From the Iconic Steven Spielberg Film, Jurassic Park (1993) and the Unforgettable T-Rex scene comes an unsung Film-Car, the Ford Explorer

In the 1970s to the 1990s, Steven Spielberg was in his prime with blockbuster after blockbuster. From Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) to Indianan Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), to E.T. The Extraterrestrial (1982). Within each film, Spielberg treats us to his usual style and heart within the story and its characters; making us relive our childhoods through the means of whatever adventure he takes us on. However, this goes without saying, his more intense and heart-wrenching films, such as Schindler's List (1993) or Saving Private Ryan (1998). Are not easy to watch like most of his other films.

During his reign as Hollywood's biggest and best name, Speilberg just kept coming out with hits. Film after film coming out with instant success, it was no different with Jurassic Park in 1993.

Finding out where the Ford Explorer is, is rather hard as during the production they used multiple models. Which makes finding the Explorer used in the iconic scenes, a hard task to conduct. Nevertheless, we believe we have found some of the models from the original production. Wouldn't it make it a lot easier if film studios just kept a publicly available itinerary of where every prob went and how we could get our hands on them? But that may be too much to ask when they provide brilliant films like Jurassic Park into our local theatres. Something everyone should be doing, support your local theatres!

RELATED: 25 Iconic Cars From The Jurassic Park Franchise

Jurassic Park & The Ford Explorer.

Ford Explorer Jurassic Park 1993 NoFilmSchool steven Spielberg
Ford Explorer from Jurassic Park (1993) via NoFilmSchool

Jurassic Park is essential viewing to anyone who is vaguely interested in film, it's a story about a theme park that has found a way to bring back Dinosaurs to life from a crystalized mosquito. In the park, the tourists would make their way around in a number of off-roading vehicles, a Ford Explorer or a Jeep Wrangler along with a Scalextric type road system.

The Ford Explorer's made its appearance in the pivotal scene where the T-Rex breaks free of its enclosure and starts attacking the Explorer and the people inside. This may a spoiler but you should have seen this film by now. In the original book series, the cars were a set of electric Toyota Land Cruiser's but Spielberg had a deal with the Ford Motor Company to supply cars for the film. The Explorer's themselves appeared to be driverless but Industrial Light and Magic (ILM) modified them so that they could be driven from the trunk - a bit of Hollywood magic there!

Ford Explorer from Jurassic Park film steven spielberg 1993
Ford Explorer from Jurassic Park (1993) via RPF.com

ILM took a big chunk of roof out and put in a full-length sunroof, which provided the iconic shot of the T-Rex peering into the car as the two characters start to scream in fear. It is a shame that this type of sunroof isn't a common option in every car model, it provides so much wonder when you are traveling through whatever roads you find yourself on.

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Where is it now?

Ford Explorer from Jurassic Park film steven speilberg 1993 Petersen Museum car
Ford Explorer from Jurassic Park (1993) via Petersen Museum

Due to the popularity of the film and the relative ease of attaining a 1993 Ford Explorer, there are a lot of replicas out there in the wild. From very detailed replicas to your regular but dedicated fan doing a simple paint job.

As the Explorer's were on a Scalextric-type system their top speed was limited to a measly 20 kmh (12mph). Which isn't exactly helpful when you need to get away from a hungry T-Rex chasing you. The film production had multiple Explorer units; 02, 04, 05, 06, 07. Each one is used or, sadly, demolished in their respective scenes. The Ford Explorer also makes an appearance in the Jurassic Park games.

Jurassic Park Ford Explorer
Jurassic Park Ford Explorer via Youtube

However, the original Ford Explorer's used in the making of the film have been kept in private ownership by the film studios, and only making an appearance in Museum showcases. Most recently, an original Ford Explorer was showcased in the Petersen Automotive Museum: Hollywood Dream Machines: Vehicles of Science Fiction and FantasyThis museum exhibition is a goldmine for anyone who enjoys film-related vehicles; they recently had the original Bat-mobile from the 1960s, Batman Tv Show.

As to where some of the units are today. Well, here is what we can find out by searching through manifests and reports. Ford Explorer Unit 5 has been in the safe hands of Universal Studios: Orlando; Island of Adventures. Ford Explorer Unit 4 which was destroyed during one of the scenes, is on display at Universal Studios in California.

NEXT: 2021 Ford Explorer: Everything We Know So Far