Ashman

Does anybody have any idea what happened to the actual 944 from Sixteen Candles?

The film was shot in Chicago, and even though they say it's a manual in the movie, there's a scene where you can clearly see the T-shifter, so it was actually an automatic.

I'm guessing that this one for sale jsut outside Chicago isn't it, but there can't be that many automatic 944's around Chicago, can there?

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/d...rts&emc=alerts

I don't think this is "the" car since the film came out in May of '84 and this is an '84 model car. However, does anybody know what actually happened to the car they used? Seems like it might be a nice piece of John Hughes movie history if it can be found...

FrenchToast

It is most likely there is more than one car used in the movie. Many times production companies are lent a car for a certain amount of time, then must find another for another scene, etc. It is very possible both an auto and manual were used in filming.

For example, Risky Business production used no less than six 928s. Giveaways are interior, wheels, transmission, no engine, etc.

Smokey and the Bandit used a similar number of Trans Ams. Bullitt used two (or more) Mustangs. Dukes of Hazzard used something like 300 Chargers. Etc.

If you really want to find a definitive answer, you would need to contact the production company and see if they still have the records for the VIN of the car used. And then, if they have it, convince them to share it.

marc abrams

Vanishing Point (the original) used 5 Challenger's. 4 sticks and 1 automatic
No CGI fast and the retarded crap ether. However I did like Mad Max Fury Road.

Jfrahm

The original "Hero Car" in 16 Candles was an automatic despite the plotline that says otherwise.

http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_300-Porsche-944-1983.html

I do not know if there other cars, there weren't a ton of driving shots but they may have wanted one for 2nd unit work.

-Joel.

951Tom

In one of the photos from Jfrahm's link, the license plate trim says Kornak which was a dealer in Aurora, IL at the time.

pfarah7

The car shot in the scene where "Jake" was leaning against appeared to have a manual antenna mast. Could that car been an 83 model?

Ashman

If there was more than one (which might be debatable on a John Hughes movie, which were normally lower budget) it would probably be an '83 as the movie was released in '84.

Which is why I don't think the one I linked to is one of the cars. But I'd sure be interested in finding one. As I said, there can't be that many automatic 944s in the Chicago area, assuming that it's still on the road, and hasn't been taken somewhere else...

951Dreams

I can't believe the car got lost really. While in Porsche terms it was a high production car, really there wasn't that many. And Porsche owners being Porsche owners, I'm surprised this isn't still floating around. We do like our rare and special cars.

Same for the 928's used in Risky Business.

George Tirebiter

I was working in an office building that was used for the original Dallas TV show. Behind the building was a trailer with several identical copper colored Mercedes cars on it, Some seemed to be in pretty new shape, and one was all beat up and had heavy duty cage to protect the driver, presumably when it was rolling over.

GPA951s

FYI new movie that I saw, called “ get out”. 944 na in that movie. Unfortunately. It doesn’t end well for the 44..