Heart Like a Wheel (1983)
Goofs
Anachronisms
During the various racing scenes, the starting line "Christmas Tree" shown is the modern 3 amber bulb version, which replaced the previous 5 amber bulb equipped "Christmas Tree" which would have been correct for the period of time the movie took place. (You can see evidence of this in the climactic final race when they use actual television footage which shows in split screen, the dragsters staging and a closeup of the "Tree" which has 5 amber bulbs.)
Set in 1977, Shirley's crew drives a 1983 Dodge Ram.
When Shirley first meets Donnie Kalitta in 1966 (and indeed in many scenes thereafter), his funny car is prominently featured - a 1971-73 Ford Mustang.
Shirley and Jack are seen in a 1956 scene with "I Only Have Eyes For You" playing in the background, but the version by The Flamingos that is played wasn't released until 1959.
A sign for Pepsi's famous "Be Sociable/Have a Pepsi" campaign is visible in barroom scene set in 1956, two years earlier than that slogan was actually launched.
Continuity
In the pits, standing by her dragster, Shirley's cigarette changes sizes during shots.
When she blows up at Pomona, she starts her pass in the left lane but the explosion takes place in the right lane.
Late in the movie after Muldowney beats Kalitta for the championship, her crew pulls up in a 70's Yellow & White Chevy/GMC 1-ton pickup. In the next scene they are outside the truck and it is an orange Dodge 1-ton pickup.
Factual errors
When Shirley shows up at the race track with her first dragster, Jack Muldowney says he's going to work on the "carb". The engine has Hilborn injectors, not carburetors.
Some time after suffering an auto accident that left her hospitalized in autumn 1973 (established by the fact she is seen watching the Sept. 30 1973 Billie Jean King/Bobby Riggs tennis match from her hospital bed), the recuperated Shirley Muldowney attends a racing event in Indianapolis where a trade show model is inviting people to take a look at the "new" 1973 Chryslers. That late in the season, the car manufacturer would actually be promoting its 1974 line, which traditionally are introduced several months before the next calendar year.
At the first race they attend with her dragster, Jack Muldowney tells his son to help him work on the carburetor. The car is an A fuel dragster and is injected and has no carburetor. The injectors are clearly visible in this scene.
When Connie crashes his dragster into the wall and the engine tumbles down the strip, it is obvious its a stripped down bare motor that was thrown to let tumble. It doesn't have anything mounted to it that is damaged such as intake or exhaust manifold/pipes and such.
Revealing mistakes
When they show the "Fonda Speedway" in the movie the place they used as a stand in isn't close to what the real Fonda Speedway looks like. The real track is on a river bottom area with no mountains or trees all around it. It sets next to the Mohawk River.
