[ROVERNET - UK] Re: Ultimate Rover movie
Geoff Kirkpatrick
britcarnut at yahoo.com
Sat Jan 21 00:15:50 GMT 2006
That's a great story. It seems whenever I've heard someone's tale of
their car being used for a film, or a photo shoot, or some such thing, it
involves the car being damaged in some way. I think I'd be reluctant to
hire out a car I'd put a lot of effort into restoring! To the cast and
crew, it's just another prop, not someone's pride and joy.
Geoff Kirkpatrick
PS: Spoiler alert - don't read this if you haven't seen Lock Stock etc!!!
Someone said something about the rifles being dumped in the Thames at the
end of the film. Actually, the film cut away to the credits just as the
other guys were racing to the scene to try to stop their buddy from doing
the deed, as they had just learned they were rare antiques worth a
fortune. So it was left to our imagination: did they get to him in time?
A lot like the literal cliffhanger ending of the original "Italian Job."
****************
(2) I guess I started a popular thread with my movie comment. Now
another, A few years ago I think 1999- how time flies- when my 69 2000TC
was
freshly restored,One Tuesday I started getting calls that someone needed
a
Rover 2000 for a commercial in Miami . (I am in Ft Lauderdale) I am used
to
such calls, usually for Jaguars, as a lot of Movies and ads are shot in
South Florida.By Thursday the Principal, not the agents called me,
seemingly
almost desparate. He insisted, in his French accent, he had to come up
right
away, and arrived about 8 PM. He needed a Rover, quite ordinary looking,
preferably brown, for a commercial being shot in Miami on Saturday, as
well
as a bent up front bumper, to fake an accident.( for a big European auto
insurance company) I showed them the relics in the back yard; they would
make good accident candidates- No, it had to run. I showed him my Brigade
red 2000TC with Magstar wheels, Original option Carello rally
foglights,and
icealert up front, and a set of amber sidelamps below the bumper. ( A
light
comment; after I restored it, every one said it was lovely but dull ; I
hung stuff all over the front, and everyone thinks its' an exciting
looking
car- a trick British carmakers have done since the thirties). The car had
returned from the CouerD'Alene, Idaho national Landrover dealer's
convention
and was perfect but dusty. I went for a hose. No! Don't wash it he
exclaimed! I'll take it as is. He needed it in Miami Friday night, and
agreed to pay XK120 prices, left a cash deposit, and assured me full
payment on arrival.. Reminded me again, don't wash it. I delivered the car
to Miami Friday evening, and saw the usual entourage of 2 mobile office
trailers, about 20 people running around , and great relief the Rover had
arrived. I gave them instructions, showed them how to remove the bumper
and
install the bent one I supplied, without scratching the lacquer. I was
ready
to drive down to check progress Saturday, whenthey gave me a frantic call;
the car wouldn't move, and they had to push it by hand to move it around.
By
now I had concluded this French Film company had no efficient Germans or
Americans involved, and their best layed plans had gone awry. It appears
they had flown at least 20 people from France, had a big budget,and a
great
plan, but no one realized there were few Rovers running around America. I
think they arrived , planning to flag one down on the street or
something.They had my Rover half up on the sidewalk,French street signs on
the pole, and had removed my US chrome license holder, and fitted a French
license plate.they had covered my Magstars with Cevy Monza hubcaps, from
Hubcap Heaven, and had sprayed anti-gloss compound on the fenders. They
had
the bent bumper installed, and 2 big scratches. I had their insurance
binder
in my pocket, and asked if they wanted me to filea claim. no, they'd
pay.They had brought along a demolition specialist, to set off a smoke
bomb,for the fake accident. Unfortunately, he was a little over
enthusiastic,and melted my red plastic clutch hose. I helped them movethe
car, by starting it n gear, and explained how much this would cost them.
This all ran into another day, and that was expensive. In the end, they
had
a good commercial, I was adequately paid to repair my damage, and Some
French Insurance company, probably had to revise their budget to pay for
this Fiasco.Did anyone in Europe ever see this ad? I have never seen it.
James Dean
"This is the final test of a gentleman: his respect for those who can be of no possible service to him."
- William Lyon Phelps
Geoff Kirkpatrick, 382 Riverside Avenue, Ben Lomond, CA 95005, USA
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