What kind of 20th century vehicle is the Milennium Falcon?
December 29, 2015 5:07 PM Subscribe
Okay, okay, okay. Star Wars nerds, gather to me. I have really been jonesing for a good nerdout about what kind of beater car the Millennium Falcon would be if it existed in our world, and you, MeFi, are my only hope.
So I've talked with good friends and fellow mefites about how the Falcon is the ubiquitous Dad Car-- the legendarily dangerous/piece of shit car your dad drove for years before the baby was born and your mom finally made him get rid of it because the risk of dying when it finally blew up was too much when he had a kid to come home to. And that started me thinking-- yes, but what kind of piece of shit car? Jalopnik has one answer, Oppositelock has a thread. This Jalopnik best drug smuggling vehicle roundup post is imo a lot more accurate than their idea that the Falcon would be a rockabilly/burner style rat rod. But none of these are quite right. Mefi, please give me your wild speculation, arguments, and headcanons.
Because I can't not make this kind of post without a ton of nerdy references, here are some major qualities the Falcon needs to have:
-- It's a repurposed freighter and was primarily used for smuggling, specifically drug running (Han is famous for making a record Kessel Run in it, aka the Kessel Spice Run.)
-- Looks like shit. Most people who board it, including mechanics who've worked on it, comment loudly on what a total beater it is.
-- It's a heavily modded hot rod. Unlike Jalopnik, I don't think it's a rat rod or anything else that uses a frame that obviously costs money or makes a statement. It isn't any kind of subcultural status marker like the kind a 20's-50's car body would make. It's old, but only old enough to look like a piece of crap, not an antique.
-- Ben Solo was probably conceived in the back seat.
My candidates are the Mel Brooks style Winnebago, a cartel style 1980's Jeep Cherokee, a classic 1980's Toyota 2WD work truck with a camper shell on the back,Mr Universe's touring van, AKA Let Me Drive My Van Into Your Heart, a VW Microbus, or a Ford Falcon station wagon. Give me your ideas! Link me to pictures of busted hot rods and family minivans repurposed as drifters or to make the Kessel Spice run from Tijuana without being fingered by Border Patrol!
This question is going into Grab Bag, btw, because it was a tossup between Media&Arts, Travel&Transportation, and Society&Culture. May the Force be with you all.
Some inspirational quotes:
"What a piece of junk!" --Luke Skywalker
"She may not look like much, but she's got it where it counts, kid." --Han Solo
"I've made a lot of special modifications myself." --Han Solo
"You've never heard of the Millennium Falcon? It's the ship that made the Kessel run in less than 12 parsecs." --Han Solo
"You came inthat thing? You're braver than I thought." --Leia Organa
"Don't worry, she'll hold together . . . You hear me, baby? Hold together!" --Han Solo
"This bucket of bolts is never going to get us past that blockade." --Leia Organa
"This baby's got a few surprises left in her, sweetheart." --Han Solo
HAN: Well, if they follow standard Imperial procedure, they'll dump their garbage before they go to light-speed, then we just float away.
LEIA: With the rest of the garbage.
"She's the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy." --Lando Calrissian
"Would it help if I got out and pushed?" -- Leia Organa
"The garbage will do." -- Rey.
So I've talked with good friends and fellow mefites about how the Falcon is the ubiquitous Dad Car-- the legendarily dangerous/piece of shit car your dad drove for years before the baby was born and your mom finally made him get rid of it because the risk of dying when it finally blew up was too much when he had a kid to come home to. And that started me thinking-- yes, but what kind of piece of shit car? Jalopnik has one answer, Oppositelock has a thread. This Jalopnik best drug smuggling vehicle roundup post is imo a lot more accurate than their idea that the Falcon would be a rockabilly/burner style rat rod. But none of these are quite right. Mefi, please give me your wild speculation, arguments, and headcanons.
Because I can't not make this kind of post without a ton of nerdy references, here are some major qualities the Falcon needs to have:
-- It's a repurposed freighter and was primarily used for smuggling, specifically drug running (Han is famous for making a record Kessel Run in it, aka the Kessel Spice Run.)
-- Looks like shit. Most people who board it, including mechanics who've worked on it, comment loudly on what a total beater it is.
-- It's a heavily modded hot rod. Unlike Jalopnik, I don't think it's a rat rod or anything else that uses a frame that obviously costs money or makes a statement. It isn't any kind of subcultural status marker like the kind a 20's-50's car body would make. It's old, but only old enough to look like a piece of crap, not an antique.
-- Ben Solo was probably conceived in the back seat.
My candidates are the Mel Brooks style Winnebago, a cartel style 1980's Jeep Cherokee, a classic 1980's Toyota 2WD work truck with a camper shell on the back,Mr Universe's touring van, AKA Let Me Drive My Van Into Your Heart, a VW Microbus, or a Ford Falcon station wagon. Give me your ideas! Link me to pictures of busted hot rods and family minivans repurposed as drifters or to make the Kessel Spice run from Tijuana without being fingered by Border Patrol!
This question is going into Grab Bag, btw, because it was a tossup between Media&Arts, Travel&Transportation, and Society&Culture. May the Force be with you all.
Some inspirational quotes:
"What a piece of junk!" --Luke Skywalker
"She may not look like much, but she's got it where it counts, kid." --Han Solo
"I've made a lot of special modifications myself." --Han Solo
"You've never heard of the Millennium Falcon? It's the ship that made the Kessel run in less than 12 parsecs." --Han Solo
"You came inthat thing? You're braver than I thought." --Leia Organa
"Don't worry, she'll hold together . . . You hear me, baby? Hold together!" --Han Solo
"This bucket of bolts is never going to get us past that blockade." --Leia Organa
"This baby's got a few surprises left in her, sweetheart." --Han Solo
HAN: Well, if they follow standard Imperial procedure, they'll dump their garbage before they go to light-speed, then we just float away.
LEIA: With the rest of the garbage.
"She's the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy." --Lando Calrissian
"Would it help if I got out and pushed?" -- Leia Organa
"The garbage will do." -- Rey.
This post was deleted for the following reason: I'm sorry, this is classic Chatfilter. Fun, but doesn't fit here. -- restless_nomad
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