Cars Formerly Owned by Famous People

[wayne sheldon]

A lot of children's shows before 1970 were licensed for local production all over the country. About twenty of more years ago, a PBS special showed clips of "Bozo the Clown" and "Miss Nancy" ("Romper Room") from several areas of the country. It was interesting to see the differences, and similarities. Those licensed productions always had strict parameters for the characters, and story details that had to be followed. Yet the characters themselves varied quite a bit. The different actors sometimes had different body types and mannerisms. I remember once, when I was still quite little, that our San Francisco "Miss Nancy" ("Romper Room") changed actress. Even at my young age, it annoyed me that they tried to pass her off as the same character.

I had a bit more insight at a young age than most kids. My dad was a communications engineer, color television specialist, and cable television pioneer. Beginning when I was about four, I would sometimes ride along when he went up to San Francisco to repair the color television equipment (he was the outside specialist they would call when their inhouse engineer couldn't fix something!). So I got to see the studios where these shows were produced live during the day. However, those shows were not in those days in color, so I never did get to see the actual production of them. I did get to stand in the background a couple times and watch live news broadcasts!

 

I sometimes like to state that "I have seen the bowl of fruit!" A reference only those in the know will understand. I also know about the "blue bananas"!

 

I am not an expert here, but as far as I know, Bob Keeshan was the only Captain Kangaroo. I do know that his Captain Kangaroo show was in its day the longest running nationally broadcast children's television show. Bob Keeshan was also Clarabell the Clown on the earlier "Howdy Doody Show" (detail fact, he wasn't the ONLY Clarabell the Clown). Both the Captain and Howdy shows were nationally produced and broadcast, among the first to not be locally produced and licensed.

 

The local licensed productions biggest advantage was having local children participate in the shows. The nationally broadcast shows generally had higher production quality, and more control with editing than the live shows had. But the local live shows had a hometown effect that the nationally broadcast shows could never quite duplicate.

 

Okay, apologies for the further thread drift.

I am enjoying following this thread and seeing how other hobbyists feel about the "celebrity value" of collector cars. Put me in the camp that it would matter who the celebrity was. However, even if I had the money to stupid spend as much as I could on a whim? Very few celebrities would add more than a couple dollars to their past cars.

I did really enjoy having one of William Harrah's collection cars for awhile! And I very much liked having a car that was considered special to an old friend of mine that sadly died way too young. To me, THAT was worth something.

[8E45E]

2 hours ago, wayne sheldon said:

I am not an expert here, but as far as I know, Bob Keeshan was the only Captain Kangaroo. I do know that his Captain Kangaroo show was in its day the longest running nationally broadcast children's television show. Bob Keeshan was also Clarabell the Clown on the earlier "Howdy Doody Show" (detail fact, he wasn't the ONLY Clarabell the Clown). Both the Captain and Howdy shows were nationally produced and broadcast, among the first to not be locally produced and licensed.

Canada's "Captain Kanagaroo" was Ernie Coombs, aka "Mr, Dressup", on CBC.  He actually was an old car fanatic, and owned a 1932 Auburn.  He passed away in the early 2000's.  

 

Craig

[f.f.jones]

We’ve probably beaten this topic to death and could go on about celebrity homes (Marylin Monroe’s Brentwood hacienda), clothing (Dorothy’s ruby slippers), or weapons (General Patten’s revolver). It seems most rational folks aren’t star struck and take a pass when it comes to paying extra for “manufactured” value and hype.

My feeling is that the only thing worth paying for is “true quality” - however an individual might define quality: personal, sentimental, historical...etc.                            Amen.

[1937hd45]

22 hours ago, JamesR said:

Then I'd buy an XK-140 as an exotic car...and if I could find one, a Maserati A6GCS Berlinetta coupe, which was maybe the world's best looking car ever made from any era. Not practical, though...and probably hard for normal people to keep in tune.

 

 

I had to look that up, WOW! 

[JamesR]

There is a major drawback to that car, though: I don't think I could physically fit in one. ☹️

[1937hd45]

19 hours ago, JamesR said:

There is a major drawback to that car, though: I don't think I could physically fit in one. ☹️

You could keep it here, I'll figure out how to get in it. In the 1970's I could have had an A6GCS Roadster that had sat outside in a massive midwest hail storm. I've regretted passing on that $1,500 deal ever since. Bob 

Edited September 26, 2021 by 1937hd45 (see edit history)

[mrspeedyt]

how about kramer’s 4 door chevy sedan with THAT new york license plate? that’d be fun to have…

[TAKerry]

Im not sure I have ever met a celebrity, I have been physically close to some in a couple of different situations and knew the brother of a rather well know actress very well. I think if one (a celebrity) thought of themselves on a higher regard than the rest of us mere mortals it would turn me off and no way I would want to own something of theirs. On the other hand if they were down to  earth 'regular people' that would have more appeal to me. As far as owning a celebrity car, If I had to pick off the top of my head I might say John Lennon?

[edinmass]

My turn. Having met a bunch of “famous” and “celebrity” people, I can say while it’s fun and a cool talking point.......most of them are dull, and spending ten minutes with them is more than enough. Pay extra for one of their cars? Not a chance. Pay for a movie car.......not a chance.......except the 007 DB, which having had my hands on, can confirm it’s worth the premium. The Steve McQueen overpriced stuff is just that........nothing special about a 60’s or 70’s Mustang that was pounded on in a film. Every Duesenberg, Phantom II, 540K, Rollston Body, were all purchased new by interesting and historical type people. Having a cars provenance is fun, historical, and oftentimes provide great talking points.........pay for it? Only if your foolish.

 

PS- Chuck Berry kept ALL of his Cadillac’s.........because they would be “worth more money because they were mine” ...........wondering when the auction will occur, and twenty cars hit the market.

Edited September 25, 2021 by edinmass (see edit history)

[Walt G]

Only "celebrity" car people I knew were Bill Harrah and briefly actor Charles Bronson. Both I walked around with at Hershey in the flea market when there was still a Blue Field and it was before the Roller Coasterville it now is, became reality. Bronson was a good guy, down to earth and lived east of Hershey about an hours drive. Met him while looking for stuff on a table and he commented " see any LaSalle tail light lens?" He owned one and was there looking for the part. Dressed like everyone else, very down to earth guy.

Bill Harrah and I spent a weeks vacation with each other annually at the Franklin Club trek - his adopted son's even attended, they like to climb trees more then look at cars. Was neat at Christmas time when we exchanged Christmas cards too. Until I got my own Franklin on the road Bill lent me a car for the week, he had hauled from Reno to drive around on the tours the club had, he usually brought 3 or 4 cars to the Franklin meet.  I spent hours on the phone ( could hear better 45-50 years ago) with Mike Moore of Bill's research/restoration team answering questions of details about what was original when they restored cars.

I have found most "celebrities" that also like cars are "car guys" first and become celebrities when their fame catches on with the general public. My meeting/knowing and talks with Rene and Maurice Dreyfus ( Bugatti race cars) , Stirling Moss, Bill Mitchell all were very very pleasant conversations. It wasn't under the circumstances of being in the public eye, the hype, etc. they could be their "real" self.

[Ben Bruce aka First Born]

Well, gee whiz, only "FAMOUS" person I have met was a nice guy.  Moved him from Indiana to Coronado Island, California.  The case of his Orville Redenbacher pop corn he tipped me with lasted a couple years.

 

  Ben

[TTR]

3 hours ago, Ben Bruce aka First Born said:

Well, gee whiz, only "FAMOUS" person I have met was a nice guy.  Moved him from Indiana to Coronado Island, California.  The case of his Orville Redenbacher pop corn he tipped me with lasted a couple years.

 

  Ben

Well, in my case, those pop corns would last forever (untouched), unless I handed them to my wife or anyone else who likes them. 😉

 

Now, if someone tips me with a case of good cigars, wine or whisky, all usually gets consumed in reasonably rapid manner. 🥸

 

As for them “FAMOUS” people, whenever I mention  various individuals I’ve encountered through this hobby or have done business with over the years/decades, someone almost always asks me “You actually know so-and-so ?” to which I inevitably reply with “Yes, I guess you could say that, but more importantly, so-and-so knows me !”.

 

Edited September 25, 2021 by TTR (see edit history)

[Bhigdog]

Only "celebrity" that I'd ever go out of my way to talk to would have been Neil Armstrong. I almost got to meet him. My company flew him from Dayton to Allentown to give a speech to a group of new eagle scouts at a Boy Scout dinner. I was scheduled to captain the trip but my bat rastard of a boss bumped me.

Don't know what kind of cars Mr. Armstrong owned but I'm guessing they were modest and unassuming................Bob

[76 Caddy]

Even though most of y’all don’t care about celebrity owned cars, I thought I would still share mine. I bought it in 2001.

 

Tim 

Edited September 25, 2021 by 76 Caddy (see edit history)

[John_S_in_Penna]

19 minutes ago, 76 Caddy said:

Even though most of y’all don’t care about celebrity owned cars, I thought I would still share mine. I bought it in 2001. 

 

Mr. Caddy, can you post a picture of your Cadillac?

Even though many would not pay a premium, the cars

themselves can still be interesting.

 

I'm more awed by the fact that California charged $172

to register that car in 1977!  Adjusted for inflation, that 

would be well over $700 a year today!  And if you missed

the due date, the stated 50% penalty would bring the

cost to over $1100.  Low registration costs--and lifetime

registrations for antiques for a still-small fee--make the

car hobby more affordable in other places.

[George Cole]

17 minutes ago, Bhigdog said:

Only "celebrity" that I'd ever go out of my way to talk to would have been Neil Armstrong. I almost got to meet him. My company flew him from Dayton to Allentown to give a speech to a group of new eagle scouts at a Boy Scout dinner. I was scheduled to captain the trip but my bat rastard of a boss bumped me.

Don't know what kind of cars Mr. Armstrong owned but I'm guessing they were modest and unassuming................Bob

 

GM gifted a new 1962 Corvette to Alan Shephard after his first space flight.  That gave central FL Chevy dealer Jim Rathmann, (winner of the 1960 Indy 500,) the idea to lease Vettes to astronauts for $1 per year, each...which he did for many years.  The astronauts typically kept the Vettes for several years before returning them to Rathmann and getting a new one.  Sadly, documentation was not kept on most of the astronaut cars once they were returned from lease, and they were sold as used cars.  Most likely many of them have not survived and have not been documented.  Neil Armstrong had this 1967 Vette on a Rathmann lease when he became the first man to walk on the Moon.  He kept it for several more years, then returned it for a newer model.  A NASA employee bought it from the dealer, along with paperwork which identified it as Armstrong's car.  It was rode hard and put away wet far too many times, before being retired to a basement garage until it surfaced in 2012.  A couple of members from the local Corvette club confirmed its authenticity.  It was bid to $250k on ebay, but did not meet an undisclosed reserve.  It eventually did sell and the new owner restored it in 2015.  It has been displayed at multiple car shows here for the past several years.  There are quite a few on-line articles about it.  It is believed Mr. Armstrong had several other Rathmann-leased Vettes but as far as I know, this is the only one with provenance which has survived.  

 

 

 

 

 

[Bhigdog]

I was aware of the astronaut/Corvette deal but not to those details. As much as I admire Mr. Armstrong I would not pay a premium for some object associated with him. An quiet hour spent with him over a breakfast table is a different story..........Bob

Edited September 25, 2021 by Bhigdog (see edit history)

[1937hd45]

9 hours ago, Walt G said:

Only "celebrity" car people I knew were Bill Harrah and briefly actor Charles Bronson. Both I walked around with at Hershey in the flea market when there was still a Blue Field and it was before the Roller Coasterville it now is, became reality. Bronson was a good guy, down to earth and lived east of Hershey about an hours drive. Met him while looking for stuff on a table and he commented " see any LaSalle tail light lens?" He owned one and was there looking for parts. 

I would have liked to have meet Charles Bronson, he was a B-17 tail gunner in WWII. Wonder if he flew out of the base my Dad was on. If so, he was using two 50.Cal machine guns my Dad overhauled before the flight. 

 

Bob 

[wayne sheldon]

1 hour ago, 1937hd45 said:

Wonder if he flew out of the base my Dad was on. If so, he was using two 50.Cal machine guns my Dad overhauled before the flight. 

 

One sure can wonder. I don't recall offhand whether it was a B-17 or a B-29, however, my uncle was a navigator on one for a good part of the war. He was flying out of Northern Africa at first, then transferred to Italy after Mussolini fell. One can really wonder who's paths they may have crossed with, or even flown with?

[JamesR]

It was several years ago while watching a '50's crime drama movie that I learned Charles Bronson's original name was Charles Buchinsky. That was likely the name he used while in the service (just in case you want to research his service record further.)

 

He was usually a heavy (bad guy) in his bit roles back in the 1950's, and was actually very good or believable in those parts. I actually prefer his early thug characters to his later hero/vigilante characters.

[Frank DuVal]

On 9/24/2021 at 12:52 PM, Matt Harwood said:

If we do some rock star or some T.V. personality would be president.

Been asleep for 40 years? 😆 

 

Happened twice so far.

[Frank DuVal]

7 hours ago, Bhigdog said:

Don't know what kind of cars Mr. Armstrong owned but I'm guessing they were modest and unassuming

 

I can tell you John Glenn owned a 1964 Corvair Monza convertible, and it was restored recently by a member of Tidewater Corvair Club. 

 

I can't tell you if the value change at all due to the original owner, but, the current owner likes the provenance, and that is all that matters,  since he is related to Edwin Hubble of the Hubble telescope. 😉

 

 

[edinmass]

I met Charles Bronson back in the very late 80’s at a small car show in Connecticut. Had a beer and a steamed hot dog with him over lunch.......it was about 3.50, and he bought. Hit it off with him and we exchanged Christmas cards for years. Had lunch with him five or six times over the years at the same small show. I almost didn’t recognize him as he aged poorly, and it took me a while to figure out who he was because he only told me his first name. Quite, unassuming, and had a Stutz........which was always the subject of our conversations. He was just another old car guy. I lost touch with him a while before he passed. 

[58L-Y8]

Ed:

The fact that you didn't gush about his movie work, only shared a common interest in Classics and are knowledgeable about them was the reason you became friends.   Chances are he appreciated that more than all the 'gushers' he'd ever encountered.   What Stutz did he own?  Was it coachbuilt?

[Guest]

3 hours ago, edinmass said:

 Had a beer and a steamed hot dog with him over lunch....

Years ago I was at LAX waiting to board a plane when I realize Harry Anderson (of Night Court) is standing right next to me.  He's holding a loaded Chicago dog  mustard, relish, onions, the works.  So I watch in wretched and stunned fascination as he bites into this dog and about a quart of condiments spooges all over the front of his shirt and tie and right down to his belt line.  He doesn't flinch, not a blink, just keeps staring out the window at the runway, munching away like nothing's happened. 

I quietly took two steps sideways away from him just in case people thought we might be travelling together....

[Guest]

3 hours ago, 58L-Y8 said:

The fact that you didn't gush about his movie work, only shared a common interest in Classics and are knowledgeable about them was the reason you became friends.   Chances are he appreciated that more than all the 'gushers' he'd ever encountered.  

This is very true.

We get celebs in our bar semi regularly.  Mostly music industry type stars but a few movie/TV personalities as well.  I've watched many times while a customer or one of my musicians will sit with them at the bar and talk shop for an hour, real one on one.  Just two like-minded music people.  A few others (usually tourists) are starstruck, gush, ask for an autograph, pictures, etc. and you can see a mask drop over the artist's face. They smile, they're cordial but you can see they're completely different with the two types of people.  

Sometimes they like to have a night off to just be a regular Joe in a bar having a beer, eating a burger, listening to a band. No paparazzi, no autographs, nothing.

Fame can be more of a curse than a blessing.

[MotiveLensPhoto]

On 9/25/2021 at 2:20 AM, mrspeedyt said:

how about kramer’s 4 door chevy sedan with THAT new york license plate? that’d be fun to have…

I stopped short and made a grab.

[TAKerry]

I rather be rich than famous any day of the week. Still Waiting!

[60FlatTop]

Celebrities come at many levels. I was reminiscing with my 40 year old nephew at my birthday party over the weekend. When he was 16 he worked at the counter in a local parts chain. There was a very attractive young girl working there as well who was fairly new. I was buying parts from her one day and she suddenly lit up. "You're Uncle Bernie!" she exclaimed. A fabled celebrity, I'm sure. My mind immediately went to a cartoon character in the old Hustler magazine of the time. Seems like his name was Chester.

[trimacar]

On 9/26/2021 at 5:38 PM, 58L-Y8 said:

Ed:

The fact that you didn't gush about his movie work, only shared a common interest in Classics and are knowledgeable about them was the reason you became friends.   Chances are he appreciated that more than all the 'gushers' he'd ever encountered.   What Stutz did he own?  Was it coachbuilt?

Walking the side streets of the French Quarter in NOLA years ago with my date, a beautiful vintage Mercedes drives up and parks right in front of us.  A tall, lanky man unwound himself from the car, and my first comment to him was “Wow, very nice car…”. And we started talking about car collecting and the quality of older cars.  Meanwhile, my date was standing there with wide eyes whispering “it’s, it’s” and poking me in the ribs.  After we talked for a few minutes, he introduced himself.  Needless action when you’re James Coburn.

 

I think he was taken aback that I wanted to talk cars, and wasn’t making a big deal out of who he was.

 

Was lined  up for a parade here in Winchester, the Grand Marshall was Dan Akroyd.  His sister lives not far from me so he was in town often.  He walked by my Pierce Arrow and broke away from his group, wanted to talk cars because at the time he owned a Pierce also.  Very pleasant to talk with, but he didn’t  introduce himself, nor did he need to of course.

Edited September 29, 2021 by trimacar (see edit history)

[58L-Y8]

“In the future, everybody will be world famous for fifteen minutes.”  ― Andy Warhol

 

I think I've used up maybe two or three minutes so far...better get busy!

[60FlatTop]

About 10 years ago I was driving my '64 Riviera in the Rochester, New York Lilac Festival Parade through the city streets. I figured out the buzzing in the crowd was saying Snoop Dog owned one. And I think they were trying to figure out why Archie Bunker was driving it.

[Restorer32]

There is a local 1940 Cadillac Sedan whose claim to celeb status is that the original owner's daughter vomited on Eleanor Roosevelt when she was here campaigning for her hubby. Eleanor was being taken around by the well heeled owner of the Caddy when his daughter became car sick. We also have Burt Reynolds '70's Chrysler Limo here for work. Imagine the stories that limo could tell.

[TTR]

25 minutes ago, Restorer32 said:

We also have Burt Reynolds '70's Chrysler Limo here for work. Imagine the stories that limo could tell.

Being how he’s perceived by many and rumors of potential “conquests”, you may not want to take black/UV light to the rear seat area of that car either. 😉

[MotiveLensPhoto]

On 9/29/2021 at 1:49 PM, Restorer32 said:

There is a local 1940 Cadillac Sedan whose claim to celeb status is that the original owner's daughter vomited on Eleanor Roosevelt when she was here campaigning for her hubby. Eleanor was being taken around by the well heeled owner of the Caddy when his daughter became car sick. We also have Burt Reynolds '70's Chrysler Limo here for work. Imagine the stories that limo could tell.

You mean Turd Ferguson, right?

[Paul Dobbin]

On 9/21/2021 at 6:52 AM, Restorer32 said:

I defy you to find a heterosexual male my age, 73, whose first love was not Annette. 

     She was the cutest Mouseketeer and the only one with a figure.  Just a casual observation.

[Angelfish]

My brother was almost run over by an NSX driven by Robert Redford.   Does that count?

[StylishOne]

 While Annette was an icon of the 1950’s with all due respect she wasn’t Monroe or Garbo..

I understand paying a bit more for a true Celebrity auto but  who’s car it was what I think of them and of course if the car is interesting at all makes the big difference . Some socialites and Royalty would be worthy of a few extra bucks too.. again depending on the car.. wasn’t it Sinatra that had a K car woody wagon, but also had a Dual Ghia ?   Here the Dual Ghia would be way more interesting to me. 

[c49er]

I'm still wondering where JP Patches 1986 Cadillac is.

[Ed Luddy]

21 hours ago, StylishOne said:

 While Annette was an icon of the 1950’s with all due respect she wasn’t Monroe or Garbo..

I understand paying a bit more for a true Celebrity auto but  who’s car it was what I think of them and of course if the car is interesting at all makes the big difference . Some socialites and Royalty would be worthy of a few extra bucks too.. again depending on the car.. wasn’t it Sinatra that had a K car woody wagon, but also had a Dual Ghia ?   Here the Dual Ghia would be way more interesting to me. 

I have Frank Sinatra's car!