Get Closer to Landmaster
Do you remember the first time he appeared on movie screens? It was in 1977 when the fictional movie called Damnation Alley was released in Universal City, California. It was constructed by Dean Jefferies at Jefferies Automotive. There are actually two models of the cars on the film but only one was given the chance to be produed for $300,000 in 1976. That is even more expensive than the real time Audi heater core.
Landmaster is actually a real car but it was used on the film as if it was a fictional vehicle. The design looks awful just like any other standard truck. He was made a little junky so that the junkyard would get something it needs for the repairs.
Landmaster in real life is powered by a 391 cubic-inch Ford industrial engine and also uses the same rear-ends as of big trucks and it also uses the Allison automatic truck transmission. The car also features the star wheel which is made fully functional in the film. There are 12 wheels on the car but only 8 functions.
The car has the innovative steering mechanism that propels the vehicle by not only turning the front wheels but also bending the middle section filled with hydraulic rams to do the turn. Its body is also made up of 3/8-inch steel plating which is about 10 tons on the scale. It was actually sent to a 25 foot jump but surprisingly, nothing bad happened.
In history, a Landmaster was seen parked on the Dean Jefferies’ automotive shop close to the Cahuenga Boulevard located in North Hollywood, California from 1977 to 2005 according to Wikipedia.org.
The owner of the Landmaster later sold the vehicle in 2005 and it is now undergoing restoration to preserve its natural appearance. The restored Landmaster will be seen as a showcar at a particular circuit. The car was slightly modified from its looks during its appearance in the movie “Damnation Alley.” The car’s driver seat was enlarged and the passenger windows with the flexible center section cover removed.
OTHER APPEARANCES of LANDMASTEr:
- The wild and the Young (1986) - Music video by Quiet Riot
- Get A Life (1990) - the “Paperboy 2000” episode.
- A.P.E.X. (1994) - a time travel movie.
- Hybrid (1997) - a post-apocalyptic movie.
- Dino Island pre-ride video - Sony MovieGlide Theatre
- The Road Worrier - A television commercial for Amoco titled
- The Morrow Project RPG featured the M.A.R.S. (this is actually one of the elongated version of Landmaster with four seats and start wheels.)
