Art & Inspiration A personal observation about Two Lane Blacktop

I saw Two Lane Blacktop at the FOX drive-in here in Anderson, S.C. in 1971 with my friend Terry, he had just purchased a new Mach 1 Mustang, and he wanted to drive it to the drive-in.

On our way home we got stopped by the County Law for speeding, 81 in a 45 mph zone, we were lucky that the deputy didn't smell the libations we had consumed.

The New car and the ticket is what really stands out in my mind - But within a few weeks Terry was dead, he was killed in a accident.

This morning I had the opportunity to watch the movie again and after 54 years I realized I didn't remember a whole hack of a lot about the movie.

One of the major things that stood out to me is when they were driving through the drive in and Dennis Wilson was calling out the cars, correctly I believe and then they came to the green '32 Ford which was actually a Model A with what looks like a Deuce radiator shell, odd how they got so much correct but they didn't get that right.

Nevertheless ,What hot Rodder wouldn't enjoy this movie. HRP


National Film Registry, Library of Congress (2012) — Winner

• Selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."

 

I mean. It was dark and they'd been driving who knows how many miles in a gutted big block 55 Chevy.

 

Also I was in my 20s before I could tell the difference between a model a and a 32 hot rod at a glance

 

Not to brag, but I could tell when I was 11 years old.
That does sound like bragging, doesn't it?

 

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/green-model-a-coupe-from-two-lane-blacktop.1064142/

 

Basically I didn't learn them till I realized how obtainable they actually were. Till then I thought they were far out of my price range. Plus despite both grandpa's being hot rodders neither of my parents were car people

 

Interestingly Frieburger and Finnegan actually went to the now abandoned drag strip you see in the closing moments of the movie. Seems the only thing left is the launch pad and the remains of the bleachers.

 

I knew what a 32 was
Had no clue they were more $$$ than As until my late 30s

 

Since I was 12 in 1968, the only cars that had my attention were the 60s & 70s performance era cars.

I didn't know anything about a 32 or a model A, or any specific brand of car built during that time frame. I didn't know the difference between a Ford, or a Chevy, or a Dodge, or any other brand. Nor did I know the difference between a coupe, or a sedan! I only knew them as "old coupes" because they all raced on the local dirt track as "coupes". They ran 3 cl***es, a "V8 cl***" (flathead V8s), a "coupe cl***", or a "modified cl***". To me they all looked pretty much the same, I loved to watch them race, but they quit racing them in 1966 (I was 10) in our area. In 1967, the track changed over to "late model" (1950 or newer), most of those cars were 1960 and newer, they looked a lot like cars that could be seen on the streets any day of the week.
I was probably into my mid 20s before I realized there were coupes, and sedans, and several different brands of cars that raced back in the coupe days. I didn't go to the "movies" very often, I normally was working at drive in movie time, or was more into dirt track racing then sitting and watching some stupid 2 hour long movie. still don't watch many movies unless they are under 10 minutes long....

 

Think it's time to spool up the hamsters and drop in the VHS tape and watch it again

 

Sorry about your friend.

 

Having bought my first 1932 Ford when I was 12 years old I knew the difference but don't really remember the scene from the movie until seeing the film again today.

BTW, the car I bought was short lived, my dad did not approve. HRP

 

That's a damned tragedy, sorry for your loss.
It was an awful movie, but the 55 was killer, and it sure depicted the drag scene of 1970 well.

 

I was working evening shift and a co-worker was thrilled because his wife was recording the movie for him. I told him the movie ****ed . He called home mid shift and his wife told him the movie ****ed.

 

If I may be so bold..........90% of the movies made nowadays aren't worth the gas to go watch them!

 

Good point,I'll find it and watch again. I must not of liked it a lot,only saw 2LB one times. Most movies I like,saw many times over the years. I'll give it another go.

 

Dana, remember there was really one actor involved in 2LB and that was Warren Oates, a singer & a drummer.
both of them basically playing themselves.

Was it a great movie?, no it wasn't but it was about cars and that's what we all love, I have paid to see much worse movies. HRP

 

It’s a no plot movie with some great cars and a good looking hitch hiker. All of which appealed to our impressionable ten-year-old minds
Glendale Speed Shop man!

 

Honestly, it wasn't that great to me. I know everyone loves it, but I was kinda disappointed.

 

Maybe why I was taken with the movie when it was in it's first run at that time my life was centered around music & cars and playing in a band on the weekends.

I didn't know what to expect but I was a big fan of James Taylor and the Beach Boys, I never drea med that the only songs were done by Warren Oates and Laura Bird, neater one could carry a tune in a provable bucket.

Again, it wasn't a great movie but the '55 Chevy was about as cool as it gets, HRP

 

I think it left me wanting more

 

Warren Oates may have been the only professional actor, but that may have been his worst performance. Maybe my opinion is just because he played such a weird guy.

 

GTO was a ******** artist, Oats played the caricature very well.

 

We all perceive things differently, he did play a strange narcissistic guy but then again he picked up some weirdo's a long the way, I did like the way he made up story's about himself and how much they changed with every hitchhiker. HRP

 

BINGO! HRP

 

X2.

 

Can't hate on the execution of the movie. When you look critically at most movies from the 70s you'll notice while cool overall they all have incredibly cheesy aspects. Example of one I've heard older guys praise my whole life is the original gone in 60 seconds. Yes the stunts and vehicle carnage were epic in gone in 60 seconds. And wasn't cgi like the newer one. But that weird voiceover along with the actual cars in the movie ......I mean a 5 ton mustang as Eleanor? Lol. Yeah give me 2lbt lol

 

I tried watching it a few times and just couldn't get through it. Then I got the dvd loaned to me and watched the "making of" part and rewatched it all the way through. It was much better, still not great, but much better knowing the behind the scenes stuff.