Actors Burt Reynolds and Sally Fields starred in what eventually became a late-’70s cult classic, Smokey and the Bandit, but the real icon of the topsy-turvey country comedy was the black and gold Trans Am that became a symbol in the minds of many. Not only an automotive celebrity, the “Bandit’s” Trans Am became so famous that its image is still conjured at the very mention of Reynolds’ cowboy character.
Our favorite sports cars all too often become our favorite actors, but as we’ve learned from the aforementioned Burt Reynolds cinematic classic our favorite rides are not always cast into the most award-winning roles. The term “Euro-trash” doesn’t sound like one that’s too complimentary, but it fits our featured clip from Mad Foxes, a 1981 B-movie smash perfectly.
First released in West Germany in August of ’81 and directed by Paul Grau, the half-assed Nazi/biker film is a cheaply-filmed exploitation film revolving around the theme of revenge, as our featured protagonist and his C3 customized by Neufield Special Cars chases and gets chased by a mob of swastika-wearing street hoods.
[1]
As you’d probably expect, the trick C3 takes the spotlight, and if it doesn’t stand as evidence of what customizing in the late ’70s and early ’80s was all about then we honestly don’t know what will! The 3rd-Gen Vette’s stereotypical orange and yellow crescendo of custom striping screams of what was in vogue during the golden age of disco-era hot rodding.
What’s “hot” and what’s “not” definitely has changed over the last 30 years, but it makes you wonder what the world of customizing will be 30 years into the future. What do you think will be “cool” in 2042?!
[2]