Le Casse gives the viewer all those things and more! Omar Sharif behind the wheel of that all-time great high-speed chase vehicle- the Opel Rekord- and Jean-Paul Balmondo trying to escape him in his screamin' Fiat 124. You may have to suspend your disbelief a touch, as that 124's rear suspension manages to survive a dozen or so death-blow curb impacts, but that's what movies are all about! Thanks to Stefan for the tip.

Oktapodi was created in 2007 as a graduate project by a team of French students at the Gobelins L’Ecole de L’Image, a Parisian film school. It has gone on to win a number of awards and was even nominated this year for an Oscar in the animated short film category.

What makes the short such a treat even if you’re not a particular fan of cephalopods is the choice of vehicle to depict breakneck speed: the Vespa-based Piaggio Ape minitruck, featured here on Jalopnik a short while ago. In a genre where V8’s never hurt and tractor trailers can come in very handy, the truck in Oktapodi is equipped in real life with three to fifteen cubic inches of single cylinder power.

But Oktapodi shows that when it comes to flinging vehicles about with reckless abandon, it’s not the size of your engine that counts.

Source: Oktapodi.com

Pluck and tenacity is all well and good, but in any title bout a good big fighter beats a good small fighter. We love the Honda Fit, but as capable as it may be, it's obviously limited in its getaway-car abilities by its tires when being pursued by the LAPD.

Next time we recommend the guy in the Fit find a healthier outlet for his talents. [KTLA]

The Howell, Michigan teen, along with his younger brother and cousin, swiped his dad's Tahoe for a night-time trip to DQ (tagalong blizzard anyone?) and didn't let the total lack of drivers license get in the way. The trio was nearly there when the driver tripped-up, making an illegal left turn which brought the attention of nearby cops. Instead of stopping and taking his medicine, he fled at up to 104 MPH, nearly losing control on several occasions as did the pursuing officer (the patrol car oversteer around the bend at speed is particularly puckerific). Eventually the kid headed down the wrong road, a dead end with a healthy earthen berm, which the kid hit pretty hard, sending the truck ten feet in the air, landing in the trees. This is what happens when a plan is poorly thought out to begin with. [WDIV]

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This is the star of the show; the top seed. A seemingly indestructible 1973 Ford Mustang Mach 1 that runs from the law in a glorious 40-minute chase scene.
The local country radio reporter's ride, a Ford that might as well have "dorky" painted all over it.


A drop-top Ford with questionable structural rigidity that gets hit in the side so hard it splits neatly in half. Ridiculous, but funny.
The Belvedere rent-a-cop with a German Shepard. Attempts to chase down a tow-truck stealing a Challenger, and fails.


A burgundy Roller stolen in broad daylight from the airport drop-off curb; chauffeur left the key in it.
A Fleetwood serving as personal transportation for the ring-leader of the operation. An arranged assortment of sunglasses on the dash, and enough room for the whole crew to cruise around.


Stole a Challenger right off a dealership lot, then outran security even with the Challenger still attached. The star of the second best chase in the movie.
A poor little Type 3 that got flipped on its roof by Eleanor, starting a huge pileup. Cute car, humiliating role.


The Dodge carries the flag for all the cop cars in the movie. They're cool rides burdened by somewhat inept drivers.
One of the "girls" on the hit list, though it only appears on film for a moment. Not a hearse, but a custom station wagon.


License plate reads "OOO GAL." The Dodge was a stolen car wearing VIN tags from a wrecked donor; An identity thief before it was popular. Sadly, it had to go to the crusher once people started getting wise.
A new Plymouth out on a test drive gets smashed by a cop in pursuit of Eleanor.


Lyle Waggoner's Intermeccanica Italia swiped from spaced-out stoner cleaning it.
A stolen Corvette in a sizzling color. Not on film very long, but it leaves an impression.


The undercover cop that started the epic chase with Eleanor. It Went toe-to-toe with the Mustang, but couldn't quite keep up.
A nice bright green Dodge that suffered the fate of being crushed by a garbage truck rolling onto it.


An old sedan DeVille ridin' low. Occupants seemed to enjoy smokin' the herb so much that they drove the Caddy to self-destruction.
A Rolls limo big enough to carry a fully-assembled bicycle in the back seat with room to spare. Just wait for the chauffeur to leave the car unattended, insert the bike you rode up on, and drive away. Petty theft made high-class.


Don't get distracted by the girl, this DeTomaso is what you really want. She's just askin' for it, leaving the keys in the car like that.
This Jensen Interceptor is practically good enough for JFG, and it's apparently good enough to make the South American client's, list as well.


Fantastically obscure Manta Mirage stolen during a test drive. Salesman gets out to switch seats, thief slides behind the wheel and takes off.
The Maserati is another car on the list only appearing for a moment, but it's pure style.


A Cadillac filled with drugs, one of the few things to survive in the remake movie from 2000. How do you get rid of all that white powder? Burn it. Who cares if it's worth a million bucks on the street; these are responsible criminals.
The hopped-up Plymouth was on the screen for only a quick flash, but we're sure it's even quicker down the strip.


Parnelli Jones' Baja Bronco is the icon of off-road racing. But that didn't stop anyone from stealing it in the movie.
The Lamborghini is elegantly beautiful, but forgettable in this context.


Epic cool car and JFG resident, but it's too bad we can't see it's wacky suspension in action.
Who needs a high-tech anti-theft system? Just keep a tiger in your Cadillac.


Another limo left unattended and vulnerable. All the coolness factor of death with none of the emotional struggle.
Hard to say what exactly has been done to this Chevy Vega, but it sure ain't stock. Another one we'd like to see actually driving.


It looks plain on the outside because it's supposed to. There were two identical Fords used for scouting out all the cars on the to-be-stolen list before the day of the big hit. Equipped with walkie-talkies too!
Nothing says "Malaise Era" more than a Stutz. And this one was stolen right in front of a confused old lady. Classy.


[Screenshots are property of the movie's copyright holders; not Jalopnik]

Yesterday, Fort Worth's finest were in the middle of a pursuit with an old white Crown Vic that was involved in a gas station robbery (Is it just me, or does the sketchiest behavior always occur in decommissioned police cars?). Suddenly, a maroon truck sped past. The truck's driver, who was likely intoxicated, thought he was the one being chased and decided to realize his own worst fears by inciting the FWPD to pursue him. Both drivers were eventually caught, along with a third suspect involved in a separate chase on the other side of town, coincidentally occurring at around the same time. We can only imagine how many highball glasses of second-shelf hooch the local news producers knocked back after their shift. – Matt Hardigree

Three Car Chases, Three Arrests [Ft. Worth Star-Telegram]

Related:
Speeding Nevada Man Helps Cop in Distress [internal]

You'd probably never think to relegate the dual between Steve McQueen and the Dodge Charger—driving hoods in "Bullitt" beneath any other car chase put to film. But then you remember — with help from Entertainment Weekly — why it's rightfully in second position. Two words: Popeye Doyle. [Thanks to pas Montreal for the tip.]

Hot Pursuits [Entertainment Weekly]

Related:
McQueen Exhibit Opens at the Petersen [internal]