The Last Chase (1981): 1970’s Porsche 917/10 CAN-AM

Some hidden gems emerge not from big-budget productions but from the collection of 1980s low-budget B-films that are often relegated to TV or VHS releases. The Last Chase falls into this category, crafted on a budget that can only be described as minimal. Despite its financial constraints, the film’s standout star is a (fake) 1970s-era Porsche 917/10 Turbo CAN-AM, brought to life through movie magic. Set in a dystopian 2011 USA, the storyline revolves around a former race driver navigating a totalitarian government’s crackdown on personal cars. Fleeing from the mega-city of Boston to the seceded “Free California,” the film encapsulates the expected 1980s B-movie style. While the Porsche may have been a stunt car, one remarkable aspect of the film is its use of an actual Canadair CL-13 Saber fighter jet, known as the F-86 Saber in the USA. Piloted by a Royal Canadian Air Force pilot, the jet adds a dynamic element to the high-speed chase across the country.