James Bond influence on my second car
Around Christmas 1974 I drove to San Mateo, CA (south of San Francisco) to visit my father, who had recently moved from Washington DC. We went out to see the movie "Man With a Golden Gun." The car chase scene is here:"
The movie featured a flying AMC Matador. In spring 1976 my 1968 Dodge Charger was not reliable. I saw a white 1974 AMC Matador on a used car lot for $2200 and bought it, then selling my Charger for $800.
This is the girl that was locked in the trunk of the flying Matador...
I copied the following photos from this blog:
James Bond and the Flying AMC Matador....Another outstanding cinematic moment for Kenosha!
With Bond in the news, isn't it time to appreciate the fine AMC products featured in "The Man with the Golden Gun"? The great thing is they both fly!
First off, Bond steals a brand new 1974 AMC Hornet from an AMC showroom and heads off in pursuit of bad guys Scaramanga (Christopher Lee) and Nick Nack (Herve Villechaize)!
Actual Dialogue:
Sheriff Pepper: You're not thinkin' of...
Bond: I sure am, boy! Ever heard of Evel Knievel? (cue custom built stunt Hornet #1)
Sheriff Pepper: Woww-eee!! I ain't never done that before!
Bond: Neither have I, actually.
Next up is a beautiful bronze AMC Matador Coupe driven by bad guys Scaramanga and Nick Nack. Bond chases after them in his AMC Hornet, but Scaramanga manages to lose him. They head to a barn where he quite reasonably attaches a set of wings and a jet engine to the Matador. He and Nick Nack then fly back to his island (Fantasy Island?). Oh, yeah, I forgot, Bond Girl Britt Ekland is stuck in the trunk. She gets a scare when the trunk lid opens and she discovers she’s flying several thousand feet in the air in the trunk of a jet-propelled Wisconsin-made 1974 AMC Flying Matador “007 Edition”! Beautiful!
The
above photo defies description.
Kenosha’s proudest cinematic moment! - TosaSteve
Rumour has it that Britt Ekland bought herself a Pacer at the end of the shoot. America's greatest car. So great that both Bond and the supercool villain drive one. Put that in your BMW and smoke it.