Daniel Cudmore Talks Cars, Stunts, and Missing His Mustang
Daniel Cudmore might be best known for portraying towering characters like Colossus in X-Men or a Volturi enforcer in Twilight, but off-screen, he’s just as enthusiastic about cars as he is about sci-fi franchises. In the most recent episode of the AutoGuide Podcast, Cudmore joined hosts Mike Schlee and Kyle Patrick to talk about growing up with fast machines, questionable first mods, and why car shopping is complicated when you’re six-foot-six.
From Condor Man to Porsche Obsession
Cudmore’s love for cars started early—really early. “I was obsessed with anything with a motor since I could walk,” he said. A pivotal moment? Watching the cheesy 1980s spy flick Condor Man. Forget the hero car—what caught his attention were the black Porsche 911 Turbos driven by the villains. “That kind of kicked off my Porsche obsession,” he said.
Champagne Taste, Beer Budget
Like many enthusiasts, Cudmore’s first car was more practical than prestigious. He saved up while working at a gas station in British Columbia and bought a 1981 Volvo 242 GLT. Rear-wheel drive, manual transmission, and enough quirks to make it a perfect learning tool. “It was just nice enough that I loved it, and not too nice that I didn’t mind working on it.”
Of course, the Volvo didn’t last forever, and Cudmore eventually made his first big splurge after landing a role in X2: X-Men United. He picked up a pristine 1989 Ford Mustang GT, complete with Recaro seats—and just barely enough cabin room for his six-foot-six frame. “I looked like Donkey Kong in a go-kart,” he laughed. But he loved it all the same.
Stunt Life and On-Set Cars
Cudmore’s career evolved from acting into stunt work, including recent projects like Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein and Percy Jackson. While he hasn’t done much stunt driving—“I just don’t fit in most of the vehicles,” he admits—he did get to hang off the back of a Warthog during a high-speed Halo promo shoot. “It felt like I’d been wakeboarding for a week,” he said.
The Cars He Misses Most
While the Mustang holds a special place in his heart, there are two cars Cudmore genuinely regrets selling: a white Land Rover Defender 90 and a Daytona Grey 2008 Audi RS4. The former turned out to be a gray-market import, but the nostalgia remains. “It was in pristine shape,” he said. The RS4? “That thing was just a joy to rev to 8,000 rpm.”
Realities of Daily Driving
These days, Cudmore’s reality includes a family, which means shopping for space more than speed. He currently drives a Volkswagen Atlas but dreams of something like an Audi RS6 or Mercedes-AMG E63 wagon—if only rear-seat legroom weren’t an issue.
And while he owns a mildly lifted F-150, Cudmore is quick to point out the absurdity of modern vehicle pricing. “$100,000 pickup trucks don’t make any sense,” he said, echoing a sentiment many enthusiasts share in today’s market.
What’s Next?
Aside from future roles in Frankenstein and Percy Jackson, don’t be surprised if Cudmore eventually finds his way back into something fast and impractical. Until then, he’s enjoying the ride—and maybe still thinking about that 911 C4S he once passed up.
“I knew that car would be worth money,” he said. “But I couldn’t fit in it.”
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