Blaydon motoring enthusiast buys Jeep driven by Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning
Gavin Larkin, 54, bought a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon that was driven by Tom Cruise in the latest and final Mission Impossible film
Gavin Larkin, 54, bought a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon that was driven by Tom Cruise in the latest and final Mission Impossible film(Image: Gavin Larkin)
A Blaydon motoring enthusiast has managed to bag himself an interesting conversation piece after stumbling upon a unique vehicle online. Gavin Larkin bought a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon that was driven by Tom Cruise in the latest and final Mission Impossible film.
The 54-year-old, who works for a scaffolding company, had been after one of the vehicles for a few years, and eventually found one up for auction on eBay. But after a bit of research, Gavin discovered the Jeep had an A-list backstory and had actually appeared in last year’s blockbuster hit Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning.
Parts of the film, which was directed by Christopher McQuarrie and had Cruise in the leading role, were filmed at a Derbyshire quarry, with the vehicle being involved in a chase scene. When Gavin finally purchased the Jeep, it still had the remnants of the mine chalk and dust on its body.
Gavin Larkin, 54, bought a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon that was driven by Tom Cruise in the latest and final Mission Impossible film(Image: Gavin Larkin)
Speaking to ChronicleLive, Gavin said he spotted the Jeep on eBay, and saw that it was named ‘Ethan 1’. When he Googled it, he found out the car was one of five that had been used in the movie.
After bidding on the vehicle and making some inquiries, Gavin then travelled down to London where the car was being sold by TLO Film Services. He said: “I’d been fancying a [Jeep Wrangler Rubicon] for a few years and was actually watching Animal Kingdom on TV and saw one, and thought ‘I wouldn’t mind one of them to drive around’.
“Then one day I was doing a bit of browsing online and one popped up for a good price. I bought it for £17,000 but as a standard car it would have been around £45,000. It was advertised as a non-working car, it’s very unique.”
Gavin Larkin, 54, bought a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon that was driven by Tom Cruise in the latest and final Mission Impossible film(Image: Gavin Larkin)
Gavin understands that the Jeep was one of five that were used as stunt vehicles, and he is now hoping to make it road worthy. He is in contact with the DVLA as he continues working on it, but is hoping to keep it in its original condition and looking the same as it was in the film.
He added: “Tom Cruise ended up taking one of [the Jeep’s] home, that was the least damaged stunt car, and the rest went for parts. My plan is to put it back on the road and I want to keep it how it is in the pictures. I’m inquiring about getting a soft top for it – I just thought I’d get it back on the road. It’s a bit of a one off!”
As previously reported on Chronicle Live, a Northumberland shopkeeper supplied handbags and jewellery for the Mission: Impossible – Final Reckoning film. Gayle Foster, who has owned Vintage at the Tower in Corbridge since 2013, supplied a range of handbags and crystal costume jewellery pieces for the flick.
