Filming Cars: From Set Pieces to Stunts

Ever wonder why you remember a car from a movie more than the actors? That’s because filmmakers treat cars like characters. Whether a sleek sports car glides through a chase or an old sedan sits in the background, the vehicle’s role decides how it’s built, used, and even destroyed.

Set Pieces vs Props

First, let’s clear up the jargon. If a car just sits on a street and nobody interacts with it, it’s a set piece. It’s a backdrop that adds realism to the scene. Production crews will often dress it up—add a fake logo, change the color, or park it in a specific spot—but they don’t touch the engine.

When a driver gets behind the wheel, or a character opens the door, the car becomes a prop. Props need to be functional enough for the action. That means doors must open smoothly, seats need to look right, and often the interior has to match the story’s era. For a drama set in the 80s, the dashboard will have the right knobs, even if the car underneath is a modern model.

Stunt Cars and Their Secrets

Stunt sequences are a whole different beast. The car you see on screen is usually a specially prepared version. Builders strip out unnecessary parts, add roll cages, reinforce the chassis, and sometimes install a second engine just for extra power. They also fit the car with hidden rigging for explosions or flips.

Take the famous chase in "The Italian Job" where a convoy of Minis races through narrow streets. Those Minis weren’t stock; they had reinforced frames and tuned suspensions to survive high‑speed corners. The same goes for cars that get blown up. The crew often uses a dummy shell filled with squibs and a separate, operable chassis for any shots that need the vehicle to move after the explosion.

Stunt drivers play a huge role too. They rehearse every move, understand the car’s limits, and communicate with the director about what looks realistic. A driver might pull a 180‑degree turn in a tight alley, but the car will be built to handle the stress without breaking down mid‑take.

All this work adds up to one thing: movie cars are rarely the same as the ones you see on the street. They’re custom‑crafted for the story, and every piece—whether a simple paint job or a full chassis overhaul—serves a purpose.

If you’re curious about how many cars get destroyed on a single film, the 2003 remake of "The Italian Job" holds the record with 112 cars smashed during the final chase. That number isn’t random; the production team planned each crash, used a mix of real cars, props, and CGI to keep costs and safety in check.

So next time you watch a car chase, notice the details. Is the car being used as a background set piece, a functional prop, or a stunt machine? That insight helps you appreciate the craft behind the fast‑paced action and the countless hours spent turning metal into movie magic.