20 Things You Didn't Know About The Blues Brothers
11. The Bluesmobile Was Treated Like A Star
The Bluesmobile is basically the third brother. It is introduced in the very opening of the movie, and is a constant companion to the boys until its untimely end outside of the Cook County building.
The vehicle crew knew they would need multiple cars for the pounding it would take throughout the film. The production bought thirteen ex-California Highway Patrol cruisers, all Dodge Monacos, and outfitted them for different purposes. Some were lightened for more speed, some had the suspension souped up for jumps and stunts, and some were kept pristine for close-ups and publicity shots.
One of the cars was very special. It's only role was to, at the climax, fall apart into a hundred pieces. There was a mechanic assigned to the crew whose only job was to spend several weeks figuring out how to make the car collapse all at once.
The Bluesmobiles had their own mechanics and a 24-hour garage dedicated to keeping them running and looking shiny (or beat up, depending on need.)
In the time since the movie came out, the Bluesmobile has joined the pantheon of other iconic Hollywood vehicles, and deservedly so.