The Pursuit Special is the fictional model of car driven by Max Rockatansky. It is a 1973 Ford Falcon XB GT coupe customised to become a police interceptor of the Main Force Patrol. The same car was used in both films.

The vehicle is also known as The Interceptor because that was the name painted on the back of the MFP Police vehicles in Mad Max. It is similar to the movie Fargo wherein Margie refers to her patrol car as the "Prowler". The parapalegic Mechanic describes it as "the last of the V-8 interceptors" in Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior.

Mad MaxEdit

The first car shown in the film with the title "Pursuit Special" is the Holden Monaro (a stolen police vehicle) driven by the escaped criminal The Nightrider. It is a major player in the opening chase sequence. Also known as a "Pursuit Special" (although it is only briefly called by this name by the radio voice of the female dispatcher in the film) is the car built to convince Max to stay on the force. This well known Australian car started out as a standard 1973 Ford Falcon XB GT Coupe. Then in 1976, film makers Bryon Kennedy and George Miller began pre-production on Mad Max. Murray Smith was hired on as part of the film crew, and one of his tasks was to put together the Interceptor. He started by acquiring the XB Falcon, and along with Peter Arcadipane, Ray Beckerley, and various others, proceeded to modify the car to what was needed for the film. The main modification is the front nosecone, made of fibreglass and designed by Arcadipane (marketed as the "Concorde" style, and strongly influenced by the slightly earlier HPF Firenza), the eight individual exhaust side pipes and the supercharger protruding through the bonnet (which was fake)

Mad Max 2Edit

In the meantime, the low budget Australian film had gained worldwide success, prompting a sequel, Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior. The Pursuit Special was reacquired by Kennedy and Miller for use once more.

The rear wheels, supercharger and pipes were changed. The car was further modified to fit the setting of the new film, with large petrol tanks fitted in the back, and its general appearance given a more used and stressed look. The front end was also modified by removing the bottom section, probably to give more clearance at the front in the outback locations it was required to be driven in for the second film. The front of the car was in fact broken off early in the film during a chase scene. As well as modifying the original car, a duplicate car was also put together for Mad Max 2. It seems that the duplicate car was used for most of the driving sequences, while the original car was used for all the close ups and interior shots.

When eventually the story required for the car to be destroyed by rolling down a ditch and then blown up, the duplicate car was used, leaving the original car to be scrapped. The car was rescued and restored somewhat, having a new nose cone fitted but retaining the fuel tanks from Mad Max 2. It was shown widely in Australia before being sold and shipped to the Cars of the Stars Motor Museum in United Kingdom.

External linksEdit

• Mad Max Movies – The most comprehensive Mad Max site online. Includes extensive information on the vehicles used in all three movies.
• Mad Max Replica Stats – Displays a comprehensive list of all known Mad Max Replicas in the world.
• MadMaxCar.com – An extensive look into a Mad Max Pursuit Special replica project that spanned nearly 5 years.
• Mad Max Online – Home to the original Mad Max movie, maintained by members of the cast and crew.
• Cars of the Stars - Home of the original Pursuit Special
• Mad Max Photo Archive - Discussion of the two types of Pursuit Specials seen in "Mad Max," including a script excerpt.