Iowa Car Co-Stars With Johnny Depp

Yep. Johnny Depp may be one of the biggest movie stars of our era, but as far as a lot of car aficionados are concerned, he takes second billing to the classic cars in his upcoming film, "Public Enemies." The movie, being filmed in part in Wisconsin and Chicago, is based on the book "Public Enemies" by Bryan Burrough about the last year of gangster John Dillinger's life in 1933-1934. Depp plays Dillinger.

One of the more than 200 pre-1934 cars in the movie is a 1933 Nash that John and Jan Brewer of Davenport had planned to drive in the MotorIoway 500 this June. Word comes in the most recent issue of "Running Lights," the MotorIoway newsletter, though, that they will now drive an Auburn Speedster replica.

". . . the Nash will be the first thing you see with Dillinger in the back seat and his driver imitating a sheriff," says Running Lights. The vehicles will also include John Brewer's 1929 Elcar.

You can see a great "Dead or Alive" video clip of the car and Depp on You Tube. With its extra long hood and suicide doors, the 1933 Nash is the perfect gangster car.

Also, here's a cool slide show of still shots that show a lot of the old cars in the movie slated for release  next year.

This year's

MotorIoway 500 begins June 4 at the town square in Marshalltown and on June 5 leaves for Waverly by way of Conrad, Iowa Falls, and Hampton. On June 6 the cars go to Waterloo with stops in Charles City (maybe a side-trip to the Little Brown Church in the Vale), New Hampton, and West Union with ShineTime at the "Friday Loo" The last leg of the trip June 7 takes the caravan of 49 pre-1983 vehicles to Quasqueton with a stop at Cedar Rock, the house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.