By Paul Herrold
“It’s 106 miles to Chicago, we’ve got a full tank of gas, half pack of cigarettes, it’s dark, and we’re wearing sunglasses…Hit it!”
Though solely a modest hit through the time of its launch, The Blues Brothers has since reached cult standing. What legendary movie critic Gene Siskel considered the “best movie ever made in Chicago” has turn out to be a logo of each the town in addition to its wealthy music historical past, exposing a era to blues and soul legends. But regardless of starring Dan Aykroyd, the late John Belushi, and even that includes cameos from Steven Spielberg and Carrie Fisher, there was one iconic character who rose to stardom above the remainder—the Bluesmobile.
The precise Bluesmobile—a 1974 Dodge Monaco—was a decommissioned police automobile, simply because it was within the film. Because of all of the stunt driving deliberate for the movie, the manufacturing crew had loads of Monacos readily available: 13 an identical vehicles have been all bought from a police public sale in California. By the tip of manufacturing, nonetheless, all 13 have been destroyed. Because there was no precise Bluesmobile left, many automobile aficionados took it upon themselves to create their very own replicas. Enter Brian Scanlon, Western Springs, Illinois, resident and lifelong Blues Brothers superfan.
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For Brian, the concept for this mission mission took root early. Although the Eighties featured many iconic film vehicles—the Delorean from Back to the Future, KITT from Knight Rider, Ghostbusters’ Ecto-1—Brian’s thoughts remained fixated on the Bluesmobile. “I saw the movie as a kid, and for some reason both the movie and the car itself just stuck with me. I kept saying to myself that one of these days I’m going to have to buy one or build one.”
Of course, priorities change over time. Even when balancing a profession, marriage, and household, the Bluesmobile at all times occupied the again of Brian’s thoughts. “Six years ago, I finally decided that the time was right,” stated Brian. “I had some extra money and classic Dodge Monacos weren’t very expensive back then, so I ended up going to Northern Illinois to buy a 1976 Dodge Monaco with the 400-cubic-inch V8 engine.” The automobile was just about an identical to the one within the film, besides with just a few extra inside gildings and a fancier entrance finish. No matter. Brian diligently labored to “de-luxury” the Monaco, altering the entrance finish’s flip-up headlights and cornering lamps to raised resemble the 1974 mannequin. “I knew from the very beginning that I was going to do all the work myself,” stated Brian. “This project meant so much to me. I wanted to either succeed or fail by myself.”
So, with the help of a really affected person spouse and son, Brian got down to construct his Bluesmobile. Over the course of eight months, each second of free time—principally nights and weekends—was spent changing the automobile in his storage. It was throughout this era that Brian’s spouse Alma instructed he begin a weblog. “There had to be other people like me that wanted to build, not just a Bluesmobile, but any kind of movie or dream car.” Brian recounted. He started to doc the method, importing each little bit of the transformation. The outcome left him pleasantly shocked. “A lot of people started following me on the blog and offered me all sorts of encouragement,” stated Brian. “I also found some Bluesmobile specific websites that helped me find the parts I needed.”
Finally, after combing via the film frame-by-frame and thoroughly inspecting each shot of the automobile to get every element proper—Brian had accomplished his labor of affection. “I was so proud of myself,” stated Brian of the end result of his lifelong aim. “But then I remembered thinking, ‘OK… Now what?’”
Brian tried bringing his creation to a few native automobile exhibits and cruise nights, however was met with a lukewarm, combined reception. “Some people would get it, some didn’t.” Comic-cons, nonetheless, proved to be extra thrilling. To add to the rising enthusiasm, Brian saved his weblog up to date together with his Bluesmobile’s adventures, posting photographs of the automobile from a number of Chicago places used within the film. As time went on, he moved his posts to Facebook and Instagram, amassing a bigger following. Soon he started to obtain some uncommon—however not unwelcome—requests.
“One night I got a strange email from a gentleman in Australia who was going to be visiting Chicago with his wife,” stated Brian. The fellow Blues Brothers superfan was coming in for a conference, and to rejoice his birthday. He requested Brian to take him and his spouse to a few filming places within the automobile. “I said to myself, ‘Why not?’” Brian chauffeured the couple across the Windy City, visiting The Blues Brothers’ iconic places and posing the Bluesmobile for pictures. “He loved it,” stated Brian. “I didn’t charge him anything, but he did give me a very nice tip and that got me thinking…I could make a business out of this!”
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A “Rent the Bluesmobile” web page was quickly added to Brian’s web site, providing guided movie excursions within the automobile. Little by little, calls began coming in from individuals who wished to go for a experience. “The summer of 2019 is when things really took off,” stated Brian. “I received a phone call from the producers of Netflix’s Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee with Jerry Seinfeld. They asked if they could use the car on the show.” When the episode aired that July, the telephone began ringing off the hook. “People from all over the country were asking if they could do corporate events and conventions with the car.”
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In the autumn of the identical yr, official Blues Brothers representatives known as. They have been planning an enormous PR occasion in Chicago for the upcoming 40th anniversary of the film, and had seen what Brian and his Bluesmobile have been as much as via his weblog and social media accounts. Although COVID put plans on maintain, Brian was requested if he wish to associate up with Blues Brothers Approved Ventures and have his automobile turn out to be an authorized a part of the BBAV model. “I agreed. Of course!”
Towards the tip of 2020, Jim Belushi known as, explaining that he was coming to Skokie to advertise his new enterprise enterprise. He wished to make use of the automobile. “My only question was, ‘Do you want it with the roof speaker?’” Brian had simply completed constructing the long-lasting accent. “Jim came over, got in the car, and drove it to Skokie. It was a big hit!” Dan Aykroyd has additionally pushed the automobile. “It’s a funny dynamic between the two of them,” Brian famous. “If it’s just Jim by himself, Jim will drive the car. But if Dan is around, Dan ALWAYS drives—no question.” Brian as soon as caught Dan sitting within the automobile whereas there was a little bit of downtime between occasions. “He started fidgeting with things and looking around the car. A big smile came across his face. It was magical for me.”
Brian by no means anticipated his weekend pastime to achieve this a lot recognition. “I did it purely for the love of the movie, purely for the love of the car—and to be able to share that with people across the country is just beyond amazing.” Brian considers this entire journey—together with its humble beginnings—a rewarding expertise. “I’m not the famous one: the car is. But I can say that I built that, I created this thing and that is what gives me extreme pride.” More than only a prop – Brian has constructed an icon, a automobile that folks from everywhere in the world and throughout a number of generations will take pleasure in and cherish, identical to the film itself.
Paul is Chief Editor on the Sons of Speed, and a daily visitor on the Car Stuff Podcast
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Source: weblog.consumerguide.com