In its 15-season run, Supernatural has seen brothers Sam and Dean Winchester chase monsters across the United States with the aid of their ever-reliable 1967 Chevrolet Impala, a prop as much a fixture of the show as the brothers themselves. When speaking to Digital Spy on Tuesday, Dean Winchester actor Jensen Ackles (Supernatural, Smallville) revealed that, after the CW wraps production its final season, he will be driving this sentimental prop off the lot.
Ackles claims that the black Impala, nicknamed “Baby” by his character Dean Winchester, is “something that I’ve had my eye on since day one of Supernatural” (Digital Spy). Both Ackles and his on-screen brother and monster hunting partner, Sam Winchester, portrayed by Jared Padalecki (Supernatural, Gilmore Girls), have clocked tremendous hours in the vehicle over the course of the show’s 15 seasons. Of the many iconic moments the cast shared in their family vehicle, one of the show’s most beloved outtakes features Ackles hanging out the window of the car while emphatically lip-syncing “Eye of the Tiger”, during the show’s fourth season. Fortunately for Ackles, the good times he’s had in the Impala won’t come to an end when Supernatural does.
Padalecki, also speaking to Digital Spy, disclosed that he has taken many tokens from Supernatural‘s set over the years himself, though none quite as large as Ackles’ Baby. “I was going to steal the Men of Letter’s bunker, but it wouldn’t fit in my car sadly,” Padalecki joked with Digital Spy. “But I have a few trinkets here and there that I hope to hold dear forever and ever.”
Cinema Blend notices trend that “it’s become a tradition for actors to take home at least one prop from the set after they complete an extended time filming a series or the show wraps altogether.” The outlet continues to report on the many Game of Thrones actors acquisition of memorabilia from set, one of the most recent additions being Sophie Turner (Game of Thrones, X-Men: Dark Phoenix), who procured Winterfell’s throne in August. However, a car is a pretty hard prop to swindle off-set without production staff taking notice, which means Ackles had to make his case. “I begged and begged and pleaded for years, but I finally got it this year,” Ackles informed Digital Spy, regarding his persistence to secure the prop for himself.
Supernatural’s final season began in March of this year, but was shutdown due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Production on the final episodes resumed in Vancouver in August and has been met with heightened emotions from the cast, including Ackles. The actor took to Instagram last week, to mark the occasion of receiving the series’ 327th, and final, script.
While this fall may be the end for Dean Winchester, at least Ackles will have Baby to immortalize the 15 years he spent playing the monster hunter. The final batch of Supernatural episodes will air on the CW starting October 8.
The Winchesters will formally part ways after the show’s end, with Ackles is set to join Supernatural creator Eric Kripke’s The Boys for it’s third season at Amazon and Padalecki continues his run at the CW in Walker, a reboot of the classic Chuck Norris western series Walker, Texas Ranger.