Trivia: The Pontiac that Gene Hackman is driving hits a white Ford sedan. The person driving it was a civilian, not involved in the filming.
Trivia: Eddie Egan, the real police detective who inspired the character Popeye Doyle, plays Doyle's superior in the movie.
Trivia: The casting of Fernando Rey was an accident. William Friedkin had wanted to cast Francisco Rabal, whom he had seen in Belle de jour (1967), but at the time didn't know his name. Only after actor and director met did Friedkin realize Rey wasn't the actor he had wanted. Friedkin ended up keeping Rey after learning that Rabal spoke neither English nor French.
Trivia: James Caan, Peter Boyle and Steve McQueen were all offered the role of "Popeye" Doyle but turned it down for various reasons. Gene Hackman was eventually cast without auditioning, reading for the part or screen-testing.
Trivia: During the subway chase scene Hackman collides with another vehicle. This wasn't supposed to happen and the vehicle wasn't even supposed to be on the set. The crash looked cool, so it was kept.
Trivia: Although there is no music during the iconic chase scene with the train, William Friedkin edited it to the rhythm of Santana's "Black Magic Woman."
Answer: The parking laws in the 1970's were not as strict as they are today, leaving a car on the street is no different from parking on the curb in a suburban area. The car was supposed to be picked up by the mob.