The Cars That Ate Paris is a 1974 Australian horror comedy film, produced by twin brothers Hal and Jim McElroy and directed by Peter Weir.

Townspeople collect items from the luggage of the deceased passengers whilst survivors are taken to the local hospital where they are given lobotomies with power tools and kept as "veggies" for medical experiments by the earnest town surgeon.

The young men of the town salvage and modify the wrecked vehicles into a variety of strange-looking cars destined for destruction.

Arthur unsuccessfully attempts to leave Paris but due to a previous incident where he was exonerated of manslaughter for running over an elderly pedestrian, he has lost his confidence in driving and there does not seem to be any public transport.

When one of the hoons damages the Mayor's property and breaks a statue of an Aboriginal Australian the older men of the town burn the guilty driver's car as he is held down.

The Mayor appoints Arthur the town parking inspector complete with brassard and Army bush jacket that further irritates the young men.

The situation reaches its boiling point the night of the town's annual Pioneers Ball which is a fancy dress and costume party.