It's based upon an actual event that happened to the story's author ( can't remember his name right now ... ) .
Cary Loftin drove the truck(s) .
It was released as "The Movie of the Week" on CBS ( I believe ... ) in Novembre 1971 , and proved so popular in overseas' markets , that added scenes were filmed in c. late 1971 / early 1972 .
One Valiant is a 1970 model ( the V8 model with the aforementioned 1970-only "V-EIGHT" spears ) ;
Two were 225-powered models ; one 1971 model ( destroyed at the end ) , and one 1972 model used in the added scenes ( see below ) .
All of them were FE5 Red , and all of them wore the 1971-only , Plymouth-only 14" deluxe wheel covers .
In the opening scenes of the 1972 theatrical release , one can see the overhead sign for the Pasadena Freeway which still reads as CA 11 ; it's been CA 110 since 1981 , and was originally U.S. 66
The added scenes for the 1972 release were as follows :
- Driving through Arcadia / Los Angeles , up CA 11(0) to I-5 , then to CA 14 ;
- Interior "Phone Call" scene at the 1st fuel station ;
- Cafe scene at "Chuck's Cafe" ( building still exists , but is now a French Restaurant ) ;
- Broken down school bus scene ;
- Truck pushing Weaver and car toward a moving train ;
- Extended ending chase scenes ( probably edited from the original 1971 filming ) ;
- Voice overdubs at the beginning where Weaver is cussing at the truck .
The film was done in a classical Western-type theme ; Weaver was the star of "Gunsmoke" ( iirc ) .
Personally , I LOVE the movie !
I've seen both the 1971 T.V. Movie release , as well as the more-common theatrical release from 1972 .
