I love a murder mystery. Who doesn’t? And when that mystery includes my beloved home city (Los Angeles), plenty of scandals, and gobs of disposable wealth, well, sign me up! This is the case of the Menendez Brothers– a notorious unsolved case involving Beverly Hills teens who allegedly killed their parents. I’m not here to argue whether or not their actions were justified. I’m here to talk about the cars. Specifically, the cars as depicted in the recent Netflix series ‘MONSTERS: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.’ Here’s the trailer to whet your appetite:
The Menendez Ride Of Shame
If you’re anything like me, you audibly gasped in that opening scene, where the unmistakably GT splashes across the screen, and if you, like me, said to yourself, “Is that what I think it is?” you’re right! Yes, the car in that opening scene is the legendary Ford Escort GT. You kids may not know what that is, but you certainly do if you’re of a particular generation. However, by memory, it’s only because there aren’t that many still running today. Don’t worry; however, this guy has one on IG for your viewing pleasure.
The Menendez Family Car
Because the Menendez brothers grew up in Beverly Hills, they didn’t ride to school in a Town & Country and weren’t shuffled to tennis matches in Volvos either. No, this is Beverly Hills, baby! Their family vehicle (according to the show) was the classic Mercedes W-126 S Class, the epitome of 80s luxury and wealth. I can’t tell you if it’s historically accurate, but it is awesome.
Plus, it’s the perfect place to have a calm, rational pep talk with your boys.
Lyle Menendez’s Temper Tantrum Alfa
During the trial, it was revealed that Jose Menendez bought his son an Alfa Romeo Spider as a graduation gift. According to the salesperson’s testimony, Lyle was less than gracious, throwing a full-on tantrum at the dealership. Is this true? Well, according to ABC News’ photos of the driveway, it sure looks like there was an Alfa there. And the chances that Lyle liked it were slim because immediately after the murders, he traded the car in for a Porsche. Can you blame him?
What Did Kitty Drive?
One of the series’ most egregious commissions was that on Christmas morning, when Jose/Santa gives Kitty the keys to a new Mercedes, we only see her look out the window and exclaim, “And it’s a convertible.” That’s great, Kitty, but we need evidence. Given the era, it was likely a R-107/SL450. But seeing her in it really would’ve sealed the deal. Here’s a picture of my daughter, who bought her own 450SL, no pedophile required:
The Perfect Girlfriend Drives A Saab
There was one scene with a Saab in it. Did you see that? According to court documents, Lyle bought that car for his girlfriend, Jamie Pisarcik. This fact honestly makes me like him more.
And if you’re curious to read what Nathan Lane’s character Dominick Dunne wrote about the trial, you can access the Vanity Fair article here.
What do you think? Did you notice any other great cars that I didn’t cover? Let me know on social or in the comments.