The featured "Hot Rod to Hell" is a modified 1958 Chevrolet Corvette. Modifications include the removal of the front grille and bumper and the addition of the roll bar and Halibrand mag wheels. The amount of blue smoke trailing the car in many of the shots suggests the engine was burning oil and close to failure.
This film was originally announced by MGM in July 1955 as another juvenile delinquent drama to follow up on the box-office success of Blackboard Jungle (1955). The studio had purchased the short story "The Red Car" by Alex Gaby prior to its publication (as "Fifty-Two Miles to Terror") in the January 14, 1956, issue of "The Saturday Evening Post". The January 20, 1956, New York Times reported that Richard Thorpe was set to direct the screenplay by Rod Serling, with studio head Dore Schary personally producing the picture. On March 24 the Times reported that the project was "postponed indefinitely" and "casting difficulties were cited as the reason for the decision to halt preparations."
Originally made for television in 1966, but released first in theaters and drive-ins instead.
Paul Genge, the traffic cop, played a passenger aboard Dana Andrews' commercial jet (where he played the pilot) in The Crowded Sky (1960).