Vanishing Point is what made me a Mopar guy (for better or worse lol).
When I was in Junior high, custom vans were the big craze. I wanted to build a “shaggin wagon” when I turned 16 and got my license. I worked odd jobs and saved all money for when I got my license. One day I told my dad that if he bought me a used van when I was 16, I thought I’d have enough saved to customize it.
He informed me if I wanted a car when I got my license I’d have to buy it myself. Whoops. Time for a plan B. Maybe a used muscle car? I started reading Car Craft and Hot Rod instead of van magazines and thought about Camaros, Mustangs and Chargers.
Then one Sunday night, I think it was in 1976, ABC showed Vanishing Point. It changed my life, seeing Kowalski banging gears with that pistol grip shifter had me hooked. I’d never paid much attention to Challengers and cudas but it was then I decided that was what I wanted. I bought a Challenger when I was 16 and have had them for the 40+ years since.