I already knew that the Orlando museum (an hour or so from me) contains the Aussie Ford Falcon XB GT used in the first two Mad Max movies, and have been planning a little trip. Having actually met Mr. T when I was young, seeing one of the A-Team vans used in the show and no doubt driven by him would be icing on the cake. For the record, Mr. T was extremely nice and personable man. Glad he's still out there pitying fools!
A; Mr Ts real name is Alvin Tussant. T was from Chicago IL. He was a Army veteran; MP 🚔. Tussant was a excellent soldier & got a service award in training from his Army cadre. B: The Orlando area car museum is the private collection of wealthy 🇮🇱 investor "Michael Dezer". Dezer bought the Artegon mall, 1.1million sq ft. I did private security off & on for around 16mo there, 2018-2021. Dezer has a huge car & prop collection. He sells a lot of 🚗 too. Dezerland is ok but the mgr there was a jerk, aggressive bully. We didn't really get along. He set up new 📹 & would constantly gripe about stupid %&=÷. But he'd "have our back" 🙄 if a guest caused a problem.
You could do anothe 10 minutes on the interior. Each episode it changed. It has been 4 seats and a table, a printing studio, a survaliance set up, a changing room, a make up area, a metal shop, and a locksmith van. I always loved how in the late 70's/ early 80's all the hero cars were new but older canrs with round headlight always explode. The body styles were so drastically changed too. Every square body Fury turns into a 70;s fury, and the nice caddys (including the 85 limo turning into a 78 for the final crash) always changed. It used to throw me off as a kid as I was thinking it was a different car. Thanks for your video!
A 350 only managing 165 hp is just embarrassing. They went through a horror period there with V8 power outputs. Still, the van looked cool and Mr T remains a legend.
All of those TV shows and movies filmed in California back then all had the same problems, the first being that they were vehicles that had to be provided by the manufacturers with the California emissions systems which dropped HP even more, and the worst thing being is that the highly capable mechanics in the production crews weren't allowed to increase the power in them because of California's strict emissions standards, you'd think it being where all the movies and TV shows were filmed California would have cut them a break and given them some kind of waiver under the condition that they couldn't be driven on the roads unless they were filming but no, they had to leave them stock. An article I read about that had a still from a scene shot inside of one of the Starsky and Hutch Torino's, in the picture you could see an emblem that'd been mounted on the dash right by the speedometer that read "Do Not Exceed 55 MPH", the reason it was there was because of a workaround they came up with for cars they wanted to have shots of that showed them accelerating hard, since they couldn't increase the power they'd put super deep rear end gears in them to give them some "pop", as David Soul said, under hard acceleration so it'd look good on camera, the warning emblems about limiting speed was put in them so the stunt drivers would know that particular car was for hard acceleration and not to go above a certain speed or it'd over-rev the engine resulting in damage to it.
😅 whenever I hear about those respectable displacements & pathetically puny outputs, I hear Jeremy Clarkson's plaintive whinge _* HOW do they get so little power out of such a big engine?!_*
@@dukecraig2402 The weird thing about the state being so strict is that there were several race tracks around the L.A. area back then and people had race cars sitting in their garages and driveways. They were 'off-highway' vehicles and I do not recall ever hearing about the state cracking down on home-built racing cars. So, not sure why the film companies didn't pursue this angle considering how much the film industry brought into the state and city (Los Angeles in particular). Then again, starting in the 90s, there was a big exodus of productions leaving California and continuing to this day. Not saying it was the state's insistence on having film cars keep their very restrictive emission controls that did it, but surely that would have been yet one more regulation that made California an unfriendly place to film TV shows and films, more so shows and films that used high-performance cars as main props.
@@culcune They couldn't crack down on "off road" vehicles because of the racing industry in California, all those legendary race tracks like Laguna Seca, Riverside, Sears Point and too many others to list including all the Motorcross, Supercross and dirt flat track for motorcycle's would have all gone out of business, if they'd have put emissions standards on that sort of thing in California then every sanctioning body would have dropped every track in the state from their yearly circuits because there's no way race teams would have wanted to mess around with special engine's just for racing in California, and you can bet the collective racing industry in that state has some pull in the legislature. As far as home built racing cars in the state anytime the special California emissions equipment was messed with in regards to a production vehicle it made them ineligible to be registered for road use, Hollywood and TV production companies had no way around things because they filmed on public roads and had the cars registered to operate in the state just like any other road driven vehicle, like I said you'd think the state would have given them some kind of waiver for movie and TV cars seeing as how the entertainment business is so big in that state but hey, I guess they wouldn't which is a real shame. I think by the mid 80's when most of the vehicles from Detroit had computer controlled fuel injection they didn't need to have special California emissions systems on them because they were clean enough to meet their standards but beginning in the mid and through the late 70's and even the early 80's, which accounts for that early 80's 305 California emissions Corvette, they had those special systems and California was so strict that if an emissions tester saw a catalytic converter that wasn't the correct one for the vehicle it'd get flunked without the guy even hooking things up and starting the vehicle, it didn't matter if it worked as good or even better than what was stock if it wasn't the correct OE part then it automatically failed. I live in Pennsylvania and in the mid 80's there was a lady who lived right across the street from a garage I worked in, she had a 75, if my memory serves correctly, Mustang II with a V8 that had the special California emissions system on it, how that thing found it's way to Pennsylvania I don't know but I wished it'd died on the way and never got there, there was always something going wrong with that special system that would have us pulling our hair out trying to figure out what it was, that thing was a real nightmare on wheels and used to make me pity the mechanics in California having to deal with all those vehicles like that. Last year I was reading what some poor guy who lives in California posted on a Trans Am forum site about a 77 TA he had that because of their strict laws out there still had to pass the original California emissions standards for 77 and he was pulling his hair out going back and forth to a testing station every time he thought he had things right on it and could get it certified, his biggest nightmare was finding the correct parts so it'd pass the visual test in the first place, then when he got it to the point where the guy would actually hook it up and start it the real fun began, all because he wanted a car just like his dad had when he was a kid.
I saw a bunch of the vans used for the show at Universal Studios in the summer of 1986. I also saw a lot if KITTs too. One van was weighted so that you could lift it up from the passenger side.
Been wanting to build one of these A-Team vans since the show aired. In the first season the paint finish was glossy and in some scenes you can see the cameras and crews reflected in the paint. Think early in season 2 they went with a matte clear to reduce reflections and more consistent lighting in closeups. Already have a couple of the GB model Mini-14's exactly like they had in the show and one early 60's Vietnam era 1911 just like George Pephard carried.
I always loved those wheels and wanted to get a set for my '73 Corvette. And with apologies but, there is no such thing as an early 60's Vietnam era 1911, there were no new M1911's made after WW2 ended and the government canceled all the contracts for them, after that and until they were phased out of use in the 80's the military relied on stocks of them and a constant rebuilding program that ran until all of them had been replaced with the 9mm Beretta's. There was 2 basic forms of the M1911, the original M1911 that was made from 1911 till 1925 and the far more common M1911A1 that was produced from 1926 until the end of WW2.
if your Colt .45 has a finger crescent in the frame behind the trigger assembly, you have a model 1911A1, if you don't have the notch between the trigger and side grips, you have a 1911.
@@albertgaspar627 That's how you can tell if the frame was originally an A1 or not, but when it comes to the A1 parts that were different like the grip safety, mainspring housing and even the trigger you can't go by them for sure. When I was in the Army in the 80's some of those things that had been depot rebuilt had mismatched parts all over them, and some had obviously either been done that they kept all the correct parts on them or maybe only got refinished without being stripped and having all their parts thrown in bins to be used later, I held a couple of them that looked brand new, I doubt that far along they were previously unissued pistols, I just can't see that as having happened in the mid 80's.
At the start of the A-Team they are suppose to be in the LA underground but yet... drive around in a hey-look-at-me van lol ...still loved the show. Speaking of TV vehicles. The Sanford and Son worn out but way cool Ford pick up truck is still around and has an interesting history.
@@CarStarz42 Indeed. We just found your channel. Great stuff! If it's not already on the list, would you consider episodes on Christine, the 6000SUX, the Simon and Simon truck, or the cars from Death Race 2000 Carradine film? Thanks in advance. We're looking forward to more. Cheers!
@@machupikachu1085 Cool, yep already did the Canonball Run Lambo and the rest of those are indeed already on my list. Thanks and here's the Lambo video link... ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-WiaypYWsv68.html&t
Interesting! I remember watching the series back in the day and also building the plastic model issued back then. I never noticed the gmc logo or sunroof oops during the original series but we had small tvs back then.
I remember catching them using a Ford Econoline van to stand in for BA's van, in a scene where they crash through a big wooden door (on some docks) to get away from Deckard. I remember seeing those Ford tail lights, and pointing it out to my Dad. That led down Alice's rabbit hole, about how The General Lee always managed to look so good each week. 😂
One of the uk based A Team Van sites that you mentioned, that has stopped renting out their van, still appear to own it. They're local to me and I saw it a couple of months ago in the supermarket car park.
I saw one as a kid at the Chicago World of Wheels and remember the striping being orange. Was always confused after that as to what the actual color was.
Every once in awhile I would catch a glimpse of the GMC morphing into a round headlight 70s Chevrolet van in the air, then driving away a GMC again LOL
I have so many models of this van. 1,24 plastic ones to 1.43 ans 1.18metal ones even the big plastic one that came with 4 action figures. Had to paint that on as it was all black. Interestingly the GMC vandura shared the same basic body shape as our english bedford CF van. Which i think is what they used as the mystery machine in the scooby doo films.
Id like to see that too. Im an avid WTR watcher and it appears they either had 1 truck for everything (besides the obvious GMC to Dodge switch late season 2) or they did a damn good job getting them all to be the same. Sometime in season 8 they did get a 98+ Ram to replace the 94-97...you can tell from interior shots...with the updated dash and seats.
Around 2:30 where you're talking about the grill emblem and how it goes from red to black and back to red, there's an explanation for that and it's the same reason why in later seasons of The Rockford Files during chase scenes in one shot you'll all off the sudden see a 2 or 3 second scene where it's obviously a shot from the first season, that can be confirmed by an Esprit badge located on either side on the body directly behind a door window, only the first season had actual Esprit's, the following seasons Garner wanted Formulas for the added performance for stunt shots like his famous "Rockford's" commonly called a J Turn, they'd re-use first season shots the last few seasons because among other reasons they were running out of 74 to 78 cars to film with. Obviously for similar reasons they were doing the same thing with driving shots in The A Team, if you look at the 3 shots you mention and show in the first and last one's with the red GMC grill emblems you can clearly see Hulk Hogan in the passenger seat, but in the 2nd shot if you look you'll notice Hulk isn't in the passenger seat, if someone is it certainly isn't him with that blonde hair and fire engine red shirt he's wearing that practically fill up the windshield to where you can't miss him in the 1st and 3rd shots. Inconsistencies like that most likely mean that like with The Rockford Files they were using shots from previous seasons to fill in where needed for any of a variety of reasons.
Inconsistencies and nonsensical chases masked with pyrotechnics were a trademark of Steven J Cannell shows. He certainly created a lot of scrap metal out of vehicles back in the day.
Yesss...😊😊 great job carstarz you did on the A-team van as i can't suspended my disbelief that ex special forces team are highly wanted by military would drive around in customized van with distinct paint job is suppose to be undercover has worst idea ever😅anyway thanks for the video and have a nice day bye.
Thanks, lol indeed. Funny how shows like this and Starsky & Hutch drive the most conspicuous vehicles possible in roles that should be the exact opposite of that. 😁
@CarStarz42 Well, i think that no self respect good guy wants a flashy car to use in undercover work at all, or maybe it's some sort of mind game to fool everyone that you're not law enforcement but really are bad guy rolling in nice looking car anyway thanks for the response and have great day bye now.
10 wild facts should do a commentary on the 1984 GMC Sierra K10 pickup that colt seavers drove in the TV series The Fall Guy. Lee majors played the lead part along co-starring sexy Heather Thomas
There is a mystery BA van in ‘Santa Clause The Movie’ when Joe is looking through the McDonalds window it’s on the street behind him. However the restaurant and the street were in Elstree Studio. Why a fully specked out A Team van was there isn’t known.
"due to the poor power to weight ratio" lol yeah late 70s stock 350 ill say, 150 horse was optimistic at best And that TH350 probably only put half of it to the rear wheels.
G'day mate, Just wanted to leave you a quick note. I stumbled on your channel a week or so ago and want to thank you for the entertaining content you put out. I really enjoy your channel and have subscribed. If you ever make it to Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, I'll let you buy me a beer 😆😆😆😆😆😆😆
Much appreciated and glad you are enjoying it. I certainly would like to visit Australia one day for sure as everyone I have met online from there seem awesome🙂👍
Towards the end of the 4th season they upgraded to a 1985 Vandura for B.A.’s van. I think it was first introduced in the episode “Cowboy George”. You can tell it’s an ‘85 due to the larger taillights.
I'd like to share a fact here that no where else is it appreciated or cared for that I know this stuff- The TV show Hunter (and many other action TV shows & movies); they took a windshield washer fluid setup and put it in the trunk filled with bleach, drilled holes in the rear wheel wells of Hunters police car and stuck the spray nozzles in them with a momentary switch in the cabin. Instant burnout/spin around juice for scenes.
I remember the van changing make and model used to bother me so much when I was young and watched at the show. I specifically remember when it would occasionally morph into an older Ford Econoline.
1:25 Thats the original optic. Here you can clearly see that there are smaller tires at the front than at the back and that it is a wedge chassis. Most people who build the car on a fan basis disregard this. But that's what makes the look of the car so special.
Also.... There was something about the paint. The original gloss reflected all the filming gear, so they changed to a matte finish. Something like that.....
That UK van is based in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. It lacks the jacked up rear axle but otherwise is pretty accurate. It is used for wedding and prom hire, and recently was at Ipswich Comic Con.
Back in the 80s at Universal Studios in L.A. they had a gutted facsimile of the A-Team van on a hydraulic lift so it would appear as though people could lift it. I do not recall what Universal character/show/movie the lifting was supposed to be based on, but it might have been 'The Incredible Hulk' so Universal Studios kind of killed two birds with one stone by using the A-Team van as the vehicle little kids could lift up off the ground pretending they are the Hulk.
@@dw8840 The attraction at Universal was a hybrid. It used to be a regular van that people could lift, and later on they painted it up to look like the A-Team van.
also for a bonus the van from season 1-4 1/2 got the 5 lug wheels and later season 4-5 got the 8 lug wheels van which is was shown on the episode where the A-Team meet Boy George from the band group Culture Club.
Fact #11: some could be driven in Park. Something we noticed in college (I knew there was a reason I went to college) in certain scenes from the sound stage where you can clearly see the top of the gearshift as they pretend to drive down the road. 🤪
Love the GMC, but did they ever consider using the Dodge van with its stacked headlights instead? With the black paint, it would have looked dead on like the GMC.
Yeah, first season were gloss clear coat; but, then they switched to satin after they realized that the reflections off it could make the camera guys visible at times, lol.
The gaffer tape over car emblems goes back a long time in Hollywoodland, at least to the late '60s. Why? Not really sure. In most episodes of Emergency! and Adam-12, just about any car emblem is covered with aluminum or gaffer tape, whether it was a brand new AMC Matador squad or a '60 Mercury Colony Park wagon slated to be destroyed in a way-realistic giant gas tank explosion.
Back in 1975, when I was 16, and got my first car (my dad's '63 Chevy Nova SS) I rigged up a tank in the trunk to hold soapy water, drilled holes in the top of the rear fenders inside the trunk, right above the tires, and used a windshield washer pump and some fish tank hose stuck through the holes in the fenders. This was connected to a switch on the dash. I also had a line lock in the front brake. You could step on the brake pedal, pull out the knob, and release the pedal. The front brakes remained locked until you pushed in the knob. The '63 Nova SS, despite being a real SS, only had an inline six engine, so it wasn't exactly a muscle car. But with the front brakes locked, and the rear tires covered in soapy water, it would do some very impressive burnouts. I used to own a 1979 Chevy van, and thought about building an A-Team clone out of it, but the cost to do a decent job would have been ridiculous.
I didn't come across that info, but would make sense considering how low power and heavy they are. Sure would be a lot of effort to put into just getting a burnout though🤔
Hard telling for sure as I've heard a number of stories on that over the years. Couldn't find anything definite, which is why I didn't go into details on that 😉
Funny how even todays movies still have issues of details on cars. For all they charge to see and pay out to the cast, damn details please. It’s embarrassing for all the takes and not catch. lol
Mostly just creates a slicker surface to get the tires spinning and gets the smoke rolling faster. Most bleaches have oxidizing properties that can cause a fire to burn more intensely and spread faster 😉
@@CarStarz42 I had watched the show on night, went to my room and painted a matchbox van black and red so I could have my own. I know it sounds nuts, but it would be like seeing the General Lee in yellow, you just know it isn't right.
@@CarStarz42 Exactly. For many years I thought it was all black and that the lighter shade of the upper panel above the stripe was just a glare or lighting illusion because of the convex shape.
