got home I needed a new car, and got a Pontiac G8 GT, a 6.0 L V8 designed and built in Australia (where it was a Holden Commodore). My car was black and my plates read N7RCP7R. I had aspirations to get a supercharger, but kids are expensive!
That's a pretty cool story. Thanks for sharing. Enjoy your Holden Monaro.
@@MFPMapFilmProductions Thanks. Holden Monaro = Pontiac GTO. Holden Commodore = Pontiac G8. Of course none of them exist anymore.
@@clarkbarrett6274 okay, cool. Did not know it was a Commodore.
4:09 tell me this isnt one of the greatest moments in human history.. its a brilliant "Frankenstein" moment...absolutely magnificent..
I had always drawn from military aircraft, a pursuit plane is one with moderate armaments and speed that is designed to chase attacking aircraft away and follow them home. Interceptors are light and fast, designed to streak up, strike and return home. The black on black is a hybrid of both with high dash speed with longer endurance to harrie a target into making a mistake and crashing.
I think it’s pursuit special but I don’t mind interceptor as it’s a cool name.
It's both, An Interceptor and the designation in the force is a Pursuit special.
I'm not sure where it is, but somewhere in the western US (Arizona?) is a car club dedicated to the appreciation of the vehicles of these films, especially the Black on Black V8 Interceptor. Somewhere in Boise, Idaho there is a member of this club, who drives his MM tribute Interceptor around during the summers. I once got the chance to pull up next to him at a stop light and yell "LAAAAST OF THE VEEEEIGHT INTERCEPTORS!!!" in my best Australian accent. I got the best grin out of the driver... A few years later I saw a newspaper article on the guy and his car and their trip down to the "show and shine" at the MM car club, wherever that was.
Charlie, who "copped a saucepan in the throat" later in the mfp base, said with his speaking aid buzzer: " I can see the interceptor" as Max returns.
It's just a separation of police divisions like we have today, Traffic Branch, Highway Patrols -cars and bikes, and Special Operations Vehicles - usually a SWAT, Riot and drug enforcement group these days, but multiskilled to actively hunt rampaging groups of crims if required, all with increasing levels of skills and training over and above general duties police. Main Force Patrol- a specialised Traffic Branch, Interceptors - performance improved highway patrol vehicles, and a couple of Pursuit Specials within the Interceptor Division- just a purpose built vehicle based on the highway patrol vehicles. I think the wording fits better saying 'last of the Interceptors' rather than 'the only Pursuit Special that no one outside of the MFP special vehicles division even knew existed'.
I had to check if the playback speed was at 1.5x. You're a truly Australian, sir.
Ha ha, as much as I know it's a comment on me speaking too fast as many have pointed out, yours was the most polite way I have ever read in saying it. Cheers mate.
The colloquial term for ANY performance modified cop car in Australia is 'Interceptor'. From Falcons to Toranas to VL Commodores. They were all Police Interceptors.
I've been a mad max fan forever and since I was a lil kid I just always considered it a Pursuit Special Interceptor. I just call it the Interceptor cause it sounds cooler to me then Pursuit Special.
Truly was a sexy ass car! That had the balls to drive WAY past the wall! Never knew of any debate, but footage and backstory makes this video both a gem and a time capsule! Thank you...
Cheers. Glad you liked it.
@@MFPMapFilmProductions Personally, I've loved the movie since I first saw it decades ago as a kid... My Dad had a 1973 Gran Torino, powered by 357 Cleveland... Rearly on the back roads of North Carolina he would open her up on straight aways reaching 125-130mph... And she don't shake! If anything, felt like it was just warming up! So your run down on the cars used and the backstory of the what, where, why, and how's - reminded me and brought back very old awesome memories! So yes, very much enjoyed you video! Thank You, Seriously!
I was always led to believe that the engine was called an V8 interceptor. The vehicle altogether was considered a pursuit special. When done video. Hopefully we can all agree that there are movies we enjoy to watch.
Cheers.
And the Interceptor? That was the last we ever saw of the Pursuit Special. It lives now... only in my memories.
3:51 how in all my years of watching this film over and over have I missed the freaking JET CAR the cops have???
Considering the Ford XB Falcon was used as a police Highway Patrol interceptor it is safe to say that they always intended for it to be called the interceptor because well that's what it is.
"Last of the V8's" I assumed was due to the extreme fuel shortages. If fuel is so precious a commodity it makes sense to ban vehicles that only get 10 MPG. Only reason Max can get away with using a V8 is because he's such a badass he can get in and get out of whatever he needs including fuel and V8 made it an easier task when your much faster than the competition.
The coolest meanest screen car of all time in my opinion. Loving your videos btw. The algorithm was indeed good today recommending them
Great videos! The first film is so rich with detail. Could you do a video about other vehicles that show up briefly, such as the Rocket Car, the bubble top bike, family station wagon?
The interceptor is the cop car he drives at the start and the pursuit special is the black hard top
Thanks for the killer vid! The fact that the mechanic says it had twin cams means it couldn't have been the stock 351 V8, because you can't put overhead-cam type heads on that engine. They simply won't fit. To have a classic Ford V8 with overhead cams it would have to be one of the now extremely rare race-only Ford overhead cam engines that were designed for use in NASCAR, Drag racing and other racing applications. The most likely engine it could have been is the 427 SOHC "cammer". Despite being a SingleOverHeadCam design its V8 configuration means that it does indeed have twin cams, one for each cylinder bank. Ford also kept a decent stock of these engines and would sell them to literally anyone with the cash so it is quite plausible that one would have found its way into the hands of the MFP. In fact in the early 60s Ford very briefly installed these engines in a limited amount of standard production cars for motorsports "homologation" purposes. They were rated at 600+ horsepower completely stock so one with a supercharger could easily make 800 or more. Also the 57 Thunderbirds 312 V8 engine was not a flathead, it was a slightly more modern over head valve Y block designed to replace the flathead.
Thanks for the comment. Yes, I was aware of the issue of the twin overhead cams. The details in the movie as described contridict themselves as the only engine the phase IV was available for was the 351, and the 351 did not, nor could not fit twin overhead cams. As for the other details you really seem to know your stuff. I have to double check my notes as I must have gotten the flathead 312 mixed up somewhere. So, I am editing out the mention of the Flathead as it does not do well to keep it in. There is only so much one man can do to get it all done flawless I'm afraid. But thank you for the info and correction. I always try to get as much info as I can before I make these vids. Cheers for your support.
@@MFPMapFilmProductions Yes you are exactly right about the Phase4/twin cam conflict, I wanted to mention that as well but my comment had already gotten a bit long winded. I saw some folks discuss it in a forum once and they chalked it up to "phase 4" being car jargon for a fourth stage of cylinder head modification. Believe it or not seeing Mad Max 2 on TV as a kid is what inspired me to learn so much about cars. I grew up thinking some day I was gonna need to be a fully self sufficient mechanic to survive the automotive apocalypse LoL
A lot of good info there. One note, the blower on the car wasn't real, at least not the one that we'd see him engage and disengage. It was a battery operated prop.
292-312.
Most of what the mechanic mentions in that scene are either non-sensical or even not-doable on the street. 'Sucks nitro!' Does he mean nitromethane used in drag racing? Don't know if you can even run that for any length of time without burning up your motor. other than short bursts while drag racing. Are we supposed to believe that later Max is driving all over the wasteland searching for nitromethane, not gazoline? 'Phase 4 heads' is a term that has no meaning unless you know the company he is talking about that built those heads. That and a supercharger that you can turn on and off were things that I just chalked-up as script writers that weren't really car guys and didn't know what they were talking about.
“Interceptor” is a Ford Motor Company designation started in the early 1950’s for Police use fleet vehicles. Originally as just a robust engine package but increasing to include bigger and better oil and coolant systems, upgraded suspensions, steering, heavy duty transmission, frame reinforcements as well as electrical and interior modifications.
In the Tank Fairlane models around the 59/60 era, Ford produced a model running a souped up FE series big block 352 cubic inch engine. It was built for police use and designated "Police Interceptor". As well as some engine mods they had a taller diff for high speed work , stouter springs and shockers etc. I have the official Ford Workshop manual for the 59 US and 60 Australian model.. (It also contains the Hardtop Retractable chapters as well.)
I always thought the V8s were special and becoming rare because of fuel scarcity. The film also seemed to portray that the Pursuit cars were designed to chase the bad guys to the Interceptors. The basic pursuits were the lowest level of the special MFP cars; Nightrider's pursuit special was the peak of that class; then the Interceptors were the best. That made sense since Max's Black On Black is the absolute best, beyond anything seen before. It's true that when Max steals the car, the dispatcher calls it a Pursuit Special, and the writing appears to label it as such. However, for me, this diminishes the Black On Black. "V8 Interceptor" is so much cooler than "pursuit special," and the car has been know as the former for decades. The story's creator even calls it "The Interceptor." That's good enough for me.
During the Cold War, the English Electric Lightning was a British fighter aircraft that served as an interceptor. It was designed and developed to defend the airfields of the British "V bomber" strategic nuclear force from attack by anticipated future nuclear-armed supersonic Soviet bombers. As such, the Lightning had an exceptional rate of climb, ceiling, and speed; pilots having described flying it as "being saddled to a skyrocket". In Mad Max, there were basic pursuit vehicles and 'pursuit specials'. When the role of the MFP deteriorated from policing to killing gang members, a new type of vehicle was developed, the Interceptor. If we accept the fact the vehicle driven by call sign March Hare was labelled 'interceptor' in a pre-production mistake, the rest of the nomenclature becomes clear.
The police chief with the scarf in MM always struck me as strange, sort of like my cousin Frank that dressed like a biker and never actually owned one. He reeeeealy liked leather for some odd reason, lol.
The Monaro Pursuit Special the Nightrider drove is my favourite Mad Max car
Everyone in Australia who loves cars knows "mad Max interceptor" the black xb falcon with Monza front as the greatest movie hero car ever long live the interceptor ✊
Max's role in the MFP was Interceptor, as said by the guy with the voice box, "I see the Interceptor" when Max was returning to the MFP base. it was his Job
Actually he said "I don't see the interceptor."
Absolutely love your videos, thankyou!!
You're welcome. Cheers.
Fantastic video my friend, I learned a few things I did not know before. Cheers ;)
Yellow and Blue Max drove was an Interceptor, the Black One's were the Pursuit Special. Please don't confuse them. 👍😎
4 Door = Interceptor, 2 Door = Pursuit Special.
The pursuit special is a special version of the standard interceptor cars and is still technically an interceptor. It becomes *The* Interceptor after the apocalypse since it’s presumably the only MFP car left that’s stayed in one piece (until it blows up). I’ve always used black on black, interceptor, and pursuit special interchangeably anyways.
its actually the interceptor pursuit special all one name, it was called pursuit special because it was more powerful then the other interceptors in the movie, it was also dubbed the last of the V8s
I had the pleasure of going to Silverton and having my pic taken with a Pursuit Special in front of the Silverton pub.
I still have that old Japanese DVD with a cover pretty much the same as shown in 6:28, with Mel Gibson character with that silver MFP helmet. Back then it was the *only* DVD available with original dialogue, and not just an US dub.
Plain and simple answer. In the first movie you can clearly hear the dispatcher call the car a Pursuit special just prior to his knee being shot out by Bubba.
I never understood how Max was driving the interceptor in Fury Road when it was blown up in The Road Warrior.
dunno if you have looked into it but george miller had always planned to have max rebuild the BoB its kinda hinted at in mm3 where his wagon is loaded with car parts but yeah the fury road BoB was rebuilt by max thats why its in such bad running shape
I like to see similar covering the Kawaski KZ-1000s used on Mad Max, the original.
I'm a huge fan of this car and film. If you noticed at 14:10 minutes, thats the original car from the film, who a collector has it stored. I know because I was hunting for it but not for sale 😭. The owner even refused to sell it to the producers to make fury road. I really want this car soo much, because I want to install a big block 564ci above 😈.
It is pretty clear TBH. The MFP dispatcher refers to it as a pursuit (she'd know) Some random outback erroneously calls is an Interceptor. The BoB is a Pursuit.
In the Movie it was called both. However, when the Goose showed it to Max, he called it The Pursuit Special, so takes ur pick.
Maneater (night in the swamp scene) in fury road said, that they already lost some interceptors. If state on it, max car is Pursuit special.
Love thses kind of indepth vids. Do u have any idea what that land speeder, in the underground car park was about though? It always perplex me as it seems so random
Cheers, glad you liked it. From what I can gather, it's a 1972 Project 500 Jet Car.
What a great video very informative and super entertaining ....10/10 bud
Thanks mate.
The night rider Monaro was a mean looking Rig, the cops always had Holden's as Highway pursuit vehicles when I grew up
Not the only time it was referred to in the movie as the interceptor- Charlie, who "copped a saucepan in the throat" says through his electronic voice box: " I can see the Interceptor" when max turns up at mfp hq.
Why would the interceptor if it is built specifically for highway pursuit be used to transport a prisoner to court in this context?
*I look at it this way... It's an Interceptor, but more specifically, it's a Pursuit Special.* Just like it's a Ford Falcon, but more specifically, an XB GT. Both names work. One is just more specific than the other.
I couldn't care less what it's called. "Interceptor", "Pursuit Special", "Bad guy driver-overer". I love this car no matter what. I so want one. It's just too bad I wouldn't be able to register a car like this where I am, because of the scoop.
I do love the yellow pursuit cars, they look nuts, and obviously the black intercepter, pure old skool power lol 😆
Fun fact. The Ford Crown Victoria or Panther line up was all built in Windsor Ontario Canada by Ford Canada. We had them here and they were called Crown Victoria Police Interceptor. I daily drove one for years. Awesome car. The last of the v8 interceptors as the new ford Taurus interceptor is a v6. Most other v8 police vehicles use the term pursuit vehicle.
If the Mechanic refers to it as an interceptor, he might be referring to the name of the engine specifically, because that’s what he’s more interested in considering his position. Pursuit special being the overall car designation for its purpose within the police. I feel like cars have two personalities, one is the body, the other is the engine.
Absolutely I agree, most of the time I am more interested in the powerplant than the car itself. Plenty of cars out there that share the same model name, but have alternative drivetrain options. The most powerful drivetrain is going to be the main attraction in most cases, for me anyways.
The cars were wrecked coupes & sedans, a mix of Landau's and Fairmont/Falcon bodies with stock V8's straightened out by local panelbeaters. Remember this was a budget movie with the stunts 'sped up' in the editing room to give them a sense of high speed.
Great research and upload. Many thanks.
Cheers.
Back in the day I had an XB GT. My wife at the time had been a foster child her step brother was the Boomerang kid. He is a jeweler now I have read. His father was a preacher and, well, he had a guilty conscious about something.
Pursuit Special. But is called Last of the V8 Interceptors as well. Both are right. Name is the same as the Monaro Pursuit Special. Very toey. RIP Vince Toecutter Gill. 😪😪😪. The Nightrider, that was his name. Remember him when you look at the night sky.
"I will". "Take your hat off". "Anything you say". "Anything, I say? What a wonderful philosophy you have. Take him away"
@@railtrolley Bubba Johnny wwhhhh.
@@rhettcorbett3346 Yes! I couldn't figure out how to type the sound Towcutter made. You nailed it!
shit i just found out. RIP
There is background radio chatter that mentions ‘pursuit special’ around the time Max is following the scoot jockeys.
When Mechanik says "The last of the V8 interceptors" it's a reference to the engine, not the car, which is a Pursuit Special. (my take after reading the script, which they ad libbed through anyway)
While Johnny, the boy was awaiting extradition, Charlie. Called out That he couldn't see the interceptor, meaning he couldn't see max. I always took it that max was the Interceptor and the falcon just also happened to have a ford boss 429 interceptor Mill in it. an Interceptor for the interceptor as it Were. And all of the cars that weren't painted yellow were pursuit specials. Also in the road Warrior I always thought that the people of the refinery. We're trying to get to the place That max came from. But what do I know? I've only seen the movie a 167 times and it keeps getting better every single time I see it.
How cool would that be if Goose was Humungus
he must've pumped some serious iron between the two films.
Max drives the Interceptor. So naturally his new black car is also called Interceptor.
I'm 51 years old and I've always called the black on black the pursuit special and the yellow on blue and white the interceptors. 1st watched this movie on DISC in 1982. I've only watched it about 200 times since. lol
Phenomenal video. I was 10 when this came out and have always wanted one. Hard to find in the States. Goodonya.
I always assumed that there was the regular yellow police cars, then a number of better "Pursuit specials" which would be brought in when things get really rough and that Interceptor was that cars name so it is a pursuit special but its name is Interceptor but that's just what I think
It’s called Pursuit Special on the radio chatter heard while max is driving it at night after he stole it.
Since the early 80's this has been my favorite Movie car... well tied with Dukes of Hazard General Lee Charger. I've always referred to it as Max's Interceptor. If deep in the lore it had another name it doesn't matter because the mass public will always remember it as Max's Interceptor.
Just found this channel but outside the 69 mustang Fastback I’m finishing now this has always been my dream car. Only caveat would be I’d add AC. Fuckin summer heat is killin me.
I heard somewhere that Humungus was meant to be Max's commander from the MFP. Not sure how much truth there is to that but it kinda makes sense
The real name is “V8” Barry the mechanic who built it said “this is the last of the V8’s” The pursuit special was never directly referenced to the car only a radio bulletin which opened speculation it was the car Max stolen. However it was built for Max and he took it while wearing his uniform so it wouldn’t be “stolen” but out on “patrol” which would make Fifi happy. In MM2 the mechanic refers to the “V8” as the “Last of the V8 Interceptors a piece of history”. So this is the second time the car is referred to by a name in direct reference of the car and not once “Pursuit Special” was used. Regardless of what “evidence” exists to say otherwise. “Dog” didn’t have 3 legs and named “Trike” so rough scripts don’t count as the rough script always changes through editing. Otherwise “Wez” wouldn’t exist but “Barometer Bum” would.
Well, I thought I had it figured out after watching the movies for years, but now I wonder. We can see from the beginning chase that there are at least two levels of cops/cop cars chasing the Night Rider: Pursuit and Interceptor. The Pursuit drivers aren't driving Pursuit Specials, though, because it is mentioned that the NR stole a Pursuit Special, which seems to be a step above the standard police cars. The mistake the pre-production crew made by painting 'Interceptor' on one-too-many of the yellow cars didn't help (first time I've heard about that!). Then there is at least one time in the first MM where Max himself is referred to as 'The Interceptor' when Charlie announces Max and Goose's arrival in the parking lot of the police station. So 'Interceptor' is a police title/ranking and Interceptors get to have their cars lettered with 'Interceptor.' People watching the movie call Max's car 'The Interceptor' because that is what is written across the trunk-lid (sorry--'Boot') and refer to it as the 'last of the v8's' because that is also what is said in the movie. Then there's slang and nick-names; what something is officially called verses what people actually call it. Another layer is the stuff that was in the original script but didn't make it to the screen. No wonder we're confused! Anyway, thanks for the video and your interpretation, it shed some light on things.