When Days of Thunder reached theaters in 1990, individuals referred to as it Top Gun for auto racing. And why not? It was written and directed by the identical staff and featured Tom Cruise, who was very a lot in demand after his starring function within the unique Gun from 1986. It was action-packed with high-speed thrills, and spoiler alert – the character Cruise performed was a hotshot with some ability who wins ultimately.

But for a lot of, the true stars have been the automobiles – and this YouTube video from Coors Bandit uncovers two of them. These have been allegedly screen-used automobiles, particularly the quantity 51 Mello Yello Lumina and quantity 18 Hardee’s Lumina. Judging by their state, we might say they have been most decidedly used, with the video claiming they have been stunt automobiles within the film.

We go to the Mello Yello first, and to name it tough is an understatement. After a prolonged course of reaching the proprietor, a deal was sealed over the telephone, and the brand new proprietor trucked to Florida the place it was rotting away in a forest. Considerable rust on the surface provides technique to main rot beneath, full with large holes within the ground. It was sitting on the bottom with out wheels; loading it onto a trailer required some fast tire adjustments and even then, at the very least one wheel refused to show. It was ultimately secured, although it seems to be like some giant chunks of the Lumina’s decrease fascia have been sacrificed within the course of.

The second automotive seems to be in barely higher form, however solely barely. The present proprietor really discovered of the automotive’s existence a few years in the past, although an preliminary dialogue with its then-owner did not go nicely. It modified palms, the present proprietor caught wind of it, and the remainder is historical past. Ironically, it was additionally rescued from a Florida forest with out wheels.

Unfortunately, rescued on this case means merely cleansing them up, bolting on some wheels, and parking them in a showroom. The present proprietor says these should not restorable, however he desires to protect them as they have been on the finish of filming for the film. Unfortunately, the passage of time has taken a substantial toll since then. Aside from rust and decay, the Hardee’s automotive was once blue and orange. Now, it seems to be blue and white.

The 51 is particular although. It exhibits Cruise’s character Cole Trickle as the driving force, which suggests it was a automotive used for the ultimate act of the film when Trickle takes over for his rival-turned-friend Rowdy Burns, the conventional driver for the 51. While it is unhappy these won’t ever drive once more, at the very least they’re on show for people to reminisce about days passed by.