interesting web site on Big Bopper

[Desloc]

Follow the natural progession of the BOB and how the writer's intended the car to be remembered.Don't you think they layed more emphasis on Last of the V8 interceptor's than a twice used voice over from the previous film.I have multiple call sheet's, shoot schedules and script's from both film's for my fact's.I'l let you work it out.

Strictly as a movie, it is not a dispatcher "theory" as put, the dispatcher clearly states that a Pursuit Special has been stolen. Unless they were speaking of another car then it must be the BoB. Now just MHO, when the mechanic in MM2 addresses the car as a "V8 Interceptor" he has knowledge of MFP vehicles and slang, was he an MFP mechanic? When Knightrider's car was referred to as "one of our V8s", it was followed immediately be addressing it as Pursuit Special, and even Berry referred to the car as "last of the V8s". So IMOH, and strictly as a movie, the vehicle class is "Pursuit Special" and MFP slang for them is "V8" or possibly "V8 Interceptors", but the latter was not used until MM2.

I don't think the writers had any driving intention to ensure that the BoB needed emphasis on V8 Interceptor, thus using it for scripts, call sheets, shoot schedules was most likely only because of the mechanic line. What was it addressed as in MM scripts, sheets and schedules, I believe it was BoB, could be in error though. So did the writers intend for it to be forever known as the "BoB"? Directors and writers are known for inserting hidden plot devises or trivia into the back ground of a movie, the dispatcher call was exactly that, a hidden voice over to link the viewer with the vehicle class of the BoB. I will also give you that many details from a movie are only found in scripts, etc.

That is why I believe the above, that officially the car is a "Pursuit Special" and slang is "V8" or "V8 Interceptor". By the time of MM with budget constraints in the MFP, Max's car was truly the "last of the V8s" built.

The question is, if Berry claimed that he built it with a piece from here and a piece from there, how many BoB similar to Max's were there? It would lead me to believe that a few of that design, based off a Falcon, were built before the events of MM and due to operating costs many were ordered to be dismantled. It would need to be early enough so that Berry would have to find the "correct" parts to rebuild i.e. the body, engine, blower etc. and how long had Berry been working on it? I definitely do not think that the BoB was a one off design or else the mechanic in MM2 would not have recognized it. So, are there one or two BoBs siting around an MFP motor-pool just waiting to be put back together? Things that make you go hummm.

[Justice]

The other pursuit special was the Monaro. I believe this was another car that was pieced together. I think they could also be vehicles similar to the "street racing & drug running" Fox bodies I've seen around here. Hot cars impounded, and then used for law enforcement.

I don't think there is another car out there just like Max's pursuit special. However, it does seem there was another Monaro pursuit special as there was one in the garage. So that would contradict them being on-off. At any rate, the mechanic said he pieced it together. That could mean it was, truly the "last of the V8 Interceptors" ever to be constructed from scratch. It could have been such a halo car every mechanic in the country knew about it.

[Desloc]

That could mean it was, truly the "last of the V8 Interceptors" ever to be constructed from scratch. It could have been such a halo car every mechanic in the country knew about it.

I don't think it was constructed from scratch, the car most likely existed before Berry rebuilt it. That could mean two things, it could have been THE prototype for the next level of MFP cars and production never started and it went to be dismantled so Berry had to track it down and rebuild it or it could have been one of so few that were ever made, with the others destroyed, crushed or condition unknown and even this one was considered "lost". Much like the original movie car thought to be lost but "found" in front of the wreckers.

[HUMVEE Driver]

It was always pretty simple to me; the MFP had three types of vehicles and one type of motorcycle:

Pursuit: standard yellow paint scheme with "Pursuit" on the rear, Standard Police Vehicle
Interceptor: standard yellow paint scheme with "Interceptor" on the rear, Upgraded Police Vehicle
Pursuit Special: black paint, Custom Elite Police Vehicle
Motorcycle: silver paint, Scouting and Reconnaissance

I had written this up a while back; a fictional document regarding MFP Vehicle Designations:



MFP Memorandum 1011 - General MFP Police Vehicles


MFP Pursuit Vehicle (standard yellow colouring) - XB, standard police vehicle.

Pursuits are the main vehicles of the MFP. They receive heavy use under stressful conditions, and this wear and tear decreases a Pursuit's performance over time. Pursuits are typically operated by a two man crew. They run random patrols in predetermined sectors. Upon initiation of a high speed pursuit, a Pursuit Vehicle will attempt to stay with and possibly stop a fleeing criminal. However, a more powerful Interceptor or Pursuit Special is usually called in to terminate a chase. Pursuits are the four door options, as they are the vehicles that usually transport arrested criminals. Engines used by Pursuits are usually 351 ci 5.8l V8s, although some models have 302 ci 5.0l V8s.


MFP Interceptor Vehicle (standard yellow colouring) - XB, high performance police vehicle.

Interceptors receive regular maintenance and funding to keep them in excellent condition. An Interceptor is assigned to a well qualified, experienced officer. The Interceptor driver is typically paired with a motorcycle officer. Interceptors guard key access points to vital, high-risk sectors, such as populated areas, industrial centers, fuel depots, MFP buildings, ect. They are called to go out and meet incoming threats, and to terminate dangerous pursuits. Interceptor engines are designed and built for speed and power. They are almost exclusively 351 ci 5.8l V8s.


MFP Pursuit Special Vehicle (black colouring) - custom top line police vehicle.

Pursuit Specials are custom built for speed and power. These vehicles are quite expensive, but the cost is usually recouped by the vehicle's performance. There is no specified make or model for a Pursuit Special. This has led to many different variations chosen to become a Pursuit Special. Because of the customized nature of Pursuit Specials, very few restrictions are placed on the designs of such vehicles; giving a skilled mechanic license to create a machine of incredible power. Common modifications to a Pursuit Special are: nitrous oxide systems, disengageable blowers, superchargers, and other professional grade accessories. Pursuit Specials are painted black, to easily distinguish them from other MFP vehicles so they may move aside to allow the capable Pursuit Special to engage a chase. The Pursuit Specials are the vehicles that every MFP officer aspires to command, yet are only assigned to the best, most distinguished officers. There is no common engine to a Pursuit Special. Although most are 351 ci 5.8l V8s, some are equipped with 460 ci V8s, 527 ci V8s, and even more powerful engines. The massive customization of a Pursuit Special may lead to problems in the integration of various parts, and caution should be advised to MFP mechanics when over-modifying these vehicles.


MFP Scouting and Reconnaissance Motorcycle (silver colouring) - Kawasaki motorcycle.

Scouting and Reconnaissance Motorcycle riders are chosen from among the most unorthodox and effective officers in the MFP. They must make quick, sound decisions on the fly. The highly mobile motorcycle runs interference and scouts upcoming roads, providing feedback and information to other officers. The speed, acceleration, and manageability of a motorcycle makes them the ideal choice for this duty. MFP Scouting and Reconnaissance Motorcycles are an inexpensive and expedient alternative to larger vehicles. Working in tandem, a Motorcycle officer and an Interceptor driver are a very effective detriment to fleeing felons.



HUMVEE Driver

[mayhem]

It's always intresting to hear of other's view's and feed back.Good work guy's, have definitely got my mind in overdrive.Remember the idea to keep Max within the MFP was to seduce him with candy and the Goose was part of that.So,was the car specially built for Max and not just from bit's lying around.More a special order ?.

[roadwarriormfp]

One interesting thing to note...
Despite what the first "movie" tells us... ie: via the female dispatcher who refers to the night riders car as a pursuit special and when Max steals the "Interceptor" she also refers to it as a " pursuit special".... a lot can be gained from looking at the movie posters as well.

In many of the international posters the word "Interceptor" is printed underneath , on the bonnet etc... of a stylized black coupe (in typical 70s fashion).

This sort of doubling up of names for the same car is interesting to say the least....
It may well be in the movie it was known as one thing, but the crew it was known as an other.

I'll have to wait for Mayhems reply i guess and see what the production notes reveal?

Remember the mechanic in MM2 also does say... "the last of the V-8 Interceptors".... referring to the fact that more then one was ever made... but Maxs car was specially put together for him in order to keep him there... a piece from here and piece from there.... but Barry also does say.. "shes the last of the V-8s"... (Maybe Barry forgot his line? )

Do we have someone with a script handy??

Again Barry could be referring to many things..... the car could be the last V8 given to the MFP... It could also mean the last V8 to come off the production line??


(Sorry John.... we have gone astray in the thread about your website... lol)

[Justarse]

I have both scripts. The name interceptor is only used to describe March Hare. The black car is only described as a pursuit special, pursuit car, and black on black. Production note call sheet for the first day describe it as the Black car. As I posted earlier the srcip for the mechanics famous line originally read last of the pursuits specials. I believe there is more evidence to think the car was a pursuit special. It was only called an interceptor by the nechanic and that wasnt in the original script.

Looking forward to a good discussion on this. Maybe we should move it to its own thread??

[Spitfire]

the book clearly states it as a PS.
I quote from it:
"It was a police car, but only just. it was a pursuit special. black on black. the bonnet was off, revealing a chromed V8 motor reflecting the light in blazing pinpoints" (page 46)

"as the Pursuit Special rolled out of the workshop, its engine burbling happily, Macaffee was standing high up at his office looking down into the courtyard" (Page 48)

in any case, we can all agree its a 'special' police car, interceptor or pursuit, it doesnt matter, it does both jobs.

[mayhem]

From memory there are two version's of the book.Both are an adaption from after the film's release.Even the script varies from the the movie shoot etc.It's also well known that MM2 was re written time after time while they were shooting and made it up as they went along.That was mostly Byron's thirst for action.Mel's first car (Interceptor)was a take down vehicle so why would they promote him to a Pursuit vehicle?.

[Mad Max 2050]

I dont think we can take TOO much from the MM book
Ive got a copy of teh 1st edition, and like Spitfires Pg46 describes it as a Pursuit Special, however it goes on to read:
"Behind the wheel, Carbie (the mechanic) was grinning like a child.
Finally he climbed down and walked back to join the Chief and Max. "She's the last of the V-8's, Max. Probably the fastest car to ever coe out of this workshop. Its tubo-charged with desmo valves, a four-phase head, flow exhausts and twin overhead cams. It'll deliver 400 true horses at the wheels, and sucks more methane than the department can probably afford""
not really the 600 horse supercharded beastie we see on screen.
The whole book is pretty different to what was flimed, it seems much more character orientated, rather then the raw action of what was filmed, more so in the middle section.

Sam does raise a good point about the artwork produced for the movie though




At what stage in the production were these designed/produced?
And surely K/M had final say on what ws used?
Or would it be up to the studios promoting the film?

My italian DVD its simply called Interceptor, not Mad Max