When it comes to modifying your car, steel plates and chain guns aren’t typically the first things on the bolt-on list—but in “Twisted Metal”, a TV show based on the hit PlayStation death derby video game, those upgrades rank at the top.
Now in its second season on Peacock, the show is just as fun and high-octane as the games that inspired it.
While the first season was relatively light on showcasing cars from the video game, this second go-around kicks it into high gear by featuring several popular rides from the “Twisted Metal” universe.
With that in mind, we thought it’d be fun to look at five of the most iconic vehicles from the series and the real-life cars they’re built on.
Roadkill (1988 Chevy Camaro IROC-Z)
This car is driven by the protagonists John Doe and Quiet (you’ll have to watch the show to find out why they’re named that). The IROC-Z is a performance-oriented version of the Camaro, and featured either a 5.0L Tuned Port Injection V8 or an optional 5.7L 350 V8. Power wasn’t the only thing this car had, it also featured a lowered suspension, performance-calibrated struts and shocks, and 16 inch wheels, improving the handling and making the ride as smooth as butter.
It makes sense, the IROC in the name stood for International Race of Champions, a motorsport competition that originally ran from 1973 to 2006—and may be coming back.
Reaper (Harley-Davidson Dyna Custom)
While there are many outlandish vehicles in “Twisted Metal” (there’s literally just a guy in between two wheels. His name is Axel…get it?), one of the biggest standouts is Reaper, a Harley-Davidson Dyna Custom driven by Mr. Grimm.
While it technically went into production in the 1970s, the first official Dyna, dubbed the Harley FXDB Sturgis, was introduced in 1991 and was named to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the famous Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Over the years, the Dyna has gone through multiple iterations and has gained a large following. Its popularity grew tremendously when another famous show, “Sons of Anarchy”, featured it as protagonist Jax Teller’s main ride. Sadly, the last version of this motorcycle was made in 2017.
Not too much is known about Mr. Grimm’s Harley—technically it is somewhat of a Frankenstein bike built on the Dyna frame, but it isn’t a Glide or Street version.
Shadow (1997 Ford Probe GT)
The definition of villain is a dubious one when it comes to “Twisted Metal”. Technically speaking, they’re all villains. But the driver of Shadow—Raven—is considered the show’s primary antagonist (so far).
This version of the car is based on the Ford Probe GT and while it’s not the first car you picture when you think of Ford’s performance legacy, its origins are still interesting. Born from a partnership with Mazda, the Ford Probe was intended to replace the Mustang—but that plan was eventually abandoned (to the delight of gearheads everywhere) and the Probe was released as a distinct model.
While the Probe was based on Mazda’s front-wheel drive MX-6 platform, what makes the GT trim special is a bigger, more powerful engine—the Mazda KLDE, a 2.5 liter V6 that pushed out 164 horsepower and 160 lb.-ft. of torque.
Sweet Tooth (1980s Ice Cream Truck)
Sweet Tooth, driven by a machete wielding clown named—well, Sweet Tooth—is the show’s mascot. (Seriously, a game devoted to drivers in high-performance cars blowing each other up uses an ice cream truck as its halo vehicle.)
The first ice cream truck was invented in Youngstown, Ohio, and those original versions were Ford Model Ts modified with fridges on the back. However, the vans we picture when thinking of an ice cream truck were created sometime later by Irish-American brothers James and William Conway. Their version was called Mister Softee, which they invented after pitching the idea to the higher-ups at Sweden Freezer, who were apparently indifferent to the idea—which turned out to be a big mistake.
The show’s ice cream truck is a 1980s version that features a flaming clown head on the top (the driver also features a flaming clown head, obviously). The classic jingle letting you know something sweet is around the corner is also there.…though, you should probably run and hide if you see this vehicle coming your way.
Other Vehicle Cameos in the Show
While not every one of iconic cars in the “Twisted Metal” video game series made it into the show, some deep cuts could still be spotted by eagle-eyed viewers.
This includes the Junkyard Dog, a modified 1951 Ford F-3 Tow Truck driven by Billyray Stillwell in Twisted Metal: Black. In the first season, a 2000 Formula Mazda race car known as Twister and its driver Amanda Watts help the protagonists turn the tide of the show’s penultimate battle.
“Twisted Metal” has just about anything you can think of when it comes to cars and the mods that make them ready for war. It can get painful when you see your favorite blow up—but just remember, a lot of it was done using movie magic…we think.
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