I forget who it was that told me this, but last week I had the pleasure of finding out that a V8 Interceptor replica... one of only 7 I think, in all of North America... was only about 30 minutes from my house.
The owner is a man named Charldes Flender. He bought the car off Aussie fan Scott Smith. Charles is one of the coolest fansI have ever met. Not only did he take about 3 hours out of his Sunday afternoon to entertain my dad and I, but he loved just discussing the films with me. We even took the black on black out for a ride around town. (I caught a few priceless reactions from confused civilians who saw this evil car go zooming down their quiet street)
Here's a picture with me on the hood of the car.
Living on Long Island ain't so bad after all.
Thank you to Charles, and whoever it was that informed me of his presence in my neck of the woods.
- Dennis
"It's that rat circus out there... I'm beginning to enjoy it. Any longer out on that road and I'm one of them. A terminal crazy. Only I got a bronze badge to say I'm one of the good guys."
What a car! Care by driving backwards.The garage seems to be very narrow! It's interesting to see that almost ALL of XB Coupes finished by becoming a black on black replica!
I could probably make it on my own, but I like you kids.
That was great of Charles to take the time to allow you to soak up some atmosphere with an Interceptor.
Charles it seems is very aware of the responsibility that an interceptor owner takes on. An interceptor is a representative of the films, and so by default are the owners. My congratulations to Charles for behaving like a true ambassador.
I held a similar afternoon with the Washington replica and some fans in Perth, unfortunately the road restrictions of backward Australia won't allow us to drive the car around, but everyone got a sit inside and a photograph. The first time you see one of these replica cars in the flesh it blows you away, nothing that you have seen in pictures or even on the screen can match the "presence" that the car commands in real life. Awesome looking machines.
So some Mad Max fans had a memorable afternoon.
And so did I .. One of the fans turned up in a very rare RP083 XA coupe. The RPO83 used a lot of the left over gear from the non-event (did not happen) Phase 4 XA falcon. But with 4 wheel disk brakes, purposeful factory 8,000 rpm tacho, factory fitted 750 double pumper Holley. And a host of other goodies made it perhaps the highest performing factory spec coupe of them all.
So I had a great opportunity to look that RP083 XA coupe over as well.
If anybody wants to see quite a few Falcons, even a few non-Interceptor ones (gasp!), then come on over to Dearborn for the Ford 100th Anniversary. It's 12-16 June 03. Definite photo ops! Charles, car looks good! Is that the right shade of black though? LOL just kiddin...!
Hey Gordon, how many RPO83's were made? How many are left?
Hey toecutter I certainly hope you are polishing the front of the car with your jeans and not just SITTING on the car!!!!! lol. WOW that front is strong enough to sit on. Wasnt that Scott Smith's car originally? And people say that Aussie fronts are not strong enough. An original with strength.
Seroiusly though. I am building an interceptor myself and the first thing people ask me when they see it is " can you stand on the front" ......ok ok ok I'll take my tongue out of my cheek. Well done Charles, you made a guy's day, thats what it is all about.
Strange that is the second time in as many days that I have heard that the Aussie front end is not strong enough. Our replicas are in fact standing on the front end does sound impressive but in fact it is no big deal, once you construct the right bracket as per Mad Max two the standing on the bumper trick is easy. Hell I (me) at 94 kilos, 210 pound could easily stand (even bounce) on the front end bumper of both the Washington and the Los Angeles car's.
Grant pulls them (entire built up cars) round the workshop by the vents at the front of the monza nose. We have both these events on video film.
Our first replica, my car I would have hesitated to stand on the bumper, yet that car ran 160 MPH with no ill effect, we changed the bracket after the Steve Pilant / Bill Brown replica and tey are fine now.
No idea on the RPO83 numbers (not many I would gues and they all tended to be different in specifications.sorry, Grant might know. I get back to you later on this if I find out any details.
1. The Ford 100 yr. anniversary - Is it going to be held over at the Henry Ford Museum/Greenfield Village or someplace else? I live in Westland and want to go, especially for the Aussie Falcons.
2. Do any of the importers finance a car for say 4 yrs., or is it cash up-front? Are there any companies that will finance a "Classic/Collectible" car either in Seattle or Midland Texas that I could contact? I can make huge monthly payments over time (I'm willing to go $500 a mth and get it payed off in 2- 2.5 yrs.), but I'm getting too anxious and want one NOW, to save it all up-front. I'm looking at a budget of $15,000 (US) total for the entire project. I can do bodywork and all of the "Pursuit Special" mods myself, but I need a reliable working car. I am planning to go look at the car before buying it to see if it's a wreck or a "Bond-O Queen," finance it there if I can, then tow it back to Detroit, Michigan.
