The “Jack Reacher” universe includes Lee Child’s crime thriller books and TV series “Reacher” starring big-boy Alan Ritchson, Most are familiar with the 2012 film “Jack Reacher” starring Tom Cruise. A former military police investigator now living as a drifter, travelling from town to town (like Caine from “Kung Fu” ’70s TV show). The film’s plot revolves around former army sniper James Barr (Joseph Sikora) who’s accused of shooting and killing five random people. Arrested by police with insurmountable evidence against him, Barr asks his attorney Helen Rodin (Rosamund Pike) to find Jack Reacher!
Unwilling to believe the all-too-convenient evidence, Reacher scratches the surface until he discovers the truth; Barr is just a patsy covering up a criminal conspiracy.
When Helen is kidnapped by the film’s shadowy villain the Zek (director Werner Herzog) Reacher and former Marine sniper Martin Cash (Robert Duval), find themselves on the run from the bad guys, the corrupt cops, all while trying to prove that Barr is innocent. A fun Hollywood blockbuster action movie that reunited Tom Cruise and Robert Duvall some 22 years after “Days of Thunder“. Now let’s check out the cars that made the movie so cool.
Helen’s Elegant Mercedes-Benz C-Class
She’s a beautiful blonde with brains! Reacher’s love interest is the defense attorney and the daughter of the District Attorney. Such an important character can’t drive around in a Toyota Camry! Helen drives a brand-new 2012 2012 Mercedes-Benz 2-door coupe. Powered by a turbocharged 2.1 L four-cylinder diesel engine, Helen’s Mercedes pushes 204 HP through a 7G-TRONIC PLUS 7-speed automatic transmission designed for comfort, efficiency, and smooth shifting. The car also makes an excellent shield during a shoot out.
Reacher’s Borrowed 1975 Chevrolet Camaro
When Reacher starts getting close to the truth, the bad guys send a young woman to seduce him, and her brothers to beat him up. After hospitalizing the ‘boys’ Reacher tracks down the temptress at work, confronts her, then borrows her car. She’s driving her boyfriend’s black on black 1975 Chevy Camaro with a gaudy aftermarket hood complete with NACA ducts, and over sized rear tires on Centerline mag wheels. Not a collector car like earlier 1st gen Camaros, by this model year vehicles were equipped with heavy, bulky, protruding “5 mph bumpers”.
The Zek’s 2005 Audi A6 Quattro
The gangsters in the movie are never given a fancy name like mafia or Cosa-nostra. But the boss is called the Zec, and his henchmen chase Jack Reacher in this very German sedan. The silver Audi A6 is a high-end vehicle equipped with aftermarket LED lights and aluminum alloy wheels. Powered by a 24-valve, 3123cc, V6 engine with Fuel Stratified Injection (like direct-injection) bumping up power to 255 HP and 243 TQ. The Audi is involved in a smash-em-up scene against Reacher and his ‘borrowed’ Chevelle, a great cinematic car chase. In relity, the Audi would absolutely run away from an old Chevelle (even one with a 396 big block V8) but this is just a movie.
Reacher’s Borrowed 1970 Chevelle SS 396
This car is the star of the movie. In iconic Cranberry Red paint with dual hood and trunk stripes, the car is a real ’70s street machine. The black interior feature a Hurst manual shifter with a white ‘cue ball’ knob. The ‘396’ badges on the fenders indicate a Big-Block V8 under the hood putting out 400 to 425 HP. However, the actual stunt cars in the movie were equipped with a 540 cubic-inch V8, Dart heads, and Holley carbs for a deep exhaust note.
A total of 9 Chevelles were used in the movie, mostly base model cars. Only one was a collectible SS 396, which never actually appeared in the film, but was later purchased by Tom Cruise for his personal collection. Rest assured that no actual Chevelle SS 396s were harmed during the making of this motion picture.
I had a maroon 74 Camero that looked like that blue one. But the 74 didn’t have that ugly wrap around rear window that started in 75.
Hate to say it, but those cars got less elegant and more brutal looking every year. First, the split bumper became a piece of railroad trck, then a long piece of plastic (Endura). But Id still love to have one and feel nothing but envy for you.