If you belong to Generation X you might remember an array of movies, TV shows, and even cartoons from the 1980s that emphasized vehicles as a leading theme. Knight Rider, Automan, Turbo Teen, etc were just a few of them. But perhaps the least that we talk about is The Fall Guy in which a stuntman solves crimes and goes after fugitives using a large GMC Grand Sierra K-2500 pickup truck.
The TV series that was aired between 1981 and 1986 featured Lee Majors who plays Colt Seavers, a Hollywood stuntman who moonlights as a bounty hunter. He uses his physical skills and knowledge of stunt effects and uses his GMC Grand Sierra pickup truck to capture fugitives and criminals.
In its five seasons, the program had 133 episodes. However, for those who saw the TV show, can you recall how many jumps that GMC Grand Sierra K-2500 pickup truck made? Well, the below video is going to show you just that.
The show was so popular that even die-cast dinkey cars & low-scale models of that Fall Guy GMC truck were available in the market. As a kid, it was always exciting to see that enormous pickup truck leaping every now and then as it chased the gangsters and outlaws. But we had no idea how it managed to achieve it.
According to sources, the early years of The Fall Guy were shot on stock Grand Sierra trucks that were purchased directly from GM. Because there were no special effects or computer graphics & animation to imitate stunts back then, the jumps were real, which caused the truck to break to pieces, while exponentially increasing the production expenses.
In order to reduce costs, the production team decided to modify several GMC Grand Sierra pickups so they could endure the damage of the stunts. Braced axles, a beefed-up dual shock suspension, and some additional safety precautions for the stunt driver are all part of the makeover. Even better, the engine was moved to the center of the truck— within the cabin to be precise, preventing the truck from nosediving into the ground during leaps.
Related: Remembering The Knight Rider from the 1980s
In the absence of computer wizardry, it was indeed a clever way to achieve the goal. The Fall Guy was nevertheless always enjoyable to watch and looking at these stunts now, shows the meticulous work behind filming these shots.
A computer animation professional with over 23 years of industry experience having served in leading organizations, TV channels & production facilities in Pakistan. An avid car enthusiast and petrolhead with an affection to deliver quality content to help shape opinions. Formerly written for PakWheels as well as major publications including Dawn. Founder of CarSpiritPK.com
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