This week, we are unveiling our picks and counting down the ‘Top Five’ most popular movies featuring a Mustang, starting at No. 5 and ending with the top hit. Grab a bucket of popcorn!
No. 5 – “Cannonball”
Released in 1976, the cast of cars featured in this film nearly tops the roster of Hollywood actors that were popular in the 1970s. Although the leading vehicle (a fire red ’70 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am driven by its star, David Carradine, who plays as the character Coy ‘Cannonball’ Buckman) has a screen time for much of the film, it is the Kelly green ’69 Mustang fastback that grabs our attention. Through to the finish with every chase, jump, swerve, and run for the money – a $100,000 purse at the checkered flag is the prize.
The gist of the movie involves a bevy of drivers entering the Trans-America Grand Prix, a fictional outlaw road race that spans the U.S.
A turn of events makes the end game much more dangerous for Carradine’s Buckman character, and he finds himself in direct competition with fellow contestant Cade Redman (played by actor Bill McKinney), as the winner is not only gunning for the grand prize, but for a guaranteed spot on the elite (fictional!) Modern Motors racing team.
The suspense, adrenaline and rivalry between the two men spins out of control as they attempt (time after time) to knock one another out of contention using whatever means possible. Subsequently, Buckman crashes his Trans Am, so he borrows a 1969 Mustang Fastback from a few hot rodders to face another battle of wills in the final showdown.
Who wins? We’d rather not spoil that for our readers. Suffice it to say, this is a must-have flick every Mustang aficionado needs to own!