Some people might say the real stars of Mad Max Fury Road are the cars, bikes and trucks that have been custom made to create a post-apocalyptic Australian landscape. CarShowroom.com.au had the opportunity to catch a sneak peak of the film at Event Cinemas in George St Sydney where one of the stars 'Cranky Franky' was on display.
We also had a chat with James ‘Johno’ Johnson – the Action Vehicle Mechanic from Mad Max Fury Road ahead of its launch in Australia.
James Johnson worked with over a 120 people at the Villawood studios in NSW to create in excess of 125 vehicles required in the fourth franchise of the Mad Max films.
The team has been working since 2009 to make sure that all of the vehicles were mechanical sound and in tiptop shape to meet the high demands of making a movie like Mad Max Fury Road.
Out of the 125 vehicles that the team built only 20 odd of them remain, with most of them being trashed during the making of the movie
Mad Max Fury Road Vehicle Highlights:
Interceptor - just like in the original 3 films in the franchise the Mad Max Fury Road has the Ford XB Interceptor. The XB in the new movie has seen better days but still looks as mean as ever.
The Gigahorse - The Gighorse has been built from a pair of 1959 Cadillac Coupe De Villes that have been spilt and widened before being welded one on to the other. Powered by twin V8’s this car is ideal car for a warlord.
The Nux Car – this super-turbocharged, nitro drinking deuce coupe is one mean looking rat rod. Driven by the solders of the Citadel Armada.
The War Rig - A cross between an outback road train, hot rod and tank this 6 wheel-drive eighteen-wheeled mammoth is unstoppable. The War Rig sees plenty of action after it’s hijacked by a group of women fleeing the Citadel Armada.
FDK – These are beach buggies we all wish we owned, it’s a supercharged V8 Volkswagen Beatle. The FDK is a guard vehicle used to protect the a 1970’s Mercedes Benz.
Cranky Franky – The homegrown hero of the new Mad Max franchise the team took the body of a Holden FJ ute and placed it on a chassis of a C10 international chassis. The engine is 383 cubic inch Chevy with a functioning 8v90 supercharger that produces over 300kW at the rear wheels.
The Ploughboy – Another homegrown hero, this EH Holden wagon has been jacked up and placed on a serious off road chassis. Its weapon of choice is a harpoon and plough that can be used to drag its victims to a standstill once deployed.
Buick – When a four-wheeled Buick isn’t enough add an extra two wheels to the rear on an extended rear diff and you have yourself a perfect guard for the Gigahorse. With room to house an anti-aircraft gun the Buick is the perfect guard car.
MACK – Mack is the Citadel tow truck that is used to collect all of the cars that armada destroy on their hunting exercise out in the wasteland.
Buggy #9 - is a Australian made Perentti, the Perentti is an Aussie built car that is trying to be an American muscle car. It had a fiberglass monocoque body and was meant to be the perfect mid-life crisis car. Now if it came with factory fitted guns like this one it may have been more successful.
Dodge – The old school hotrod with flame throwing abilities dressed in the Citadel’s black livery. Add a low slung radiator and a even lower blower and you have yourself one mean looking car.
The Big Foot – Take a 1940’s Fargo truck turn it in to a monster truck with 66” tyres and you have yourself a go anywhere supercharged V8 monster.
Plymouth Rock – Built on a 1930’s Plymouth Sedan add some spikes and you have built one mean looking warrior car.
Doof Wagon – Take 8x8 M.A.N missile-carrier add a wall of speakers and a stage and you have built a Doof Wagon. What makes the Doof Wagon even more impressive is the guitar player who is suspended by wire playing heavy metal on a guitar that can shoot flames.
The Peacmaker – Is this a car or a tank or love child of both? This water-cooled Merlin V8 comes stacked full of goodies like Tank Tread, Torpedo and Machine Gun. One of the only vehicles that can follow the War Rig in to the wastelands.
One of the other great things that brings the vehicles to life in the latest Mad Max franchise is the way it has been recorded with the latest Dolby Atmos surround sound technology in mind. The new Dolby Atmos technology allows sound engineers to render the sound via 60 speakers in the cinema. This allows sounds to move around the cinema to give a more real and natural sound. It gives the viewers a chance to feel that they are in the centre of the action the whole time.
The only place to catch Mad Max Fury Road featuring the Dolby Atmos sound track is at selected VMAX theatres in Event and Village cinemas around Australia.
Mad Max Fury Road opened nationally in Australian cinemas on Thursday 14th May.
