MAD MAX INTERCEPTOR UP FOR GRABS
HERE’S YOUR chance to grab a slice of Australian cinematic and automotive history, with the Orlando Auto Museum putting a For Sale sign on the original Mad
Max Falcon XB coupe Pursuit ‘Interceptor' for an undisclosed sum.
The Florida-based museum has owned Max Rockatansky's menacing black XB coupe Falcon GT since 2011 and it is expecting strong interest from
MadMax fans and Falcon GT enthusiasts hoping to secure arguably Australia's most famous movie car.
After its movie career ended, the Interceptor spent time in a South Australia wreckers before being rescued, restored and put on display in the Birdwood museum. Then it was shipped to the UK-based 'Cars Of The Stars' museum. In 2011 the museum's full inventory was bought by real estate developer Michael Dezer who shipped the lot to Florida, opening the car museum in 2012. Other popular attractions include an original Batmobile, a BackToTheFuture DeLorean DMC-12 and a Ferrari from MiamiVice.
According the museum the reason for the sale is due to a relocation but we are betting the A$4.93 million paid for Steve McQueen's Bullitt Mustang may have played a part in the decision. And while the Highland Green Mustang is arguably the most famous Mustang of all time, surely a similar title can be hung on this XB, having featured in both Kennedy Miller-produced Mad
Max movies.
Bought off a used car lot, the transformation to the Interceptor began in 1977 when it arrived on the doorstep of Ray Beckerley's Graf-X International.
With a brief from the movie's art director, Jon Dowding, Beckerley subcontracted Ford designer Peter Arcadipane who was responsible for the Concorde nose, while Melbourne racer Errol Platt of Purvis Eureka fame installed the roof and tail spoilers, apparently from Bob Jane's Monaro Sports Sedan.
Once the movie was completed it was given to mechanic Murray Smith in lieu of payment for his work. Smith sold it back to the KennedyMiller team for use in Mad Max2:TheRoadWarrior.
From there it wound up in a wreckers yard in South Australia before being rescued, restored and displayed in Australia, the UK and most recently Stateside. Expect the asking price to put a sizeable dent in your wallet.