The "California Kid" rides again.....

Here's a blast from the past-someone asked me had I ever heard of a car named "The California Kid." The fact is The "California Kid" is both a car and a movie. The movie was made in 1974 and Starred Martin Sheen, Michelle Phillips, Nick Nolte and Vic Morrow. The movie was set in 1958. Vic Morrow's character was a sadistic sheriff who ran hot-rodders off the road to their deaths in his hopped-up, Hemi powered 300C Police Car. His latest victim was a decorated Korean war hero in a '50 Ford, that turns out to be Martin Sheen's younger brother. Charlie and Emilio Estevez Jr-wish they were as cool as their dad when he was young-( before Apocolypse Now-which established him as an A-list talent.)  Martin Sheen was so badass in this role, that Charles Bronson said he couldn't have done it better himself-Bronson was offered the role-but was busy with "Mr. Majestyk" and "Death Wish"-which catapulted Bronson to superstardom-but he watched the movie when it came out and lauded Sheen's performance. The other star was of course the '34 Ford driven by Sheen. Pete Chapouris built it for the movie to the producer's specs. They wanted a '50's hot rod that was more badass and evil-looking than the '32 Ford from "American Graffiti" which was a smash hit the year before. The car had a great black paint job with red, yellow and orange flames. To this day-everyone knows what a "California Kid" paint job is. It's even sold under that name if you want your new Harley Softail painted that style. Any way, Sheen figures out that the sherrif killed his brother on purpose, and sets out for revenge. He challenges the sheriif to a race down the dangerous road outside the town, and runs the evil bastard to his much-deserved death. As for the car-it's still around at various car shows-Pete Chapouris still has it-and except for Halibrand wheels-( it had steel wheels and hubcaps in the film ) it's exactly as it was in 1974. It's powered by a hopped up 302 Ford V8 with a C4 automatic behind it-simple, powerful and bulletproof. This car inspired countless others including ZZ Top's famous 34 Ford "Eliminator".  Anyhow, if Amazon.com or someone can get you a copy of the film on VHS or DVD it's a worthy addition to anyone's car movie collection. And it is realistic-a Hemi-powered 1957 300C was about the fastest production car around in 1958-which is when the movie is set.  Mastermind