We recently stumbled upon a social media post from Tamiya UK on X, revealing the use of scale model race car parts in constructing the Millennium Falcon for the initial Star Wars movie. The sheer number of parts involved was a revelation to us. Once you recognize these elements, you start seeing cylinder blocks, exhaust pipes, transmissions, and more scattered across the exterior of Han Solo's spacecraft. As enthusiasts of both racing cars and Star Wars, we were compelled to delve deeper into this discovery.
What began as a simple curiosity led us down an extensive rabbit hole, hopping from one website to another, discovering the vast array of model parts utilized in the first Falcon. Our exploration eventually directed us to the SquareModels YouTube channel, where a video documents the meticulous, multi-year process of creating an accurate replica of the ship. This video details over 2,000 parts from various kits, including numerous components from five Tamiya 1:12 scale race cars, used in the original construction.
The most striking car components are visible along the sides of the ship. What appears to be half a transmission is actually the combined engine and transmission housing from a Wankel rotary engine kit, affixed on both sides. At the extremities of the mandibles, you'll find parts from a Tamiya Ferrari 312B, identifiable by the twelve cylinders discreetly placed. Adjacent to these, on the inner parts of the mandibles, are sections from a 1957 Chevy's exhaust and frame. One section of the ship even features what looks like the head of a four-cylinder engine. This is merely the surface of a complex assembly.
A detailed and lengthy discussion on the RPF forums provides additional insights, showcasing other parts from military vehicles and aircraft, such as tank barrels, wheels, treads, and landing gear, integrated into the spaceship's design. It's no surprise that this ship was considered the fastest and toughest in the galaxy, with components like Ferrari parts and tank armor. The inclusion of rotary engine components also explains its frequent breakdowns.
The Falcon model featured in the 1977 film Star Wars: A New Hope was five feet in size and used exclusively in that film. A smaller version was created for The Empire Strikes Back, with slight design modifications from the original. Now aware of the extensive use of car model parts in its construction, we find ourselves endlessly fascinated by the search for all these components.
