During production of the movie "Dirty Mary Crazy Larry", three Dodge Chargers were utilized. An authentic 1969 R/T equipped with a 375 horsepower 440 Magnum V8 and a three-speed, floor-shifted Torque Flite automatic acted as the glamour vehicle, used primarily for close-ups and beauty shots. The other two, a ’69 non-R/T, and a ’68 non-R/T, were used as stunt cars.
The film’s finale was performed by towing the Charger into the locomotive and then detonating explosives.
After filming, the genuine ’69 R/T and the ’69 non-R/T were returned to the studio, and both were repaired to a state of drivability. After the film was released in 1974 the cars were sold off.
The helicopter/Charger chase sequence has to be seen to be believed.
Vic Morrow, whose presence on board the helicopter was mandated. He was so terrified of being in the chopper during the filming of the sequence that he insisted on a $1 million life insurance policy before he would agree to do it.
During the negotiations that ensued, Morrow threatened to walk off the picture if his demand wasn’t met. He reportedly told the producers that he always had a premonition that he would one day perish in a chopper. Eerily and sadly, he would indeed lose his life on the set of Twilight Zone: The Movie in 1982 when a hovering helicopter crashed on top of him.
