Cheech and Chong were counter comedians who created numerous comedy albums and then starred in the 1978 film "Up in Smoke.” The primary subject of the film was marijuana smuggling in the United States.

Years later, production designer Steve Kimmel was unaware that working on a Hollywood documentary on “Cheech and Chong” would result in recreating a notable vehicle from the film — The Love Machine. According to Kimmel, however, the Chevrolet Impala was featured in approximately 20% of the film.

When someone sees Steve’s 1964 Chevrolet Impala Super Sport, they’ll have either one of two reactions. Some people will be surprised by its obsolete nature and wonder what could be done to customize the vehicle, while others will smile and applaud Kimmel for nailing the recreation of the Love Machine from Cheech and Chong’s “Up In Smoke.”

So, what happened to the original? And where’s the replica?

Here’s everything we know about the current whereabouts of The Love Machine replica.

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The Love Machine Is Back and Better Than Before

While working on the documentary, Kimmel sought to find the whereabouts of the original car. After a couple of inquiries, he still couldn't discover how the car disappeared. Later on, he presumed that after the movie’s production came to a standstill, it was either sold, maybe crushed, or even driven to the ground and disposed of in a junkyard.

What a sad ending for the Love Machine. Except the story doesn’t stop there. After Kimmel diligently searched for the original car and came up empty, he accepted and vowed to create a replica of the 1964 Chevrolet Impala Super Sport. Not just any typical replica, but one that nitpicks would find nothing to criticize.

Cheech and Chong's Love Machine

He had to find and purchase a 1964 Impala Super Sport, not just an ordinary Impala with a SuperSport symbol. He even envisioned Cheech and Chong cruising in it, and the vehicle had to be just right.

After he located the ’64 Impala Super Sport, which was the ideal canvas for what he was about to make, Kimmel purchased it. The transformation was slow and steady. For instance, it took him a while to locate the right body colors, considering that colors from the 1978 movie were different in each scene.

Kimmel used his years of experience to visualize how the vehicle would look. He was amazed by the number of parts he required that could be found on the internet. Though, his friend relentlessly called him regarding other parts he found that enabled him to recreate the car seamlessly. The California plate is still online as well as the unique vinyl graphic. Kimmel talked his Hollywood associate into doing the interior.

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Just the Right Car

Up In Smoke Impala
Via: Hagerty

Kimmel had to design the vehicle’s eight-inch chain-link steering wheel replica. But why did Cheech and Chong have an eight-inch steering wheel in the car? They’ll probably tell you it’s because they would drive with handcuffs on. If you take a closer look at the comedy film, you’ll notice that the critical chain is a single handcuff. Therefore, Kimmel had to design it just like that.

However, one of Kimmel's biggest dilemmas was to figure out what the rectangular-shaped element on the dash was.

Even though he thought it was a small television screen, he was confident that was impossible in the 1970s. Even after he re-watched the movie and examined photos, he still wasn’t sure.

It took Kimmel approximately six months to recreate his impala replica with the help of his long-term friend Jeff Hamrick, whom Kimmel termed a meticulous man as he also was. The car has a 327-cubic-inch V-8 under the hood and a Powerglide transmission, not a four-speed transmission, as we’re made to believe in the film.

According to Kimmel, the original Chevrolet Impala wasn't a four-speed, although people were made to believe so since Chong made the shifting sounds in a single scene.

Kimmel put much of his effort and time into recreating the impala replica because it made him reminisce on the meaningful things that influenced his life. According to Kimmel, the Love Machine is easily detectible and draws a lot of attention everywhere he goes. Although the documentary was never completed, Kimmel ended up with unforgettable memories from his creation.

After several months, Paramount pictures and Rhino Records requested to use the car to promote the 40th anniversary of Up in Smoke boxed DVD/CD/Vinyl set in April 2018. The idea was for Cheech and Chong to drive the car to Sunset Boulevard, Park in front of Adler's Roxy, and then step out of the car and hold a press conference with the media assembled out front.

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