Computer-generated imagery has ruined chase scenes in film. Today the action is more like Mario Kart than Mario Andretti – fake. Have I become the crank who stands on his porch, yelling at the neighbor kids to get off his lawn?

I don’t think so. Scan the classic movie channels for films listed here, and soak up some real car chase scenes. You’ll never look at the ersatz Fast & Furious chase scenes the same. In fact, it looks to me like cinematic chase scenes reached their pinnacle, coincidentally, at the same time the big bad American Muscle car reached its evolutionary perfection.

Since there might be some argument about how to order this list, we’ll work our way back in time, ending with a flick that most would agree deserves the number one ranking.

1. The Blues Brothers (1980) — Behind the wheel of a 1974 Dodge Monaco, brothers Jake and Elwood are on a mission from God. Apparently, that mission was to tear up every street and break every window in Chicago. They hit speeds of 120 mph in the quest. Rock ‘n Roll, soul music, the blues, Wayfarers and outrunning the cops – is anything more American?
2. The Driver (1978) — This one was originally written for Steve McQueen, and there’s some indication that Sylvester Stallone also considered the lead. Ryan O’Neal eventually assumed the role of the getaway driver on the run from a persistent detective. Ryan’s underplayed man of few words seems to have been the model for Ryan Goslin’s character in the 2011 film Drive. The nighttime car chase through Los Angeles is a definite highlight.
3. Smokey and the Bandit (1977) — The key to the greatness of this one is the director, longtime professional stuntman Hal Needham. Toss in Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, Jerry Reed and Jackie Gleason as Texas lawman Buford T. Justice, aka “Smokey,” and you have all the fixin’s for an entertaining flick. This film and its sequels cemented the Pontiac Trans Am in American muscle car lore.
4. The Gumball Rally (1976) — Many of the great chase scenes are in movies built around the premise of a cross-country race. In this version we have a classic race between a 1974 Ferrari Daytona and a 1966 Ford Shelby Cobra 427. It’s every car aficionado’s dream.
5. Gone in 60 Seconds (1974) — Another great premise for car movies is the idea of a band of car thieves working together. This low-budget, cult classic may be the first. The job is to steal 48 cars for a drug kingpin. The film climaxes with a 40-minute chase scene that leaves 93 wrecked cars strewn throughout Los Angeles. Today we call that rush hour.
6. Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry (1974) — Peter Fonda is off his Easy Rider Harley and into racing stock cars in this one. Oh yeah, he’s into robbing small town grocery stores, too. Pack a 440-cubic-inch V8 into a ’69 Dodge Charger R/T and cast Vic Morrow as sheriff, and you have all the elements you need for a fantastic hot pursuit.
7. Two Lane Blacktop (1971) — Now we’re getting into the heart of classic muscle car chase scenes. Here we have a 1970 Pontiac GTO and a custom 1955 Chevy hot rod racing across country. As good as that is, how about James Taylor and Dennis Wilson (The Beach Boys) as stars? They should have cut a soundtrack album together…
8. Vanishing Point (1971) — In this film we see more than great driving. We get a real taste of the era. Former race car driver and Vietnam vet Stanley Kowalski bets a friend that he can get a car from San Francisco to Denver in 15 hours. It takes a lot of pill popping and soul music blasting to get it done.
9. The French Connection (1971) — Continuing the theme of fast cars and drugs, we have this classic. Gene Hackman took the best actor Oscar for his role as NYC detective Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle in this one. The car chases through New York far surpass any cab ride you’ll ever experience in the Big Apple. Really. By the way, this film also took the Oscar for best director, best film editing, best writing and best picture.
10. Bullitt (1968) — When you’re talking automotive movie chase scenes, all roads lead to Bullitt. Steven McQueen’s 1968 Ford Mustang Fastback GT is the standard against which all other collectible muscle cars are measured. When God made the hills of San Francisco, he had this chase scene in mind. If it’s not on TV tonight, why not cut to the chase right now?

Emily Turberville-Tully, who writes for HR Owen in England, loves antiques and other classics, including cars. When not writing, Emily enjoys fashion, interior design and caring for home and family.

Photo credit: Wapster