1959 Chevrolet Bel Air

1959 Chevrolet Bel Air in Mad Max, Movie, 1979

Class: Cars, Sedan — Model origin: — Built in: — Made for: AUS

00:23:32 Vehicle used by a character or in a car chase

Comments about this vehicle

Author	Message
antp ◊ 2006-01-22 18:52
lightfoot1976 ◊ 2006-09-19 17:29	note the fake intake pipes on the bonnet, just stuck on. and the rusty water coming out of the radiator.
Nightrider ◊ 2006-10-04 08:23	I mean, 1) tallights in '59 were common for all Chevys 2) side trim is shaved and interior is customized, so it also can be...even Biscayne!http://www.gasolinealleyantiques.com/images/Automobilia%20Page/59biscayne.JPG
Settpistol ◊ 2006-11-05 07:18	i hate what they do to this car. i cringe whenever i see the sequence.
rjluna2 ◊ 2006-11-08 04:10	This is 1959 Chevrolet Bel Air made exclusively for the Australia market. Probably 6 cylinder version. Notice amber indicator on the tip of the wing at the rear of this vehicle as required by Australia law. the side trim has been removed as per film.
Skid ◊ 2007-04-02 21:01	While I hate to see what they did with this car, the thing really was in rotten shape. In fact, I've read that they barely even kept it running for the length of time it appeared in the film. Anyone else notice the awful paint job in the up-close shots.? It's full of runs and streaks, and appears to have been applied with a roller.
nubby ◊ 2007-08-18 05:50	The Toe Cutters beat the living hell out of this classic!
rjluna2 ◊ 2008-03-09 22:09	Leoz wrote Wasn't there a boney foot stuck on the bonnet too? I always thought these Impalas were bulit America then shipped over to 'Oz' and then be converted to right-hand drive. Actually, they were assembled in Canada as right hand drive form before they shipped to Australia due to the tariff/trade ruling between USA and Australia.
antp ◊ 2008-03-09 22:54	Leoz wrote This should be three stars as there is a chase included. Yes the scene is probably long enough for that.
Union ◊ 2008-03-20 22:04	This is not Bel Air! This is Chevrolet Impala!
rjluna2 ◊ 2008-03-26 03:51	Union wrote This is not Bel Air! This is Chevrolet Impala! The door windows trim has less chrome than Impala series. -- Last edit: 2008-03-27 02:17:22
aussiemuscle308 ◊ 2009-05-01 03:07	Leoz wrote Wasn't there a boney foot stuck on the bonnet too? actually, it's a woman (top half) on the bonnet. i saw a behind the scenes photo of the toe-cutter standing next to it and you can see it clearly. -- Last edit: 2014-02-18 06:55:28
rage ◊ 2009-06-11 21:03	than its a bel air impala
rjluna2 ◊ 2010-05-16 01:12	Here are amber indicators on both front and the rear that is mandated by the Australian government:
portacker ◊ 2010-09-21 03:32	Such an ugly body style. I think the filmakers were commenting on US car design by tearing it up.
Skid ◊ 2011-01-14 19:29	portacker wrote Such an ugly body style. Taste is subjective, especially when you don't have any.
maxman ◊ 2011-07-01 01:09	nubby wrote The Toe Cutters beat the living hell out of this classic! It was in pretty bad shape if you look carefully.
Nightrider ◊ 2013-06-12 09:39
mercury man 01 ◊ 2013-06-15 14:09	The mad max website says it was impala.
rjluna2 ◊ 2013-06-16 00:24	Here we go again -- Last edit: 2013-06-16 00:25:20
belair ◊ 2013-06-21 14:57	this IS a 1959 Chevrolet Belair, Australian Assembled from components imported from Canada, the amber indicators under the rear wing are the clue to its Australian build, 235/6cyl and Powerglide Australia did not assemble Impala for 1959. the car destroyed was in very poor condition to begin with and needed a lot of work to keep it going long enough for the filming. the sidestrips were missing to begin with!
rjluna2 ◊ 2013-06-21 15:47	Thanks for sharing this information, belair So, it was assembled via Canada via CKD. In this movie, it was powered by three on tree as shown. The poor bloke attempted to downshift from third to second to get the power going, but it was really poor shape on the 6-cylinder trying to outrun these marauder's Kawasaki Z1000!
mercury man 01 ◊ 2013-10-20 05:13	Info about the chevy http://www.madmaxmovies.com/mad-max/mad-max-cars/chevy-impala/index.html
rjluna2 ◊ 2013-11-10 03:04	New information about where this was built per our discussion at /vehicle_646358-Chevrolet-Bel-Air-1959.html You can read this at Wikipedia: Link to "en.wikipedia.org"
NathanJM ◊ 2014-06-05 05:41	I know the correct model has already been determined, but I'll add my own proof that this is in fact a Bel Air, not Impala. My family has a 1959 Bel Air with the 235 six and Powerglide auto. It has a Holden build plate on the firewall, so I know it's Australian-assembled. All '59 Impalas I see getting around Australia are imported and don't have the rear indicators the Australian Bel Airs have. -- Last edit: 2014-06-05 05:43:04
DaveP ◊ 2014-06-17 05:17	Definitely an Aussie assembled 1959 Chevrolet Belair (as poster Belair says above), rolling chassis were imported from Canada and bodies assembled and painted here using Australian glass and Australian leather trim. The 'Guide' indicators off the wings are the easiest giveaway that it is an Aussie delivered car. Belair was the ONLY spec available here in 1959, there were no Impalas or Biscaynes sold new by GM here (many imported since though!)
rjluna2 ◊ 2014-06-17 13:47	Someone needs to update the assembly location here
train68 ◊ 2018-05-07 18:31	Seeing an antique car get wrecked is pretty upsetting. However, this car wasn't that old at the time this movie was made.
GodzillaFan54 ◊ 2019-08-19 04:08	I don't think they actually destroyed the one in the main picture. Once the Toe Cutters catch up to and start hitting the car, it dissolves to the aftermath. I think what they did is they just pulled a wrecked '59 Chevy from a junk yard and painted it like the first car since we'd likely see the destruction if only one car was used.
Nick Rynearson ◊ 2020-05-30 20:18	I just did some research on this car. It was basically already dead when they were using it, sure it "ran" but not for long

1959 Chevrolet Bel Air

1959 Chevrolet Bel Air in Mad Max, Movie, 1979

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