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 Such movies as Monte Carlo or Bust and The Great Race, those "way out Wacky Racers" battled it out on some of the worlds most dangerous tracks from 1968 to 1970.
With their insane autos, the eleven teams raced gallantly (and not so gallantly) across all manner of terrain to secure that elusive win.
As a result, the vehicles had to be well equipped to survive such hazardous conditions as sweltering water logged Mississippi swamps, parched landscapes and rocky mountain passes.
No vehicle was quite what seemed.
Rickety boiler powered junk heaps stood just as good a chance of victory as turbo powered racers and hi-tech gizmos.
Despite their cut-throat desire to win, only the devilish Dick Dastardly and his faithful sidekick Muttley resorted to foul tactics and diabolical scheming in an effort to thwart the other drivers.
The Wacky Races also launched two direct spin-off series starring their most popular characters: Dastardly & Muttley, who traded their cars in for planes, and The Perils of Penelope Pitstop, which also starred The Ant Hill Mob.
The simple race formula was also repeated for Yogi's Space Race (1978) which featured many other Hanna Barbera stars
Despite his ingenuity and cunning, Dick and his faithful sniggering sidekick failed, Muttley, to win a single race.
The rocket powered Mean Machine, although capable of great speeds, just wasn't up to the job.
Employing all the scheming skills he could muster, even his most masterful strategy to cheat his way to the finish line in pole position seemed ultimatley doomed!
"Drat. And double drat!"
The Mean Machine has vicious spikes protruding from it's wheels that can rip through steel.
This neat trick was also employed by Roman chariot racers as a way of immobilising their opponents (see Ben Hur).
The double dealing do-badders later found themselves commanding a team of less than crack pilots fighting desperately to stop a message carrying pigeon in Dastardly and Muttley in their Flying Machines.
(Rock and Gravel)
Distant cousins (or perhaps not) of Captain Caveman, the Slag Brothers are seemingly identical twins Rock and Gravel
Their low-tech/no-tech prehistoric car is carved out of solid rock. By comparison, Fred Flintstones' automobile is state-of-the-art.
But what they lack in modern technology, the Slag's make up for with sheer determination, a solid resolve, and good old fashioned physical exertion.
Boink!
(Big Gruesome & L'il Gruesome)
Scarier than The Munsters and the Addams Family put together!
These monster-movie drivers are accompanied by their fire breathing pet dragon, which also adds wing power to their spooky Gothic towered hotrod.
Big is a Lurch-like Frankenstein monster character while his smaller brother is resembles a vampire (although he obviously isn't as he can tolerate daylight...)
Hanna Barbera also produced the animated version of The Addams Family...
Crimson air ace The Red Max has a car based on a World War I bi-plane - no doubt inspired by real life German air ace, the infamous Red Baron.
This prop' powered auto is able to fly over (most) obstacles, or, if required, shoot them out with the aid of forward mounted machine guns.
Despite the dainty appearance of pretty Penny's compact Compact car, it can still pack a punch.
Dressed from head to toe in pink, the blonde Barbie doll-like bombshell makes for a fashionable opponent.
The fair Southern Belle is evidently heiress to a hefty fortune, and her adventures were the focus for Wacky Races spin-off The Perils of Penelope Pitstop (1969).
The modified half-track armoured tank/ car can blast its way through any obstruction.
Guiding the way from his turret vantage point is the bellowing Sergeant Blast.
At the wheel is the timid Private Meekly.
Tommy gun wielding Chicago gangsters and no doubt personal associates of Al Capone.
All rammed into the front seats of their less than up to date getaway car, the old motor is more than capable of keeping up with even the newest state of the art Wacky Racer.These miniature mobsters later came to the rescue of damsel in distress Miss P' in The Perils of Penelope Pitstop (1969) where they appeared with a slightly different line-up, sharper suits, and a new motor - the personable Chugga-boom (voiced by Mel Blanc).
Penelope played Snow White to their mob-handed Seven Dwarfs, as they stopped at nothing to attempt to rescue her from the evil Hooded Claw.
The race's very own Hillbillies.
Don't be fooled by the rusty old boiler as the Chug-A-Bug can keep up with the best of 'em.
Luke is as laid back as they come, in stark constrast to the nervous, jittery Blubber.
Smooth talking, square jawed hunk Peter has a car as big as his ego, yet despite his desire to win, he'll never forsake a maiden in distress...
A real goody-goody. Terrif'
A timbser car it may be, but the Buzzwagon can cut through wood or even solid rock with it's circular saw wheels.
The check shirted lumberjack Rufus is one rough fella.
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