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Show Rods

34chev

Vanishing Point 1970 Challenger R/T 440

 

 

Vanishing Point is a 1971 road movie starring Barry Newman, Cleavon Little, Dean Jagger, and an Alpine White 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T with the 440/375 HP engine.

The license plate on Kowalski's Dodge Challenger is Colorado OA-5599. This license plate number has been highly sought after as a vanity plate ever since the film's release.


The car used in the crash scene at the end of the film is a 1967 Chevrolet Camaro instead of a Dodge Challenger.

Kowalski plans to drive from Denver to San Francisco in 15 hours. This would require an average speed of 85 miles per hour.


A 1/25 plastic scale model kit of the Vanishing Point was produced by AMT, and re-released many times since. Although a good representation of the car can be made by the experienced modeller, the model utilizes a 440 Six-Pack, rather than a 440 Magnum.

The vehicles used for filming included four 440 4-speed cars and one 383 automatic. There were no 426 Hemis used in filming, and there is no reference to the engine size in any dialog.

The car was not supercharged nor turbo charged, but normally aspirated with the single quad (4 barrel) 440/375 horse. The cameras were undercranked in some scenes to give the illusion of high speed. Also some chase scenes had high speed engine noises over-dubbed in portions of the sound track.

According to the directors comentary on the latest DVD release, a total of 9 1970 Dodge Challengers, Alpine White, were supplied by Chrysler Corporation, 8 were destroyed, beaten up while filming.

The August, 2006 issue of Motor Trend Magazine has a cover with a new Dodge Challenger R/T concept vehicle alongside two police cruisers. The words "Vanishing Point" appear in the pavement ahead of the Challenger. Inside is a 9 page article titled "Kowalski Rides Again". It includes current photos of Barry Newman checking out the new Challenger concept, plus an interview with him about his thoughts on the new Challenger verses the old. He also speaks about the movie Vanishing Point and his role as Kowalski.

The sound effect when Kowalski crashes into the bulldozers was later used in the video game Driver.

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