Clint's pistol in Gran Torino?

I was watching the Barrett-Jackson car auction on Speed TV over the weekend, and a '73 Gran Torino fastback came up for auction. It didn't get nearly the attention that a Cobra Jet Mustang would, but I wonder if the bidding was a bit higher than would otherwise be the case, because of the movie? I think it sold for $30,000? I never used to really like that fastback body style, but have a greater appreciation for it, now.
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as a kid I remember the 73 gran torino as my parents second new car purchase(after the rambler). an improvement over the first mistake but I don't remember this being much better. stuck in the back with two siblings it was torture during the 9 hour trip to grandparents place in new mexico. if you were stuck on the side the angled seat tossed you to the center. if in the center you straddled the "shaft" which tended to heat up and was extrememly uncomfortable without a pillow. when I got old enough to drive not much better. transmission did the usual stripping as seems like the automatics did in those days. can't remember how many times we had to overhaul the transmission, but at least it wasn't as much as the 67 dodge dart. a classic maybe but can't believe anyone would pay 30000 for what I consider a piece of crap. just my 2c.
 
I'm gonna have to go see this movie now. I was thinking about going anyway, but then you all had to talk about "brilliant" this and "liberal propaganda" that. Making me spend $8 with all you're talking...
That's like half a magazine right there... I hope you're happy.

I've never been a huge fan of fords, btw, but I've always liked the torino for some reason. However, I'll take a Chevelle SS any day....:D
I never really thought I liked Mopar musclecars either, though, until a couple weeks ago. I bought a toyota pickup off a guy, and he had a bumper sticker on it that said "I'd rather be driving my mopar musclecar". I asked him why, and he took me inside to show me his trophies. Wow. He had a super bee featured in musclecar magazine, and the sweetest looking swinger I've ever seen.
 
I don't know, but I can surely say that it was NOT stock government issue.

I don't think it's "liberal propaganda" at all. In fact, it is a brilliant movie. Nobody can act like Clint Eastwood can. It made my eyes well up at the end.
 
Hmm, y'all think it's a 1911, and I was pretty sure while watching it I was seeing a S&W Model 39 (though the designation stems from after Korea).
Personally, by the way, I didn't see much liberal agitprop in unopposed, ethnic gangs running around without rein, Archie Bunker 'growing' to appreciate and adapt to a minority neighbor, or self-sacrifice for an unrelated ward. Liberalism stikes me as tolerant of ethnic identity (and its practices), unaware of the voluntary changeability of Christian character, and any recognition of moral grounds for sacrifice.
No, not a liberal picture, unless entirely inadvertently.
 
Weither any of you know it, in most of our wars some people did take their own personal weapons. It was quite common in WW2 and Korea. And I've read of people having their own S&W revolvers in Vietnam. So I guess one could have got their own 1911A1 commercial .45 to go to Korea. Then on the way back, break down their Garand and take it home to.
 
The movie is a finely made piece of liberal propaganda.
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That is complete hogwash, and utterly untrue.

First, off, Clint Eastwood is not himself a liberal.

Secondly, the liberal folks in Hollywood HATE this movie with a passion. They have all totally ignored it with regard to nominating it for any awards this year.

The movie's main protagonist is an ultra conservative and gun owner. Do you think that liberals would support such a movie?

When I saw the movie, people were cracking up and laughing throughout it. Clint's performance was brilliantly over the top, in my view. His character was saying all of the politically incorrect stuff that no one can say anymore.

The movie that liberals love this year is "Milk". Sean Penn is a shoe-in for best actor at the academy awards.

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It was also a swan song on two levels. Rumor has it that this is Eastwood's final movie.
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Eastwood is 78 now. There are very few leading roles for really old men in movies.

And I cannot see him becoming a minor character actor, doing supporting roles. Not Eastwood.

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I've never been a huge fan of fords, btw, but I've always liked the torino for some reason.
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Actually, the car does not have all that big a role in the movie. In fact, all throughout the movie, Eastwood drives his beat up old pickup, instead of his Gran Torino.

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When car was bought for the movie

I remember a post about a year and a half or two years ago concerning the Gran Torino. I just can't recall which site ( I go to too many! ).
A guy in North Hollywood had listed the car for sale and had a quick response from someone who came and bought it. The guy told the seller after paying for it to watch for it in a new Clint Eastwood 'Dirty Harry' movie.
I do remember this because I was a big fan of the 'DH' movies and so I called a buddy with the inside scoop. A year went by with no movie, and so I thought it was just talk.
My .02 JT
 
When I was 21 I had a Gran Torino just like Clint's.

Well, ok, it wasn't just like Clint's... it was a '73 forest green station wagon with a 351 Cleveland... but it was a Gran Torino!

My first Ford, I felt a little funny about it because I was raised a Chevy man. Very good car, though.
 
Clint's next movie will be coming out in December this year. It is a historical piece called "The Human Factor" Is is about the life of Nelson Mandela, after he was released from prison, and quickly rose to become President of South Africa. It will detail Mandela's struggle to avoid civil war, and bring peace between the races and unit them as a nation.

And Eastwood's old buddy Morgan Freeman will star as Mandela. There is already strong buzz in Hollywood that this may be Freeman's big chance to get a Best Leading Actor Academy Award, to go along with his Best Supporting Actor Award from Million Dollar Baby.

And many folks feel that Freeman was so unlucky when he failed to win best leading actor for The Shawshank Redemption. That was one truly great performance that he gave. Unfortunately for Freeman, that was the same year that Tom Hanks also starred in Forrest Gump.

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Wow, after last weekend, Gran Torino is now sitting at $76.6 Million Box Office. It was #1 for two weeks, and did better its second week than its first week.

That is clear indication that the movie is getting good word of mouth. The Hollywood critics don't love this movie, but the public sure does.

This really surprised the film industry. Many folks thought that Eastwood simply didn't have it anymore. Well, they have now been proven wrong.

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I had a '73 Gran Torino, baby blue with dark blue vinyl roof. It had 180+ miles when I got it, and it tended to eat timing chains. The movie car was much cooler than any stock GT I've seen.
 
Anybody who didn't ID that gun instantly as a GI .45 model 1911 just got their man card revoked.....


Great movie, but the end sucked.
 
The movie reminded me of John Wayne’s last movie, “The Shootist”.
Old warrior, knows he’s dying, wants his death to mean something.
 
I have a 1911 from a friend who served in 'Nam. He had made friends with an armoror and they "built" it from the parts bins, fitting each part for accuracy and function. It's totally GI; Essex frame, has an excellant trigger pull, feeds flawlessly and is more accurate than I can shoot with the too small but rugged military sights. I installed Pachmeyer wrap-around grips, a Dwyer "Group Gripper" and an extented slide release. I treasure it, largely for it's history.
 
It appeared to not be Govn't issue but the man liked 1911's.
You all've had many takes on the flick but mine was different. I saw the culture we grew up in (if you're over 55) where men saw things differently and had different humor. They brought young men along in the way things were going to be with values and a work ethic. Most of our Dads were gruff and didn't communicate the best but when it came to freedom they gave their lives for their friends and their Country. When the credits hit I heard the bell tolling on the way things used to be - they will never be the same again. The end shots of the Torino reminded me of late nights 40 years ago traveling home through Yellowstone Park or other vast areas of the West that never heard the ring of a cell phone. The era we grew up in is dead, Clint told it like it is.
 
Amen. That was what I took away as well... That and a story of selflessness - a man changed by circumstance.
 
Jaydubya

Regarding soldiers keeping their issued weapons, when my father-in-law was discharged after World War One, he bought his .45 1911 for $24 (it's right there on his discharge papers, which we still have). Later, as a postal inspector, he carried it as his personal sidearm. He was involved in several of the 1930s gangster chases, including Bonnie & Clyde's (but not the finish). Died in 1995 at almost 101, he and his wife now lie in Fort Rosecrans up on Point Loma, overlooking San Diego Bay. My wife insisted on selling that 1911, despite my entreaties. She got $250 for it. With its documentation and history, it would bring in thousands now. Or better yet, remain in the family in remembrance of a fine man.

Cordially, Jack
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Are you kidding me? She "insisted" on selling something like that? I hope she's worth it, because to me a piece of history like that would be worth a divorce, if that was the alternative.

oldhack62

Hmm, y'all think it's a 1911, and I was pretty sure while watching it I was seeing a S&W Model 39 (though the designation stems from after Korea).
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Again, are you kidding me? C'mon, a Model 39? It was obviously a 1911, regardless of whether it was military or commercial.
 
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