The Cars Of Breaking Bad’s Final Episode

"Sam Payne" (sampayne)
09/30/2013 at 10:04 • Filed to: BREAKING BAD

Breaking Bad made a return to its !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! for the series’ final episode. Gone was the Chrysler marketing tie-in: the conclusion deserved the best cars for the job.

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Spoiler alert: read no further if you have not yet watched the Breaking Bad season finale

Volvo 240 DL

This vehicle just screamed “New Hampshire” like no other car could. The 240 was unapologetic – as was !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . From a practical standpoint, no other car was as appropriate and reliable enough to get Walt through a New England winter and then to the other side of the country.

Cadillac Sedan DeVille

This is the last car Walt drives. Every crime lord deserves to go out in style, and this certainly fit the bill. As a bonus, the trunk was big enough to house a home-made sentry gun. It was perfect whether it had the 425 or the 500 – we’ll never know. There’s no replacement for displacement. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

Chevrolet El Camino

A Jalopnik standard. An unlikely and unexpected hero car that had, up to the end, been subjected to transporting one of the series’ most-hated characters: there is no more a triumphant expression of freedom than plowing wide-open-throttle in an El Camino through the front gates of the prison which held you. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

Image credits: Sony Pictures Entertainment, ScreenBid LLC

DISCUSSION (56)

CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) > Sam Payne
09/30/2013 at 10:13

I'm just wondering, was the el camino modded? It did not have a stock engine sound...

Sam Payne > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist)
09/30/2013 at 10:15

Per the AutoCheck report provided by ScreenBid, the car left the factory with a V6. I haven't any idea what might have been swapped-in, or if that engine note was just added post-production.

CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) > Sam Payne
09/30/2013 at 10:16

But damn did that thing sound heavenly.

Sam Payne > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist)
09/30/2013 at 10:17

Yeah, I now have an overwhelming desire to buy a ratty old El Camino to complement my Miata (if only for winter abuse)

designerbation > Sam Payne
09/30/2013 at 10:28

They said the DeVille was a 500 before driving into the compound. The guy at the gate even said "There's no replacement for displacement".

Sam Payne > designerbation
09/30/2013 at 10:31

I couldn't remember whether that guy figured it out. I find it hard to believe he could figure it out based on the interior of the car. However, according to Wikipedia, the largest available engine for that generation was the 425.

Gijs Verbeeten > Sam Payne
09/30/2013 at 10:33

I'm currently owning an older Volvo 850 estate (just because of the engine), but I've never been so desperate for a white, used 240. If only Gilligan used a 240 estate..

CaptainWompus > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist)
09/30/2013 at 10:37

It did have an aftermarket tach on the dash with a shift light too.. so it's possible it was modded.

btpayne > Sam Payne
09/30/2013 at 10:39

Kinja'd!!!

Now I know where to check for keys the next time I jack a Volvo in New Hampshire.

Pfffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffft > designerbation
09/30/2013 at 10:46

No, he didn't. He asked, looked around the inside, and then said "The 500...that's the one you want." He wasn't answering his own question; just continuing to talk about there being two engines.

The Old Man from Scene 24 > Sam Payne
09/30/2013 at 10:46

I caught that too, the 500 was only available from 1973-1976; this was a '77-79 Caddy, so there's no way it would have had a 500 under the hood.

I am disappointed in Vince Gilligan for this error, even though 99% of BB fans probably would never had caught it, it was just one of those things that take you out of the story.

Jayhawk Jake > Sam Payne
09/30/2013 at 10:47

It was a 500. Jack's guy said so as they drove in, that was where the 'There's no replacement for displacement' line came in.

I can't believe they didn't search the car...

Sam Payne > Jayhawk Jake
09/30/2013 at 10:49

This was an error in the show. For the DeVille generation starting in 1977, the largest engine available was the 425.

Jayhawk Jake > Sam Payne
09/30/2013 at 10:51

I guess we should give ricin to whoever wrote that in the script.

GTO Driver > Sam Payne
09/30/2013 at 10:57

Don't forget about Jesse's original low rider Monte Carlo in Season 1! It wasn't an '89 like Hank's guys said though. More like an '84.

OtherBarry > designerbation
09/30/2013 at 11:00

Before the no replacement for displacement line he said,"500 that's the one you want."

Sam Payne > Jayhawk Jake
09/30/2013 at 11:09

I know have an irrational fear of Stevia because of this episode

Sam Payne > GTO Driver
09/30/2013 at 11:10

For a second I thought "didn't Jesse have an El Camino." Nope, just another Malaise Chevy.

Bultaco's JMOD TownCar drives his pa to drinkin > The Old Man from Scene 24
09/30/2013 at 11:15

That's assuming the Nazi wasn't off on his late 70's caddy knowledge.

Grim99CV > OtherBarry
09/30/2013 at 11:19

Still makes no sense, considering it wasn't available for that year. I wouldn't mind throwing a 500 from a 70 Eldorado into that old rag.

GTO Driver > Sam Payne
09/30/2013 at 11:25

Yeah, mid 80s was not a good time for GM cars. But in this case its OK because it was Jesse's ride! Hank's bullet holes added character too after he took down Tuco!!!

the7thearlofgrey > Sam Payne
09/30/2013 at 11:29

you forgot the Bentley Continental that the Schwartzes drove

Brian Stieh > Sam Payne
09/30/2013 at 11:30

Don't forget the Continental GT that represented the wealth and corruption

DadsChevy > Jayhawk Jake
09/30/2013 at 11:36

No, what he said was "The 500, that's the one you want. There's no replacement for displacement." He was just saying that the 500 was the preferable of the two.

Atomic Buffalo > Jayhawk Jake
09/30/2013 at 11:38

I thought he said that the 500 was the one to have, not that Walt's was a 500.

As for there not being a 500 at that time, assume that's the character's error, not the writer's :)

paqman > The Old Man from Scene 24
09/30/2013 at 11:38

He wasn't saying that the car HAD a 500. The exact line was "yep, 500.... That's the one you want." I think he wasn't stating what was in the car, but simply stating go big or go home. Hence the "no replacement for displacement" comment right afer.
That still doesn't change the fact that the car never came with the 500, but this doesn't necessarily mean the writers made an error either. Car guys are notorious for spouting off crap to other car guys trying to show off their car knowledge. (I'm the worst offender) The writers could have simply written in a typical car guy spouting BS he doesn't understand. Also, he could have very easily mistaken the year of the car for one that did come with the 500.

I'm not saying that the writers didn't error, but simply that there are other explanations for his comment. But one thing I think is for sure is that he wasn't stating that the car had a 500, rather that the 500 is the engine you SHOULD have

Jayhawk Jake > Atomic Buffalo
09/30/2013 at 11:39

Ah, my mistake. I was too busy panicking about what was going to happen to process what was actually happening at the time.

Sam Payne > the7thearlofgrey
09/30/2013 at 12:08

I didn't feel as though that Volkswagen held a candle to these cars.

TheCrudMan > Jayhawk Jake
09/30/2013 at 12:19

He doesn't say it's the 500. He just says "the 500 is the one you want."

TheCrudMan > Sam Payne
09/30/2013 at 12:21

Sort of the point....it had its purpose in the episode and probably should've been included.

designerbation > designerbation
09/30/2013 at 12:41

My bad, guess I wasn't paying enough attention.

prakshash > TheCrudMan
09/30/2013 at 12:45

He actually did say it's the 500. Then he says "that's the one you want."

GrantHendry > Jayhawk Jake
09/30/2013 at 12:58

Brilliant series and brilliant finale but that is exactly the thing that leaves me with a bitter sweet taste.

If the Aryan brotherhood mob were so thorough when WW gets out the car, heavy pat down TSA stylee and check for wire. Then why not check the trunk of the car, either Uncle Jack's boys were way too dumb or Mr Gilligan was short on ideas of how to get WW and his Rambo gun into the compound.

Anyway that said, looking forward to Just Call Saul, or whatever the spin off will be

Heisenberg is dead
Long live Heisenberg

Jayhawk Jake > GrantHendry
09/30/2013 at 13:09

Well, to look more deeply into it than I should, perhaps it implies that criminals are never perfect or something along those lines.

They are bad people, and decent at what they do, but not good enough.

To be fair though, I don't know what they would expect to find if they looked in the car. Maybe a bomb?

And it's going to be called 'Better Call Saul'

OtherBarry > Grim99CV
09/30/2013 at 13:22

I agree on both accounts. I think the guy was just dumb. I was shocked they got the engine sizes right even if the year was wrong.

bigmark99 > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist)
09/30/2013 at 13:38

to telling if it was "modded" or not, but post production can make it sound like a prius or an indy car. Everything on screen is a illusion.

TheCrudMan > prakshash
09/30/2013 at 13:49

It's ambiguous. He looks at it and then looks back and says something like "well" and then "500. That's the one you want." Him looking at it is him checking the backseat to make sure its clear.

I read that as him really not having much more to talk about with Walt, so just sort of wrapping up the conversation.

He also probably wants the car after their plan to ice him....

TheCrudMan > Jayhawk Jake
09/30/2013 at 13:58

The guy did look in the backseat. I think they probably believed his story of being desperate and wanting to come work for him, especially since he set it up earlier with the meet with Lydia.

Christopher Owens > Sam Payne
09/30/2013 at 14:04

I wish the Volvo was up for Auction....

erikgrad > The Old Man from Scene 24
09/30/2013 at 14:05

In all fairness, we could just choose to assume the Nazi character was confused... I mean he wasn't altogether portrayed as that bright

Gooberpeaz > Sam Payne
09/30/2013 at 15:44

Holy crap! A 24% buyer's premium?

Turner950s > The Old Man from Scene 24
09/30/2013 at 17:43

Vince's error? Or the Nazi's error?

Turner950s > The Old Man from Scene 24
09/30/2013 at 17:43

Vince's error? Or the Nazi's error?

Turner950s > Sam Payne
09/30/2013 at 17:45

Can someone please explain to me how, in the era of license plate scanners, Walt was able to steal a car in New Hampshire and drive it straight through to Albuquerque without getting caught?

Turner950s > Brian Stieh
09/30/2013 at 17:48

Maybe Gretchen's and Elliot's thumbs will get cut off in the door. Karma.

Atomic Buffalo > Jayhawk Jake
09/30/2013 at 18:29

A voice inside me said "hey, go back, I don't think the big motor survived the downsizing," but I told that voice, "shut up, I'm watching Breaking Bad."

McDouche > Sam Payne
09/30/2013 at 22:04

As a Volvo 240 owner, the 240 that "brought Walt home" was the highlight for me.

ranwhenparked > Sam Payne
09/30/2013 at 22:22

Is it weird that the whole time the Volvo was on TV I was just hoping they wouldn't set it on fire? Because it did seem within the realm of possibility to hide evidence and stuff.

Impersonal_Jesus > paqman
09/30/2013 at 22:30

Yeah, I don't think the guy said it was a 500 either.

Could have been worse, at least they didn't make the obvious mistake (not visible in this shot) that filmmakers made with this similar car:

Kinja'd!!!

Sam Payne > ranwhenparked
10/01/2013 at 01:00

Kinja'd!!!

Thankfully, Vampire Weekend has learned their lesson, so I think Swedish cars are safe for now...

Javier Garza > Sam Payne
10/01/2013 at 16:30

Did anyone else notice Walt actually put unleaded gas into the 240 DL.

MM54 > Javier Garza
10/03/2013 at 09:29

The DL is the 'Deluxe Luxury' trim package, not a diesel (I can see how you could be confused, though).

James May is my spirit animal > ranwhenparked
01/18/2014 at 18:09

There were like seven or eight individual convos in the show. The V70, 240DL, and on that was in a scene in front of Sail Goodman's strip mall business, intentionally rolling past. A sedan and wagon were in the junkyard(s). One was in a Pollos Locos restaurant parking lot, one was in the Salamanca brother assassination episode/scene. I though there was one with Marie's Realtor stealing storyline, but I can't remember well enough.

Dave > Sam Payne
04/12/2014 at 22:15

"whether it had the 425 or the 500 – we'll never know"
The guy mentions that the car has the big engine...

Dave > Sam Payne
04/12/2014 at 22:15

"whether it had the 425 or the 500 – we'll never know"
The guy mentions that the car has the big engine...

Dave > Sam Payne
04/12/2014 at 22:17

"whether it had the 425 or the 500 – we'll never know"
The guy mentions that the car has the big engine...