Stuntman Mike’s “death proof” Nova is a fictional claim, not a description of a crash-proof car. The film used production-modified Chevrolet Novas for stunt and filming work; an auction catalogue identifies one of them as a 1970 model and describes equipment added for the production.
What car did Stuntman Mike drive?
In the first part of Death Proof, Stuntman Mike drives a Chevrolet Nova. A contemporary 2007 Quattroruote report identifies it as a Nova without specifying a model year. Prop Store’s later auction catalogue identifies its featured production car as a 1970 Chevrolet Nova.
That year should be attached to the catalogue’s particular car, not treated as proof that every Nova used on screen was the same year. Secondary descriptions sometimes call the film car a 1971 Nova, while the available production-note excerpt does not specify the Nova’s year. “A 1970 Nova used as Stuntman Mike’s car” is the most precise supported description of the auctioned example.
What “death proof” means—and what it does not
“Death proof” is the film’s premise and Stuntman Mike’s claim about his car. It is not evidence that a Nova can withstand any crash, nor a safety rating for the production vehicle. The phrase describes the character’s fictional setup, not a quality a buyer can reproduce with ordinary restoration parts.
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- Revell Model Kit #85-2098, Skill Level 5, Contains 141-Parts, Recommended for ages 13 and up
- Detailed stock small block 350 engine or optional drag race version.
- Two hoods stock or racing, plus roll bar and traction bars.
- Factory rally wheels or drag race wheels with rear slicks. Colorful racing graphics or stock markings.
- Molded in white and clear with chrome plated parts and soft black tires. Requires paint and glue. (not included)
Prop Store’s lot description characterizes the car as designed to survive any impact, but the same catalogue records accommodations for filming and stunt work. Fraser Engine Co.’s retrospective lists additional equipment on a screen car. These accounts describe production vehicles; neither establishes that they were safe for ordinary road use or literally crash-proof.
How the production modified its Novas
The auctioned Nova was not simply a stock car dressed for the camera. Prop Store’s catalogue describes an interior hydraulic lock, an opening through the dashboard for cooling, and an installed towing rig. Fraser Engine Co.’s retrospective on the film’s Nova lists a roll cage, racing seat, fuel cell, quick-disconnect steering wheel, and other performance equipment.
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The accounts document production and stunt modifications, not a factory specification or a road-car upgrade guide. A roll cage or fuel cell on a film vehicle does not, by itself, make a road car safe in a collision.
How many Novas were used, and what happened to them?
Prop Store’s auction catalogue reports that seven Novas were used in production and that two survived. It describes the featured lot as the principal car for close-ups and dialogue scenes. These counts and roles are the catalogue’s account, not an independently verified vehicle registry.
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- Approximately 7-1/2" Long
- Scaled replicas of cars and trucks
- Die-cast metal body with plastic details
- Opening doors on all- some with opening hoods and trunks
- Detailed chassis
According to that same provenance account, the production company retained the auctioned car and later sold it to a private collector. The catalogue says the car came with a certificate from Trouble Maker Studios signed by production designer Steven Joyner and head prop fabricator Jeff Poss. It also reports that the other surviving Nova was gifted to stunt driver Buddy J. Hooker after production. The record does not establish present ownership or whether either car is currently for sale.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.The Nova is not the car in the final chase
Mike has more than one car in the story. Production notes quote writer-director Quentin Tarantino distinguishing the vehicles: “Stuntman Mike has two cars in the movie actually, and they’re both very individualistic as themselves, but when the girls get in the chase with him, they’re not driving any car — They’re driving the 1970 Dodge Challenger made to look like Kowalski’s car from VANISHING POINT. That’s a very specific thing.” The notes are preserved by The Quentin Tarantino Archives.
Rank #4
The distinction matters: Mike also drives a Dodge Charger, and the women’s car in the final chase is a 1970 Dodge Challenger styled after the car in Vanishing Point. The Nova is Mike’s earlier car, not the Challenger used for that chase.
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