Indiana Jones and the Temple of Vroom

Much like MI5, we have people everywhere. There are Car & Classic staff across the country, doing car and classic things, and that includes roaming the streets of Glasgow with camera in hand. Andre Correia can normally be found working on the juggernaut that is Car & Classic Auctions. However, when he has a bit of downtime, he’s also a dab hand behind the lens. As such, when the streets of Glasgow suddenly turned into America, and filled up with all manner of V8 machines in the process, Andre had to capture the event. 

But why did Glasgow turn into America? Well, it’s not a new thing as it happens. Hollywood loves a bit of Glasgow as the architecture is highly reminiscent of the streets of old time American cities. Places like New York, Boston and so on. As such, it makes the perfect backdrop. Plus, there are probably tax incentives and so on to film there – because that’s how Hollywood works. And Glasgow is happy to host these film crews. World War Z, Cloud Atlas, the Fast and Furious franchise (though they used it as a London stand in) have all filmed here. And it’s big business, estimated to be worth some £150,000,000 to the city. 

So what’s this latest filming endeavour? Well, it seems Spielberg has dusted off the old bones of Harrison Ford (he’s 79 now) for one last outing as rugged archaeologist, Indiana Jones. This will be the fifth instalment in the franchise that first hit the silver screen way back in *checks notes* 1981. And, wow, that was forty years ago. Anyone else feel old now? The first film, Raiders of the Lost Ark was set in 1936. It seems this fifth film, which being directed not by Spielberg, but by James Mangold, is following on with Indy’s age. Looking at the cars lined up, there is a definite late ’60s vibe. 

Our man Andre spotted all manner of cars lining the streets of Glasgow. It seems they were filming some sort of parade scene, as the streets are littered with bunting and flags and confetti. Going off the Checker Taxis that were on site, it seems the streets are being used as a New York backdrop. However, details on the film’s plot are thin on the ground, so we’re just guessing there. 

Of course, Checker weren’t the only company to built taxis. Ford has always been keen to offer something, mainly because it had to try and stop Chevrolet for stealing the market. The car casting people are obviously well aware of this, as there was yellow Galaxie in full taxi dress on set, too. 

Other cars included a beautiful, if a bit grubby, Buick Le Sabre convertible, myriad period correct pickup trucks, a brace of Cadillacs from the ’50s and ’60s, and even some later muscle in the guise of what looked to be some sort of Pontiac. There was even a mid ’60s Lincoln Continental on set, which we can only assume was used as part of the parade/precession that has previously would through the Glasgow streets. It would make sense, as the Continental is a car synonymous with past American presidents. 

This fantastic collection of cars, when paired with the backdrop of an American dressed Glasgow make for quite a captivating sight, and prove that if nothing else, the new Indiana Jones film should at least be fun for us car enthusiasts. And pleasingly, and also rarely for Hollywood, none of them seemed to be on fire or exploding. This is pleasing, as it always irks when classic iron get bent in the name of ‘entertainment’.