Cannonball Run Ambulance - March 09th 2006 11:53 am
Gang,
This has been going through my head for quite a while now.
About 4 years ago I was at the All-Chrysler Nationals in Carlisle, PA. Since I'm in a club, I got to attend the VIP luncheon with the president of our club. That year's special guest was Brock Yates. As is cutomary, the special guest gets to make a speech. Anyhow, he was talking about this and that and the subject of the movie "The Cannonball Run." Now Brock could've talked about anything from the movie, but what he focused on was the Dodge ambulance. His exact words were, "..boy if that van could be found...it would be really something." He went on to describe what was done to the van for the high-speeds it would have to sustain during the shoots. Now I don't exactly remember all the details, but I do know that it was fitted with a 440 Magnum and a built A727. Of course that movie being made over 20 years ago, he didn't go into a lot of specifics. Last night I was reading an article about the movie and according to it, the suspension was modified somewhat so the van could sustain speeds of 130 mph in some shots (130 MPH!!!!...in a van)
I do know that the van is a '78 B300 127" WB Sportsman with double rear doors and slider on the side. There plenty of good pics of the van as well.
I've really considering building a replica down the road since the original van is probably long gone. Creative liberties would take place as well since the modifications this van went through is not documented. I could contact Brock Yates personally and ask him what he remembers.
What do you all think? This may or may not happen...I've just been brainstorming.
<small>[ March 09, 2006, 06:53 AM: Message edited by: Nate the skate ]</small>
This has been going through my head for quite a while now.
About 4 years ago I was at the All-Chrysler Nationals in Carlisle, PA. Since I'm in a club, I got to attend the VIP luncheon with the president of our club. That year's special guest was Brock Yates. As is cutomary, the special guest gets to make a speech. Anyhow, he was talking about this and that and the subject of the movie "The Cannonball Run." Now Brock could've talked about anything from the movie, but what he focused on was the Dodge ambulance. His exact words were, "..boy if that van could be found...it would be really something." He went on to describe what was done to the van for the high-speeds it would have to sustain during the shoots. Now I don't exactly remember all the details, but I do know that it was fitted with a 440 Magnum and a built A727. Of course that movie being made over 20 years ago, he didn't go into a lot of specifics. Last night I was reading an article about the movie and according to it, the suspension was modified somewhat so the van could sustain speeds of 130 mph in some shots (130 MPH!!!!...in a van)
I do know that the van is a '78 B300 127" WB Sportsman with double rear doors and slider on the side. There plenty of good pics of the van as well.
I've really considering building a replica down the road since the original van is probably long gone. Creative liberties would take place as well since the modifications this van went through is not documented. I could contact Brock Yates personally and ask him what he remembers.
What do you all think? This may or may not happen...I've just been brainstorming.
<small>[ March 09, 2006, 06:53 AM: Message edited by: Nate the skate ]</small>