On one hand, the series Hardcastle & McCormick was brought to life by the two leading actors, Brian Keith, who played the role of gnarled Judge Milton C. Hardcastle, and Daniel Hugh-Kelly, who played former race car driver and later detective Mark McCormick.

The secret star of the series was not an actor, but a car.

The Coyote, codename Coyote X, which has been built especially for this series, is a bright red sports car with normal doors that were opened only very rarely.

The actors simply got in and out through the oversized window openings. A narrow metal strip on the middle of the roof was the only thing differentiating the car from a Targa roof.

Since, however, Judge Hardcastle had increasing problems with stepping in and out of the Coyote this way, the sports car was eventually replaced by a Coyote, which had the for that time revolutionary double doors. The body of this Coyote was placed on the chassis of a DeLorean.

In addition to the Coyote, standing in the garage of the property was also a black Corvette Stingray Convertible with the registration number D Judge, which was driven by the judge in the pilot episode. However, in the series he mostly drove an old pickup truck, which he also kept in the garage.

This one was only replaced by the judge when, after several issues, he took matters into his own hands and attempted to repair the car – which resulted into an engine fire. As the cost of the repairs were completely ridiculous compared based on the age and the value of the vehicle, the judge scrapped the pickup and got a GMC Sierra K-15 Stepside pickup instead.

You may find all episodes of the TV series Hardcastle & McCormick here.