The 1970 Chevy Nova from Death Proof

PLOT SPOILERS

“It fuses the slasher film with high-octane car chase action,” says Quentin Tarantino on his half of the Grindhouse double-bill, Death Proof. The film’s writer/ director/ producer/ cinematography and even guest star was very critical of other cinematic car chases when publicising the 2007 release, claiming that no decent car chases had been committed to celluloid since 1992. But he was determined to reverse this depressing trend with the high-speed action in this, his much touted fifth movie.

The film centres on Kurt Russell’s sadistic Stuntman Mike McKay, a stunt double for Hollywood action movies whose idea of a good time is killing innocent girls with his car. But careful to protect himself in his dangerous driving, he has “death proofed” his vehicle, meaning that he can walk unscathed from even the most brutal collisions. To indulge this wicked hobby, Stuntman Mike uses two impressive muscle cars – a 1969 Dodge Charger used in the film’s pulse-racing climax, and the subject of this article – a 1970 black Chevy Nova.

It is in this car that we first meet Stuntman Mike, providing a suitably dramatic and imposing introduction. It is the pivotal image from the film’s promotional campaign and despite being one of two cars used, has become synonymous with the character, now known as the “death proof” car. It is the cleanest and truest reflection of his personality, as being black in colour and with a skull motif emblazoned on its bonnet, it exudes terror. “The cars have got to be real characters,” explains the indie helmer, often jokingly referred to as ‘the Chin’. “Stuntman Mike has two cars in the movie actually, and they’re both very individualistic as themselves.”

Being both a typical QT movie and homage to the Grindhouse 70s style of filmmaking, Death Proof is peppered with nods to other movies, with even the cars providing visual nods to other iconic road movies – Bullitt, Convoy and Vanishing Point. The “death proof” car’s license plate reads JJZ 109, the same as the 1968 Ford Mustang fastback driven by Steve McQueen in Bullitt, while the Dodge Charger also triggers another cinematic memory – namely Kowalski’s car from Vanishing Point. Eagle-eyed viewers will also spot the chrome duck hood ornament that Stuntman Mike attaches to both cars, echoing the one used in 1970s trucker film, Convoy.

Once we have met Stuntman Mike in his Chevy Nova, he shows his true, terrifying colours by taking Pam (Rose McGowan) on a deadly road-ride. As she enters the car, she is suspicious of the customizations he has made, his “death-proofing” of the vehicle. These customisations include shatterproof glass, reinforced steel beams and a driver’s seat belt with five-points. In contrast, the passenger seat is sealed in Plexiglas and has no seatbelt, but Mike assures a dubious Pam that these changes were for his stunt work. She is then wildly thrown about as Mike charges at fast speeds, swerving his car, before slamming on the brakes and killing her as she is thrown at the windscreen. With Pam dead, he continues his murderous spree by savagely ramming head-first into a car, killing three other young women.

Seven Chevy Novas were used by the film’s production team to create the considerable car carnage, with six used as stunt vehicles and another an ‘insert’ – used solely for close-up shots and dialogue scenes. With Tarantino’s commitment to pure stunt work, preferring this to special effects, the cars were used as much as possible with little left to post-production. “My whole mantra was as far as my action was concerned, no CGI, and no under cranking,” recalls Tarantino. “We wanted it to be scary; we wanted it to be real… I didn’t know how we were going to do it… I mean we’ve done some crazy stuff on this film that’s actually really never been done before.”

This meant that only two “death proof” cars survived after the frantic chases – the ‘insert’ and one sole stunt model. The latter, nicknamed Jesus was gifted to the movie’s hard-working stunt driver, Buddy Joe Hocker, once the film had wrapped. And the former? This one now pops up from time to time at car conventions in the States. So, if you see someone driving a 1970 black Chevy Nova with a skull on the bonnet – run for cover!