'Transformers' car comes to Prince William County

Credit: John Boal/News & Messenger

Jim Ortte stands with his son, Jamal, 10, next to his recently purchased 2006 GT Mustang. Ortte bought the vehicle from MotoeXotica for "in the neighborhood" of $100,000. It was one of three used in the 2007 movie "Transformers," playing the part of Barricade, a police cruiser that could turn into a robot.

By: Keith Walker | InsideNova
Published: December 16, 2010

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. --

Jim Ortte’s new Extreme Saleen 2006 GT Mustang can’t actually turn into a Decepticon, but it was in the the movie “Transformers.”

The car was one of three used in the 2007 movie and played the part of Barricade, one of the bad guy Decepticons that could transform into a police car and was the nemesis of the good-guy Autobots.

“Somebody said, ‘Hey does it change into a robot?’ I said ‘No.’ they said, ‘You’d better get your money back,’” said the 44-year-old Ortte who recently bought the Mustang from MotoeXotica.

“The owner — who is apparently famous; they won’t tell me who he is — said that he wanted the car to go to someone who was going to appreciate it and not let a studio use it and destroy it,” Ortte said.

Ortte didn’t grow up playing with Transformers. He played with G.I. Joe’s, but fell in love with the car when he saw the movie and discovered the car fit his bent for fast Fords.

“I love mustangs. I’ve owned 15 of them, so that’s even better,” he said of the car that cost him “in the neighborhood” of $100,000. He can’t give the exact price because he signed a non-disclosure agreement.

He’s glad to have scored the the car that attracted the interest of buyers from Australia, New Zealand and Italy.

“I’m feeling pretty good about that thing. I’m glad it’s here in Prince William County. I’m sick of Hollywood cars going to collectors in California and New York. It’s ridiculous,” the Manassas-area man said.

The cruiser Ortte landed was the main on-screen car. One of the others was used as a stunt car and took a beating.

The third Mustang in the movie was a back-up car, Ortte said.

“My car is the main camera car, the main close-up car, the main drive-by car. It’s the car that was used for a couple of the minor stunts. My car had all the detail work. It’s the best of the three. It was the bad guy police car. It was the first car that attacked the Camaro.”

While the car is roadworthy, Ortte won’t be taking it out much since has such distinctive markings.

“Because this says ‘Police’ on it and stuff like that, I certainly don’t want to be driving around in it. It’s mainly going to be for exhibits and charity events,” he said. “Charity events are really important to me. I just want to bring a smile to some kids’ faces who might be having a bad time.”

Senior reporter Keith Walker can be reached at 703-369-6751.

'Transformers' car comes to Prince William County

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