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Best Cars of Mad Max Movies | Mad Max Cars

Posted on 2022-09-13

The Mad Max franchise has been wowing moviegoers for over four decades with its charismatic characters, exciting stunts and thrilling action sequences. Since "The Road Warrior" in 1981, the Mad Max brand has become synonymous with cars. With the arrival of the fourth movie, "Fury Road," in 2015, George Miller transformed the series into an adrenaline-pumping car chase. "Fury Road" put dozens of incredible, tricked-out cars on the screen, giving car fans everywhere a look at some of the edgiest, most fun vehicles in cinema history. 

"Fury Road," in particular, takes the movies to a whole new level. With painstaking detail added to each car, an emphasis on practical effects and a devotion to cars reflected in the plot, it fully displays the capabilities of vehicles on film. In a world where water and gasoline are highly-sought after resources, Immortan Joe's gang flaunts their status with gas-guzzling monsters that wow you at every turn. 

The leading cars in the Mad Max franchise are all custom-built by the film crew. Often, car engines are swapped out, specs are given an overhaul and multiple vehicles are Frankenstein-ed together to build an immersive post-apocalyptic world. Explore the best cars used in the Mad Max movies and the insane detail of each vehicle with this article. 

The Interceptor 

The V8 Interceptor is the singular iconic car of the Mad Max franchise and the best car in Mad Max hands-down. Driven by Max in three of the four movies, it's one of the most famous movie cars ever. Also called the Pursuit Special, the car in "Mad Max" is essentially a 1973 Ford Falcon XB GT Coupe. 

The original vehicle for the first film had a fake supercharger, but for "Road Warrior" and "Fury Road," the supercharger was real and connected to the engine, taking the car to 600 horsepower at the wheel. The original model had a top speed of 135 MPH — the fastest car in Mad Max — although it's assumed the supercharged vehicle could hit higher speeds. 

This is a classic muscle car — fitted with 40-gallon fuel tanks and a suped-up engine — this sleek black vehicle was the perfect symbol of the "Mad Max" movies. While it was seen briefly in "Mad Max: Fury Road" in its original state, the car was taken by Immortan Joe's gang and refitted to their standards. Renamed "Razor Cola" and driven by Slit, the new sandblasted Interceptor is given a back lift, a new supercharger, bigger tires, a set of caltrops and a spear gun. 

We last see Max's favorite vehicle crushed between the People Eater's Limousine and Furiosa's War Rig, apparently ending the life of the iconic car. 

The Doof Wagon

The scene-stealing Doof Wagon is one of the highlights of the "Fury Road" film. Meant to motivate Immortan Joe's crew as they chase the War Rig down — it's an absolute monster of a vehicle. Based initially on a MAZ Soviet/Belarusian artillery truck during production, the Doof Wagon was built from a M.A.N. 8x8 truck. Meant to carry and launch Patriot and Roland weapons systems, the car has 360 HP and is seriously heavy-duty. 

The Doof Wagon is one of the best cars in "Mad Max" due to its extreme cool factor. With dozens of speakers piled high and air ducts to facilitate sound travel, it's a concert on wheels. Coma, the blind Doof Warrior, rides this truck, playing a real flame-throwing guitar while four taiko drummers ride with him to bring music to the war party. 

Gigahorse

Immortan Joe's Gigahorse is the perfect representation of his pride and power. This car was designed as a throne for Immortan Joe to ride on as he rode out from the Citadel with his war party. It took two months for the team to build the custom vehicle. The Gigahorse combines two Cadillac Coup DeVilles stacked on top of each other. It's fitted with two supercharged 502 big block V8 engines for an even bigger, faster machine. 

Specially-made wheels allow the car to have its dual tractor wheel set up in the back, with four hand-made exhaust pipes on the side. The vehicle's excess displays Immortan Joe's wealth and marks him as someone with far more while others are going without. The bottom Cadillac is widened to fit a new custom windshield. The upper shell is modified to act as a flamethrower and turret gun for attacking other vehicles. 

A heavy plow sits on the front end for more aggressive driving strategies. The Gigahorse has a fully-functioning engine set up — the two Chevrolet 502 Big Block V8 crate motors are connected through a custom gearbox. Before being replaced, the Turbo 400 automatic transmission used had to be rebuilt after every filming day.

Loud, excessive and incredibly strong, the Gigahorse is an aggressive vehicle fit for a cruel, selfish tyrant like Immortan Joe. Head production designer Colin Gibson said of the design, "In a world where nobody had one of anything, it seemed a fait accompli that he would have a pair of 1959 coupe DeVilles." 

The War Rig

The War Rig is the main transport for Imperator Furiosa and the Five Wives as they make their escape from the Citadel. The War Rig holds precious water — an essential for life in the bleak world of "Mad Max." The War Rig is an enormous truck crafted with meticulous attention to detail. It's a Tatra T815 truck with a 1947 or 1948 Chevrolet Fleetmaster cut in half and widened to make the back of its cab. An 18-wheeler with modified front windshields and rear-hinged doors, it's a massive machine built for the long haul. 

The War Rig was designed to be a character in its own right and it got tons of little details to emphasize its unique spot as Furiosa's vehicle. Ten firearms are within arm's reach in the cab, and there's a hidden dagger inside the stick shift. A sniper rifle and ammo are placed for convenient one-armed loading, and a skeleton arm painted on the driver's-side door signifies the vehicle belongs to Furiosa. 

Three of these enormous War Rigs were made for the movie, all of them fully functional. One of these was used in the film for the iconic flipping and rolling stunt. Instead of using CGI, stunt man Lee Adamson drove The War Rig for the scene. To achieve the right shot, he had to land the vehicle perfectly between two rocks and right in front of the camera. 

Nux's Car

Nux's car is the vehicle Max spends much of the movie attached to, tied on the front cross installed for Nux's unlucky victims. While the online guide identifies the car as a Ford 5-Window Deuce Coupe, fans of the "Fury Road" movie and cars state that it's actually a 1934 Chevrolet 5-Window Coupe. This vintage V8 is supercharged, turbo and nitro-boosted, giving it excellent maneuverability and speed. The engine was replaced with a 350 Chevrolet V8, and the car was lifted and given off-road tires to help it drive through the desert.

Nux's car also has personalized details throughout. The back and front are fitted with thundersticks made for throwing at other vehicles. The interior has dozens of Nux-focused items. His name is welded on the brake pedal, Immortan Joe's logo is decorated all over the roof, human ears hang behind the rear left window and more. It's a compact speed demon that fits perfectly into the caravan. 

The People Eater's Limousine 

Another member of the "Fury Road" war party, the People Eater's Limousine is a colossal vehicle representing its driver's wealth. The People Eater is the Mayor of Gas Town, and he drives a modified Mercedes Benz W123 limo on top of a modified AM General M14 Cargo Truck. Originally named the Gastown Petrol Tanker, it refines fuel as the People Eater drives so gas can be supplied to Immortan Joe's convoy. 

 It has an extra-long wheelbase, enlarged front fender wells and enormous exhaust pipes that run down the entire length of the limo. A machine gun mounted on the roof allows the car to protect and attack from above. Strands of hair decorate the steering wheel for extra detail and personality. 

Peacemaker

The Peacemaker car belongs to the Bullet Farmer in "Fury Road." It's a Valiant Charger body with a modified Howe and Howe EV1 tread. It required lots of fine-tuning to get it ready for the movie — there were issues with sand and dirt getting into the vehicle, along with half-welded tracks and a habit of overheating and catching on fire. It was given a 502 Chevrolet engine, and an electric water pump helped with cooling. This car was essentially a desert tank, a worthy part of Immortan Joe's war party and a delight to see on screen. 

Humungous' Truck

One of the only cars on this list from a movie other than "Fury Road," Humungous' Truck is one of the fantastic cars from "The Road Warrior." Lord Humungous drives around in this truck, often with men strapped to the front. Its six wheels eat up the ground during assaults, and its status as a one-seater emphasizes Lord Humungous' personality. 

The truck has two big-rig exhaust pips and 55-gallon tanks on the back. Prisoners are carried in the front while riders can hang off the sides and back. A nitrous oxide system allows the vehicle to reach much higher speeds than expected for a six-wheeled ride — this is especially apparent when Lord Humungous uses it to catch up to the V8 during the film. 

Bigfoot

The Bigfoot car belongs to Immortan Joe's son Rictus Erectus. Built from a 1940 Dodge Fargo tray top pickup truck, it's got a monster truck chassis and four huge monster truck wheels. The shell was widened and the back fit three people. A roll cage and plexiglass shields around the weapons protect the riders. The tires were over five feet tall, carrying Ricktus high above the ground. A turbocharged Chevy 527 V8 engine powers this beast as it rides with the war party. 

Buggy No.9

Buggy No. 9 isn't as outlandish as some of the other cars from "Fury Road," but it's a sleek, exciting vehicle in its own right. It's commonly called a corvette, but this is a classic, easy mistake to make. It's actually a rare 1970s Australian Peretti. Inspired by the C3 Corvette, it has a fiberglass body, and the chassis is 22 inches longer than the C3 Corvette. 

To make the car usable for the movie, the original 308 engine was removed and replaced with a Cleveland V8. The front windshield and headlight covers were removed, off-road tires installed, and the whole car lifted for an apocalyptic aesthetic. A mounted machine gun sits on the back to make this another attack vehicle for the war party. 

Snake Truck

The snake truck from "The Road Warrior," true to its name, has a fantastic snake motif painted on its doors. It's a modified fifth-generation Australian Ford F-100. A boat windshield was installed, and the cab was cut off to accommodate this new feature. The truck bed was cut down to make room for a four-barrel dart gun and a towing rig. The sides sport two zoomie-style exhaust pipes each, and four lights adorn to the front for additional flair. 

Plymouth Rock

The Plymouth Rock car is driven by the Buzzards — Russian-speaking scavenger bandits in "Fury Road." All the Buzzard vehicles are covered in spikes. This one, in particular, is a 1937 Plymouth Sedan. The original car is almost entirely unrecognizable underneath all of the metal spikes. Its distinctive spikey design makes it stand out from an impressive lineup of "Fury Road" cars. It's got a fierce, intimidating exterior that makes it the perfect ride for violent bandits. 

The Ploughboy

The Ploughboy is a more practical vehicle in "Fury Road," meant to be used as tractor plowing to find lead and used bullet shells. This Bullet Farm car is a 1961-1962 Holden EK Special Station Wagon. Its makeover included Bridgestone Desert Duelers tires, a shell mounted on an off-road chassis and a large supercharger intake scoop. Added apocalyptic details include a hydraulic-driven trough and a mounted harpoon. While not as flashy as some of the other cars on this list, its practicality helps flesh out the world, and it has just enough modifications to make it a surprising addition to the lineup. 

See the #1 Car at Volo

If you love the Mad Max movies, you have to come check out our V8 Interceptor replica at Volo Auto Museum. Painstakingly built from the ground up, it's a 1972 Ford Falcon that's almost identical to the original. Ford Falcon XB GTs are nearly impossible to come by nowadays, but our Falcon was turned into a Mad Max car by the geniuses at Mad Max Cars. Unlike the original, this car is fully drivable, with functional rocker exhausts and no mufflers. The original vehicle was painstakingly examined, and the replica was crafted with nearly exact specs to match. 

For movie fans and car lovers alike, the Volo Auto Museum has some of the most fantastic movie cars on display. Explore our wide selection of famous cars and enjoy viewing authentic pieces of movie history today!