The movie duel truck

In steven spielbergs first fulllength movie, duel, a traveling salesman dennis weaver is harassed by a menacing 40ton truck on a remote desert highway. If you are interested to know about all the vehicle brands and models seen in this movie this post may be very informative to you. Having published 104 magazine for 21 years now, we have had some memorable covers, for sure, but none have been as popular and talked about even today as our may 2004 cover featuring the ghostly duel truck from the 1971 movie about a renegade rig that terrorizes an unsuspecting dennis weaver in his red plymouth valiant for no apparent reason at all. Listen to brad tell his story of trucks and how it changed his life from a. It was destroyed in the films climactic crash scene. The truck that was featured in most of the film was a 1955 pete 351 with a cat engine. This movie is noteworthy because its one of spielbergs first films, but beyond that it nothing short of awesome.

The duel truck 1955 peterbilt 351281 finishedfruehauf tanker wip posted by millermeteor on sunday, november 9, 2008 11. What really drives the creepiness is the rusty tanker truck billowing noise and smoke. Though we know stunt driver carey loftin of bullitt fame was behind the wheel, the truck driver is. Brad wike, who collects and restores classic trucks, bought the 1960 peterbilt seven years ago. Also there is a 143 diecast model of a 1949 peterbuilt truck which looks like it can be converted to the truck from duel. Having published 104 magazine for 21 years now, we have had some memorable covers, for sure, but none have been as popular and talked about even today as our may 2004 cover featuring the ghostly duel truck from the 1971 movie about a renegade rig that terrorizes. Most people didnt realize it was a made for tv movie originally, but a huge cult following has made it an all time classic and one of his best in a great career.

Truck collector brad wike with the 1960 peterbilt used in filming the movie duel. Author richard matheson conceived duel after a similar experience with a reckless trucker. Every once in a while it is fun to look back at our past cover features and answer the question, where are they now. Moments later, the truck dangerously tailgates weaver before.

Aware that he is on his own, mann returns to his car. Despite the tv movie limitations, steven spielberg has managed to convey an illogical yet completely visceral thriller better than most filmmakers today. I saw this movie on american movie classics one of those movies that you watch and have to watch the whole movie to find out who the truck driver was. The sound effects are very similar in the scene transitions and also any tz fan knows the screenplay of duel was by richard matheson who actually wrote many tz episodes. What begins as an average day for salesman david mann quickly turns into a merciless showdown between himself and a seemly driverless truck somewhere in a nearly forsaken countryside. The duel truck 1955 peterbilt 351281 finishedfruehauf. On the truck cabs rear window, there is some sort of air conditioning unit installed.

Duel 1971 allmovie movies and films database movie. When a mexican generals nephew is found murdered in the rio grande river texas ranger david kingston is tasked with. Moments later, the truck is back, dangerously tailgating mann before abruptly cutting him off. So, two more trucks, including wikes 1961 peterbilt 351, were created to look just like the original movie truck. The duel is an entertaining period film about keeping law in the old west. Written by richard matheson, based on his short story. Duel david mann dennis weaver, a mild mannered electronics salesman, is driving crosscountry on a twolane highway when he encounters an old oil tanker driven by an unseen driver who seems to enjoy annoying him with dangerous antics on the road. Spendid thriller originally made for tv plenty of thrills, chills, breathtaking chases. Use this hood conversion to create an accurate replica of the duel movie truck. The 281 series was made famous in steven speilbergs 1971 movie, duel. Unable to escape the demonic big rig, david finds himsel f in a dangerous game of cat and mouse with the monstrous truck. The truck from duel is a piece of movie history the drive.

In some shots, such as the gas station scene where david mann is on the telephone, or the railroad crossing scene, the air conditioning unit has a support structure to hold it in place. Only one example of the films uncredited main character, a 1955 peterbilt 281, remains in existence. For the next 90 minutes, mann and the neverseen truckdriver are pitted against one another in a motorized duel to the death. Peterbilt tanker from movie duel on farm near lincolnton. Originally, when duel was a telefilm and had not yet become a fullfledged theatrical feature, the budget had to kept down, and losing more than one 1955 peterbilt oil truck was not an option. All orders are custom made and most ship worldwide within 24 hours. What begins as an average day for salesman david mann quickly turns into a merciless showdown between himself and a seemly driverless truck somewhere in. The truck from duel is seen in the film torque 2004 and causes a biker to wipe out shortly after a red fourdoor valiant had driven past the bikers. He is the nameless and unseen driver of a large rusty 1955 peterbilt 281 gasoline tanker truck. The simple plot has nerdy everyman driver david mann dennis weaver threatened by a monster truck and its unseen driver. Monster analysis is a series that lets you get a good look at all those money shots you go to the cinema for. By now manns state of mind has progressed from victim to warrior. Duel is probably the most literal example of nightmare fuel i have ever seen.

As a tribute to the intense car and truck chase movie, ive put together a list of 10 fun facts that you might not know. The movie was released november 11th, 1971, which is 43 years ago today. The movie starred dennis weaver as a motorist on a business trip that was being terrorized by a murderous tanker truck on a desolate stretch of road in california. As the truck pulls into the gas station, there are 2 sets of audio for different releases of the movie. Get a closer look at the only surviving truck from the. The truck appears at the end of a tunnel, then mann and the bus driver free his car and mann flees. It will be on display saturday at a truck show near lincolnton. The movie was good but who was the truck driver and what guy was he in the cafe scene with the guy with the cowboy boots. Find out how north carolina trucker and classic truck collector brad wike became the owner of the last surviving truck used in the iconic trucking horror movie, duel. All sightings of the menacing and quite frankly, creepy as fuck truck from duel 1971. The backup truck was an exact copy, but it is a 1960 model. And considering that this is widely recognized as his feature debut, thats even more impressive. Duel the best bits of film trivia the tanker driver.

The first two pics are from the net and the last pics is a frame from the movie, that i. The 90 minute version, the sound of the trucks air brakes are heard but its suspension and trailer noises are not. The surviving truck also made a cameo in the beginning of the 2004 movie torque. Monster analysis is a series that lets you get a good look at all those money shots you go to the cinema. Facebook is showing information to help you better understand the purpose of a page. Duel, steven spielbergs first movie, is a featurelength chase that pits mann and his plymouth valiant against a soupedup diesel. The truck driver gets a few moments of these to show that he is not above helping out a school bus full of kids in need or giving a friendly honk to passing trains. The filmmaker auditioned seven different styles of semitrucks on the universal backlot, finally settling on a 1955 peterbilt 281 because he felt that the split. Owned by self made man brad wike in north carolina.

The original 74minute tv movie used a tag axle 1955 peterbilt 281. The 281 is a heavyduty truck used for hauling freight over long distances and pulling trailers up to 30 feet long. The truck driver is the main antagonist of the 1971 short story duel by the late richard matheson, and the 1971 television film of the same name, which is steven spielbergs first directed film. Additionally, spielberg said that the multiple license plates on the front bumper of the peterbilt subtly suggested that. In this tv movie, dennis weaver is driving down a deserted southern california highway when he passes a large gas trailer truck. Duel easily is one of the only movies ever made thatll keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning till end. In an extraordinary long take, a sample of internal monologue from the rattled dave dennis weaver who soon discovers the killer truck isnt gone, in steven spielbergs duel, 1971 view. Theatrical trailer for 1971s steven spielberg classic duel, starring. This is part of a simple but extremely effective scheme by the truck driver, to isolate mann from any possible source of help. Did the duel truck driver openly presented what he did.

I would like to add that if u think about it this movie is really like a movie length version of an episode of the twilight zone. Peterbilt tanker from movie duel on farm near lincolnton charlotte. Brilliant in its simplicity, the cult favorite takes road rage to a dangerous level as the traveler and the mysterious truckdriver are pitted against one another in a motorized duel to. For the general concept of persons fighting in arranged combat for honor, see duels duel is a 1971 television movie about a salesman driving through the california desert who is suddenly attacked by a large tanker truck after passing it on the deserted road directed by steven spielberg. Duel was a made for television movie that originally aired in 1971, then remade for theatrical release. The most positive way of identifying it as a 71 are by the small turn signal indicators mounted on top of both fenders. The horror anthology film nightmares 1983 featured a segment very similar to duel, though with overt supernatural elements. Did the truck driver collected the car plates from former victims and present them openly as trophy knowing that very few likely the next victims will recognize their purpose.

Dennis weaver of mccloud fame plays dave mann, an instantly sympathetic protagonist. Peterbilt 351280 hood conversion includes hood, grill, grill screen cover, fenders, head lights, 2 bumpers and decals. The truck from duel is a piece of movie history the aficionauto takes a closer look at the villain from steven spielbergs first movie. In fact, the vehicle from jeepers creepers probably ripped off the look of the truck in duel. A 2nd 281, a 1960 with tag axle, was prepared as a backup, but went unused. Peterbilts 281 truck series was in production from 1954 to 1976. Inspired designs on tshirts, posters, stickers, home decor, and more by independent artists and designers from around the world. The truck from duel is alive and well in a yard in north carolina. The truck driver, being careful not to let mann or the viewers see his face, sticks his left arm out of the trucks drivers. What cars were in 1971 television thriller duel directed by steven spielberg. In the rest of the film however, there is not any support structure to be seen. Along the way, the starring cannot see the face of the driver of the giant truck. It works, but mann wins the duel by sacrificing his car. According to the drive, the movies original villain, a 1955 peterbilt 281, was destroyed at the end of the 11 day film shoot.