Read this thread from first to last and since “ The world fastest Indian “ was mentioned, I guess I’ll have to chime in on my favorite movie. Loved it as a kid, I tolerate it as an adult, but still like to watch it every once in a while : “ The Wild One” with Marlin Brando. Bones
Yeah the one with the Delorean, when they go back to 1955. Lol. Also second Christine. No one mentioned Porky’s. Hit that pig whistle!! Classic!!!
How about Roadhouse 66? Made in the early 80's, has some cool rockabilly sounds, and has a cool 57 Chevy in it (even if it is driven by a bad guy) as well as a 56 T Bird. I also like Two Lane Blacktop, American Graffiti, American Graffiti 2 (like the race scenes with Milner), and Christine amongst many others.
American Graffiti makes just about every list. It is my favorite since it portrays dragging Main that we did every Friday night in the summer in the 60s. That movie was set in Modesto but everyone who is in the know knows Porterville was the Valley got-to place for dragging Main. Watch it once a year at least. Then comes Hot Rod Willys because I LOVE Willys gassers. Have owned and driven my '36 gasser clone since 1964. Can't overlook Giant Gila Monster. BEST episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000 EVER. "My thinker hurts", "Who put sodee pop in my sodee pop?!", "NOW WILL YOU FORGET ABOUT THE SKID MARKS?!!!!!!!". Heart Like a Wheel, Bullit, are great too.
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/1950s-1960s-hot-rod-movie-stills-posters.341571/ Several pages of hot rod related movies
My two favorites as well...still have the tapes of both movies, and a TV with a built in tape player in my shop. Where I grew up, we even had our own "Paradise Road" over a mile of straight blacktop road, with no side roads for the local 'fuzz' to hide. Oh to be young again. Bought my first Willys (a '40 coupe) in 1960...G-willys
Not what we would consider "traditional" rods and customs . . . but Mad Max: Fury Road has some very interesting automotive related action:
I have liked this movie since I was a kid. Some great traditional hot rods in this one, and a monster , whats not to like.
Last night I watched one on Tubi called "Gila! " It pretty much fallows the story line of the ordinal giant glia monster and has lots of cars and trucks from the late 40's to the mid 50's. It's also got a few drag racing scenes, some between a black '55 Chevy and what looks to be a pretty fair clone of Millner's yellow '32 ford. and in the end, they use the '55 to blow up the monster.