Jalopnik: a-team

New A-Team Movie Given Green Light, Status Of GMC Van Unknown

Ben Wojdyla — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 20:57:12 EDT

A little part of our inner child just leapt for joy as we've just found out the long rumored movie adaptation of a new A-Team movie has been given the official go ahead. The new movie will have a speculative release date sometime in summer of 2009 and the entire cast of colorful characters is completely open for casting. The only things we know for sure are that John Singleton's in the directors chair, and Michael Bandt and Derek Haas have been tasked with the writing. All portend good signs so we're fairly hopeful the result will be something good — or at least better than the horror that was the new Knight Rider made-for-TV movie. Now, the most important question for us is obvious, what heavy hauler gets to snag the role of the raddest hot rod van ever to grace the small screen?

Will the old GMC be played by the GMC Savana or Chevy Express, the twin van titans in the General's lineup — each coming in both a rear-wheel-drive and front-wheel-drive model? Could Ford jump into the mix with their new Transit Connect? Maybe Dodge will want a go and drop a Sprinter into the mix, Mercedes-sourced engine and all. We mean, we'd love to see a Hartmann SP5 Sprinter. Oh, the possibilities feel endless. [YahooTV]

photo source theateamvan.com

B.A. Baracus Needs You to Caption This On Set Photo, Fool!

Ray Wert — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 16:30:00 EST

All we know is what we're told by our tipster who wishes to remain anonymous. He claims that yes, the large burly man in the bed of the F-Series pickup is in fact Mr. T. Also, it's a photo shoot for an upcoming Snickers commercial. While none of that can be verified, what we do know for certain is we're doubled over because our sides are positively splitting from laughing so hard. Please help us out in our feeble weakened state by giving us your caption to this photo in the comments below. Tell us — what in the name of all that is salty and nutty is B.A. doing on the back of that early 80's Ford F-150?

Are These The Most Memorable TV Cars?

Matt Hardigree — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 10:00:00 EST

We occasionally see lists of the best television cars pop up on the Internet, and we always find ourselves at a loss to understand why people feel the need to limit themselves to just ten. A good list should probably come in closer to 30, so it's not just predictable choices like K.I.T.T. and the Batmobile. The list below isn't a bad attempt, though we're sad to see the Ferrari Daytona from Miami Vice didn't make the cut. Anything else missing?

Top Ten Most Memorable TV Cars

10. The Beverly Hillbillies' Truck
9. Starsky's 1975 Ford Gran Torino
8. The Original Batmobile
7.1983 GMC G-Series A Team Van
6. Thomas Magnum's Ferrari 308 GTS From Magnum P.I.
5. The Flintstones' Flintmobile
4. The Vista Cruiser from That 70's Show
3. The Car From My Mother The Car
2. The Original K.I.T.T.
1. The General Lee

[Internet Broadcasting via WKMG]

A-Team Remake in The Works, Fools Sure To Be Pitied

Matt Hardigree — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 11:00:00 EST

Given the buzz surrounding Knight Rider and Speed Racer, we're surprised we haven't seen more people flipping out over the possible reamke of The A-team. Fox seems to get that nostalgia plus questionable acting equals buzz and has John Singleton (Boyz N The Hood) in the wings to direct. Oh, and Ice Cube may play B.A. Baracas!

According to Variety, the latest version involves a group of Iraq vets on the run from the U.S. Military for crimes they didn't commit ("that wasn't our naked pyramid"). But the line that has us really excited is this:

"[The] story has been given a modern twist by involving oil tycoons and laser technology."

Need we say more?

The big question, of course, is it going to be a classic GMC van, a new GMC Sierra or, as our tipster put it "will Ford usurp the General's place in yet another 80's revival?" We actually think the Ford Flex could make a good ride if they're going in that direction. What does everyone think?(Hat tip to ThnderbltDoherty) [Photo of A-Team Limo story Variety]

The A-Team Limo Pities The Fool in the Stretched H2

Matt Hardigree — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 16:30:00 EST

Our brothers-in-arms over at Gizmodo managed to locate the ever elusive A-Team and their tricked-out van. Like many out there, they've encountered hard times and have had to convert their van to a limousine and cart drunken bachelor parties to strip clubs. Oh, how the mighty have fallen! Next thing you know they'll be remaking the show and casting a Taurus X in place of the GMC.

On the other hand, we always thought the A-Team van was missing plasma televisions, a fiber optic lights show, full bar with champagne and beer, strobe lighting effects and an alpine sound system. Surf on over to Gizmodo for the run down and a gallery of images. [Gizmodo]

Future RV Sales to Reach into Billions

Mike Bumbeck — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 13:15:00 EDT

Even with a jittery stock market and a softening housing sector, RV sales are expected to pick up moving into 2008. Active consumers evidently treat RV purchases similar to that of a second home. Even though this second home rolls, interest rates are still deductible! This sales forecast could change if the economy experiences hiccups or a sharp increase in interest rates, unless people disregard a crumbling economy and take to the road Damnation Alley style in a last-ditch RV effort to save America from a post Trilateral Commission world domination conspiracy. [Active Consumers Buying More Recreational Vehicles via SEMA.org]

We Pity The Fool Who Starts Up a Chop Shop

Davey G. Johnson — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 15:45:00 EDT

The A-Team take down a chop shop and a crooked used car salesman with extreme prejudice, all in the name of helping out their pal ex-con pal Davey. Face takes one to the, well, er, face, Hannibal turns himself out as a limo-shoppin' rock 'n' roll mogul, B.A. is his usual William Butler Yeatsian self, and Murdock? Well, Murdock's just howlin' mad. And yes, of course the plan comes together. It is a Stephen J. Cannell production, after all. More post-jump. – Davey G. Johnson

Chopping Spree Part 3; Part 4; and Part 5

Related:
And It's Mr. P, Yeah? [Internal]

And It's Mr. P, Yeah?

Ray Wert — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 13:00:00 EDT

A GMC van truly can enhance any joke, can't it? – Ray Wert

Landmaster Returns from Post-Apocalyptic Disrepair

Mike Bumbeck — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 18:48:10 EST

The reason Damnation Alley didn't make a whole lot of sense back when we saw it in the theatre was that the projectionist ran the reels of this 1977 cinema gem 1-3-4-2. We're still confused. What we do remember is George Peppard driving all over a mixed up apparition of a post-nuclear southern California in the Dean Jeffries Landmaster. Jeffries took the then and still crazy sum of 400 large and brought forth the mighty Landmaster specifically for the film. The Landmaster was indeed tough, and has survived despite the apocalypse that was Damnation Alley's box office take. Look for the unveiling of the restored Landmaster and Dean Jeffries himself at the upcoming San Francisco Rod, Custom & Motorcycle Show. – Mike Bumbeck

San Francisco Rod, Custom & Motorcycle Show [External]

When TV was King of Kustoms

Mike Bumbeck — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 12:45:04 EST

Television was largely a scripted thing before a million channels and equal number of chopper building shows plunged TV into its current fetid stew of reality programming. The cop drama was king. Network produced cop shows ruled the airwaves for years at a time. Stretching the cop drama slightly thin was Banacek, played by a turtleneck wearing George Peppard. Banacek was an insurance investigator of Polish-American heritage who always managed to solve the crime or mystery at hand. More unusual than any of this was that though Banacek himself lived in Boston, action on the show always managed to take place in Los Angeles or Las Vegas. From this regal age of the television network rule also came kustom kars built by the likes of George Barris.

This kustom 1969 AMC AMX was featured in the second regular season episode of Bancek as a stolen "experimental racecar". In the episode entitled Project Phoenix, the car was worth five million dollars. Banacek was called in to find it, and the trailer it was stolen in. Stylish turtlenecks, cigar smoking, Polish proverbs, and chatting up the ladies ensued. The AMC was spied at the Walter P. Chrysler Museum this last summer after having spent 33 years on the show car circuit following its TV debut in 1972. – Mike Bumbeck

[A-Team Photo Gallery]; [Walter P. Chrysler Museum] [External]

Mini Slot Car A-Team Elvis Mayhem

Mike Bumbeck — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 12:47:25 EST

Before video games and remote control cars that run on nitromethane became commonplace under the old tree, a slot car set was the coolest thing a wee lad could expect to rip into on the most awesome of mornings. While racing tiny versions of the coolest cars around on the plastic track and pretending one was Jackie Stewart or Mario Andretti was the first order of business, it wasn't long before imagination got the best of convention. Something like a couple of Mini-Coopers mowing over an A-Team Hannibal action figure to an Elvis soundtrack was usually the end result. – Mike Bumbeck

[SCX]

Related: The Best Van Ever: The A-Team's GMC [Internal]

Car-Chase Madness Continues: Hannibal and Face Hork a Trans Am

Davey G. Johnson — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 19:45:00 EDT

In which Face and Hannibal, on the run from Pontiac-equipped minions of Colonel Decker, run off with an early 3rd-gen F-body from the General's Excitement Division. Action ensues, although the hilarity's a bit flat. Meanwhile, vegetable soup sounds very good right about now.

The Best Van Ever? The A-Team's GMC [Internal]

The A-Team Winnebago on eBay!

Davey G. Johnson — Fri, 07 Jul 2006 18:00:00 EDT

In 1972, Winnebago produced a sleeps-six recreational vehicle called the Chieftain. This motorhome was promptly adopted by adventurers who wanted to see the world and sleep where they parked. Today, still wanted by vintage-RV collectors, this model survives in tribute to a fictional band of soldiers of fortune. If you want it badly enough, if you love travel and helping the less-fortunate via automatic-weapons fire, and if your eBay bid is high enough, maybe you can score...the A-Team Motorhome. [Thanks to Brian for the tip.]

A-Team Motorhome [eBay]

Related:
I Pity the Fuel: A Smart ForTwo A-Team Style [Internal]

We Love It When a Plan Comes Together: The A-Team Intro

Davey G. Johnson — Tue, 20 Jun 2006 14:00:00 EDT

In 1972, a crack commando unit was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn't commit. These men promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade to the Los Angeles underground. Today, still wanted by the government, they survive as soldiers of fortune. If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire... The A-Team.

Flipping Jeeps, classic Mike Post theme music, Dwight Schultz in a wedding gown, small-arms fire galore and a Cylon. This may well be one of the best television intros ever conceived. God bless you, Stephen J. Cannell. Go watch it now.

The A-Team [Retrojunk]

Related:
I Pity the Fuel: A Smart Fortwo, A-Team Style [Internal]

I Pity the Fuel: A Smart Fortwo, A-Team Style

Mike Spinelli — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 16:10:10 EDT

Picture TV's "A-Team" not so much a group of special forces commandos — gone underground after being accused of a crime they didn't commit — as two guys just out for a nice drive in the West End. That's the vibe of the A-Team Smart Fortwo, created by the two guys who run the UK's Smart-R-us tuning house. Actually, it wouldn't be off the show's narrative for H.M. Murdoch to have shown up driving one of these, dressed in lederhosen and quoting wildly from Erich Fromm's "The Anatomy of Human Destructiveness." Can anyone say "remake"? [Thanks to Lee for the tip.]

Star Cars: a_team [Smart-R-us]

Related:
The Best Van Ever: The A-Team's GMC [internal]

The Best Van Ever: The A-Team's GMC

Davey G. Johnson — Mon, 01 Aug 2005 03:27:03 EDT

We're not too proud to admit we were the TV theme song jukebox of our elementary school's cafeteria. (We remember a kid named Earl calling out titles of TV shows for us to sing.) Our favorites were "Dallas" (which is actually even more awesome in its French incarnation), "Just Two Good Ol' Boys" (natch) and the "A-Team." Plus, the team of crack commando pariahs had a wicked-cool custom van, which we were saddened to see in a dilapidated state on a Universal Studios tour back in the '80s (along with a similarly abused Selleck-driven Ferrari 308. Have these Hollywood types no sense of decency? We're sure George Peppard is rolling in his grave.

The Ultimate A-Team Van Page; The A-Team Van Revealed; A-Team Van Fan Fiction; the A-Team Van via Foolfiles