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| RoboCop (1987) concept art by Robert Webb |
Check out RoboCop car concept art by Robert Webb!
Every Friday I try and feature artwork from a classic of science fiction cinema or television. This week's "Flashback Friday" post is on RoboCop (1987).
RoboCop has a special place in my heart for a few reasons. When I first saw the movie poster for the film in the newspaper I cut it out and hung it on my wall for months. Plus, the RoboCop computer game was the first game I ever played all the way through the end. It was pretty awesome. This movie is one of the classics of our time and the film has spawned a reboot coming out later this year.
The 1985 Ford Taurus that RoboCop drove was actually a last-minute decision by the production team. Originally, RoboCop was supposed to drive a custom vehicle nicknamed the "Robo-Car" or "Turbo-Car." Robert Webb is one of the designers that worked on the custom car design and he shared the original design illustrations from the film on his site.
Webb was a professional artist and car builder who's worked on entertainment projects like Knight Rider (1986).
There's more to learn at his site. For example, did you know that the movie title was spelled "Robocop" (all lowercase) until Webb started making notes using the spelling "RoboCop?" Learn more behind-the-scenes facts about the design of the car and the RoboCop production at http://www.robertwebb.com.
Click on the links if you want to see more of Robert Webb's work or RoboCop on my blog.
What do you think of the concept art? Would you have liked to see this car instead of the Ford Taurus?
Official RoboCop Summary
There's a new law enforcer in town and he's half man, half machine! From the director of Total Recall and Basic Instinct comes a "sci-fi fantasy with sleek, high-powered drive" (Time) about an indestructible high-tech policeman who dishes out justice at every turn! When a good cop (Peter Weller) gets blown away by some ruthless criminals, innovative scientists and doctors are able to piece him back together as an unstoppable crime-fighting cyborg called "RoboCop." Impervious to bullets and bombs, and equipped with high-tech weaponry, RoboCop quickly makes a name for himself by cleaning up the crime-ridden streets of violence-ravaged Detroit. But despite his new, hardened exterior, RoboCop is tormented by scraps of memory of his former life, and relives vivid nightmares of his own death at the hands of the vicious killers. Now he is out to seek more than justice...he wants revenge!
Directed by Paul Verhoeven
Cinematography by Jost Vacano
Production Design by William Sandell
Starring: Peter Weller, Nancy Allen, Dan O'Herlihy, Ronny Cox, Kurtwood Smith
Release date: July 17, 1987
Official Site: www.RoboCop.com
© Copyright 1987 Orion Pictures. All rights reserved
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Great looking car designs, I'd hate to be trying to back up in any of them though, the rear views and teeny little rear windows would make them all accidents waiting to happen.
ReplyDeletearrghhh, those are so cool... now they are going to make it happen in new release
ReplyDeleteCool designs, but I think I like the one they chose for the movie best.
ReplyDeleteThese are cool. 'Almost Human' could take a car lesson from the 1980s RoboCop film. Have you seen the Red Sonja remake sketches? They are gorgeous. You may want to do a post on it. It's right up your alley!
ReplyDeleteYou're right Ms. Mariah. This car is slick. I ran into the Red Sonia illustrations a while back and the artists asked me not to post them. I'll check with them and see if it's OK now. Thanks for the tip!
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'm sorry he's driving a motorcycle in the remake. He seems more imposing in the car.
ReplyDeleteGood old Ford Alex.
ReplyDeleteDidn't Howard Chaykin do some car designs too?
ReplyDeleteGood question! I can't find anything on it, but if you find a link then send it my way.
ReplyDeleteGood point Rusty. The artist said it was a budget restriction. To manufacture or refit glass from other cars would have taken too much time and money. It's easier to lay fiberglass that fit glass. He also said there were six cars made from retrofitted Camaros.
ReplyDeleteInteresting. I haven't seen the movie in years but I like the idea of an extraordinary cop in a perfectly ordinary car. Undoubtedly, the new movie will involve a souped up contraption of some sort.
ReplyDeleteThe RoboCar would have been wild, like the Batmobile. Shame it never made it into the movie. I would have wanted that toy.
ReplyDelete