10 Wild Facts About Gator's '71 Ford Custom 500 - White Lightning

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In the 1973 film White Lightning, the Ford Custom 500 sedan is more than just transportation, it’s a symbol of the resourceful and rebellious spirit embodied by Burt Reynolds’s character, Gator McKlusky. The rugged, understated sedan allows Gator to navigate the twisting backroads and evade authorities, reflecting both his practical approach to life and the gritty, no-nonsense atmosphere of rural moonshining culture. Its ordinary appearance conceals a tough, dependable nature, perfectly suited for the demands of high-speed chases and risky maneuvers. Throughout the movie, the Custom 500 becomes an integral part of Gator's persona, providing a believable, relatable counterpoint to more glamorous movie vehicles. In doing so, it quietly underscores the authenticity of the film's southern setting, making the car itself an unforgettable character in the story.

-Enjoy

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[Douglas-upvh]

One of Burt's best movies. I Loved all his movies. He was a Legend. RIP Burt

[Ecosse]

i really liked this era of burt reynolds movies and loved this car. thanks for doing this one!

[dennisdavis]

This was the car that started my love for cars! In 73 I was 10 years old and really hadn’t been into cars or trucks! But when i watched the hood go up on that ford and watched the action I was hooked!!!

[ralphholiman]

I loved this movie so much I built a clone of the White Lightning car out of a 1971 Galaxie with a rare 351 Cleveland in it. I even removed the FMX auto transmission and replaced it with a toploader 4 speed (the worst part was having to nearly take the whole dash apart to replace the pedal hangers). Since it was available with a three speed manual, all the parts to convert it were around. I kept if for a few years and then regrettably sold it.

[aintdatsnipes]

351 Cleveland baby, no turbo's, super chargers, just pure raw v8 power!

[FordGator]

I’ve been waiting a long time for this one.
There was a resin model kit of the 71 Custom 500. It included the hood, grill, and a few other small parts. You had to get a 1970 Galaxie police interceptor as a donator kit to build the model. When I purchased the 71 resin kit it was about $65.00 but it’s not available any more.
Thanks for this video, you made my day.

[matthewcochran]

Another banger brother! My grandfather started hotrodding flatheads for moonshine runners in south Miss'sippi just after WW2. He was so good that the local sheriffs started bringing their cars for him to hot rod to keep up with the shine runners 😆

[Reever]

Burt Reynolds was so cool he made the Custom 500 cool.

[shanew.williams]

Great vid ! Just one bit of clarification (maybe two), please bear with an old man, lol. About the barge jump(s) first, Hal (Needham) did one (1) barge jump as "Gator", destroying one Ford. The scene in the movie with the car planted on the end of the barge is THAT scene and Hal WAS injured (broken back). Burt Reynolds never "dove in the river to save Hal" (Hal was already "planted" on the barge !). Now, the scene where the stunt driver (as sheriff JC Carnes) jumped his COP Ford into the river & sank at movie's end, that scene too went wrong, the car's doors would not open, driver trapped underwater and at that point Burt Reynolds dove in the river and saved THAT stunt man (name unknown). Hope this makes any sense. ** I worked on Burt & Hal's NASCAR team & heard Hal tell the story a dozen times.

[craigjones]

My ‘71 LTD two door hardtop with a 429 4bbl was a moonshine runner in Tennessee when it was new. A guy named Windy Moses owned a beer joint and used the car for illegal whiskey runs.

[bluewave]

Great movie! I never get tired of hanging out with Burt re watching this one!

[sgmillionheir]

Thank you for this one! Always loved the lines on the 71 and I remember the discrepancies in the movie. Grateful for the time you take to make these!

[jondickson]

Love it! Now do Burt’s car from WW & the Dixie Dance kings.

[Biwabik]

As a former police officer the '71 and '72 Ford Custom's were by far my favorite patrol cars.

[edwardpate]

I grew up a GM and Mopar guy but when I went off to college and then later when I joined the US Navy I had a 1971 Galaxy 500 2 door with a 351 Windsor 2 barrel. No hotrod but a great driving car with an absolutely huge trunk which was great when relocating. I'm sure a moonshiner would love that trunk!

[MrONELAST]

I owned 1966 Ford Custom 500 with a 352 engine, and I met Bo Hopkins in 1980 at the Mall in Greenwood S.C. He was shocked a 15-year-old had seen his R rated movies and a Male fan at that, but he was still tickled that he was recognized in his hometown which I learned later in the 2000's thanks to the Internet and YouTube. I want to add that I am a big fan of the Galaxy 500.

[Formerlywarmer]

I was a kid about 9-10
When this was at the drive inn. I remember my dad and brother quickly pointing out that’s not a 4 speed car he’s driving
😂. I loved the old movies and star cars I tried to see em all and still do.

[kriffs]

I love those old Fords! My buddy, Ellick Vineyard, had one when I was 16/17 and he'd let me drive it. Absolute bliss.

[mattyfatty]

Awesome video, one of my favourite movies as a kid, I never understood until I was much much older the actual storyline, but I just loved watching Burt (sans moustache) throw that big barge around and the noise of it 😍 and the chases. Thanks for coming back to YouTube again s9 we can all enjoy your great and informative content 👍🏻

[MrWill]

I’ve been waiting for this video! Great job! I have been trying to obtain a real 71 Ford Custom 500 police interceptor since 1990. I have only seen 4 real ones. The closest example from the movie was from a police car collector that got a better offer than mine and I lost it. It was, as per the Marti Report, 1971 Ford Custom 500 with a 429 police interceptor that had the highest performance engine built by Ford in ‘71. It was basically a 1971 429 Super Cobra Jet engine with SCJ heads, 11.3 to 1 compression. It was 1 of 6 built for the FBI. Most police interceptors had the regular 429 police interceptor that was built more for reliability with a hydraulic camshaft and lower compression. After decades of learning about the car, movie and documentation about the overall production of these cars it is my opinion that these cars may have been sourced from either police auctions from where the film was shot or possibly CHP patrol cars because CHP would auction a percentage of their fleet after 2 years of service. The Blues Brothers used CHP patrol cars as well as Dukes of Hazzard and CHIPS. I guess we will never know for sure but like finding the two original Bullitt Mustangs 50 years after the movie was made, someone may find a Ford Custom from White Lightning. Thanks for the video.👍👍👍