We’ve all seen the Driver’s Ed films that were meant to scare us straight but are so poorly put together that they just leave us laughing, confused, or both. This is one of those films. It’s a 1970’s era movie called “Joy Ride” and we’ll do our best to give you the full synopsis. We know you can’t wait. Hang in there as there is a ’68 B-Body Mopar in it for you.

Our story begins with two teenage guys that realize they need a car to impress girls. Seems logical so far. While at a baseball game they decide to “borrow” star baseball player Randall’s car, a ’68 B-Body Mopar. It’s got slotted mags on the back, Cragar S/S’s on the front, and is available for 2 hours while Randall is busy playing baseball. Sounds innocent enough, right? They then decide to do a 0-60 timing test, during which they’re pelted with an egg by another group of teens in (probably) another stolen car. Since the Plymouth is covered in egg, and Randall might notice that, they head to a car wash.

As they approach the apartment building where the girls live they start blowing on the horn to entice them to come outside. The girls come out, who must be about 13 years old each, and question the boys who confess to borrowing it and then talk the girls into taking a drive into the mountains. All four climb in the abandoned car and “pretend” that they’re in a car wreck. As you may have guessed, their imagination will soon be a reality.

The boys realize that the Plymouth is due back to Randall soon so they jump in it and high tail down the mountain, tire smoke and all. The driver is trying to make up time and is pushing the speed limit, an action that then triggers a cop – from literally out of nowhere – to start chasing them. The girl riding shotgun becomes terrified of the speed, the situation, or the bad script, and in her attempt to grab the keys from the ignition she distracts the driver and seconds later the B-Body slams into a mountain. A screen rolls by stating that it was all based on a real event, and that 3 of the 4 kids were killed. Sad ending.

Let’s hope that modern day Driver’s Ed films aren’t so cheesy, because we really do see the value in teaching responsible and safe driving. We just don’t like cheesy movies that kill B-Body Mopars.