The story begins with the Driver (James Taylor) and the Mechanic (Dennis Wilson), who exist to race and race to survive. The film doesn't tell us their names or what connects them. The Girl (Laurie Bird) becomes part of their journey when she takes a bag from one man’s car and puts it in theirs. “Where are you going?” she asks, and the Mechanic responds, "East." Her name might be Higgins. They run into another driver…

“Two-Lane Blacktop” (1971) follows a driver and mechanic—played by James Taylor and Dennis Wilson respectively—as they journey across the American landscape in a customized 1955 Chevy. Along the way, they encounter a young woman seeking casual relationships (Laurie Bird), and become involved in an aimless competition with another man driving a GTO from an earlier generation (Warren Oates). Esquire magazine promote…