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Vega$, TV Series, 1978-1981 IMDB

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Also known as:

  • Vegas (France)
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1963 Chevrolet Corvette ??
2071957 Ford Thunderbird [*][*][*][*]

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stronghold EN

◊ 2007-09-27 10:57

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[Image: vegasintro1nh5.th.jpg] [Image: vegasintro3ld2.th.jpg]

Hunterman US

◊ 2007-12-30 23:12

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Robert Urich did NOT drive a '56 Thunderbird. In the "Pilot" TV movie he started out with a yellow 1963 or '64 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible that part way into the movie ended up getting torched. He then acquired a Candy Apple Red 1957 Ford Thunderbird--which he drove for the remainder of the series. There were actually 2 T-Birds used for the show...1 for simple driving and parking scenes and another equipped with special brakes and a supercharged Police Chrylser engine for the car chase and "screeching around corners" scenes.

T-BirdLover US

◊ 2009-05-16 21:42

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Hunters post is correct but a little off when it comes to the facts. The T-Bird's used in "Vega$" were not "Candy Apple Red". They were painted a 70's Corvette Red because Aaron Spelling did not like the way the standard "Torch Red" for that model year came across on camera. There were two cars, one a stunt car with a Dodge interceptor engine in it and screws attached to the rims to keep the hubcaps from flying off in stunt scenes. There was also a button attached by electrical tape to the shifter which locked the tires immediately to allow the vehicle to slide around corners etc. The stunt car had no radio, a filthy interior with wires hanging down and holes in the carpet. I was told it was a white T-Bird "donor car" which had been painted to match the other. After "Vega$" ended it's run, Robert Urich was offered the cars, but he was over 6 foot tall and after driving around Vegas in 100 plus degree heat in wool blazers he wanted nothing to do with the cars. They sat on a backlot until the movie "Breathless". They were indeed painted blue and were scheduled to be driven off a cliff. Enter the man who purchased the cars. A production director from Vega$ died about this time. When his desk was being cleaned out, the card of a man who had helped the production director with T-Bird quirks during the shooting of Vega$ was found. He was then called and worked out a deal to buy both cars.
He ended up with them, painted them red again and eventually sold the race/stunt version at auction in the late 90's to man who unfortunately was going to break it down to original. (Why you would do this to such a famous car, I have no idea) The man who purchased the cars still owns the mint model used for the close-up shots. I saw both cars in person back in the early 80's during filming on the strip and spoke to the Production Director who gave me most of this info. I made contact with the owner of the cars mid 90's. I believe his son now owns the famous Dan Tanna T-Bird. The son told me he takes it out now and then for spins around the block and it still gets looks. The Continental kit on it by the way was indeed optional in 57. The one on this car made the vehicle slightly longer than your standard 57 T-Bird. The kit on the stunt car had a piece of rebarb/flat metal strip welded from the inside of the kit to the trunk to keep it in place during chase scenes.
Enjoy!
Derik Lattig, Fort Worth Texas

HunterMan US

◊ 2009-06-06 21:56

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T-BirdLover is most likely accurate with this info. I got mine from other info online sites. If he actually talked to someone who was involved in the production of the show back then, then obviously they would know. I just assumed the color of the T-Birds was probably Candy Apple Red--but later after looking in actual 50's car books assumed it was Torch Red, since thats what was avialable back then. But they probably were painted the Corvette Red. The other technical info about the "Stunt Car" was cool...I only knew it had been modified with the brakes and supercharged engine, but the other info adds for sure! I know they were eventually used in the movie "Breathless" and painted blue...but they would have had to have sat on the studio lot somewhere for a while since "Vega$" ended in 81 and "Breathless" wasn't made until 83. I'm glad to know that someone who had ties with people involved with the show was able to acquire the T-Birds and restore them. I was afraid they probably no longer existed. I do know for a fact that the continental (spare tire) kit was available in 57 (even though they'd decided to move it to the trunk unless you paid extra for the kit) because I researched that and have a 50's car book that covers every American car made from 1950-1959.

Another show produced by Aaron Spelling (and this time Leonard Goldberg too, even though "Vega$" was Spelling's only) that one of the T-Birds showed up in was "Hart To Hart"--with Robert Wagner and Stefanie Powers (1979-1984). It was a later "H2H" episode and the Harts were out of town somewhere on one of their cases and ended up renting the classic T-Bird to drive around. Anyone who knows "Vega$" would immediately recognize the Dan Tanna-Mobile! It would also make since because since Spelling produced both shows he would have access to the T-Birds, even though by the time that "Hart To Hart" episode aired "Vega$" had already gone off the air.


-- Last edit: 2009-11-07 09:18:54

HunterMan US

◊ 2009-10-24 04:30

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Enjoy Dan Tanna's crime-fighting adventures, and his awesome red 57 T-Bird, again as on October 20, 2009 "Vega$" Season 1 Volume 1 was released on DVD!! This includes the original "Pilot" TV Movie, which actually aired earlier than when the series started!

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