Powderkeg, Movie, 1971

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1914 Mercedes 22/50 PS

1914 Stutz Bearcat

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14stutz ◊ 2007-11-15 06:25	The car was owned by Pacific Auto rentals whose owner bought it off a used car lot sometime in the 1930s. It subsequently appreared in a number of films "Wings of Eagles", Disney's "Summer Magic" and a one-time visit to the TV comedy "Green Acres" . For 1970s "The Great White Hope" it was repainted white from it's earlier red and black finish. As the car for the two trouble shooters for hire in the TV film "Powderkeg" it retained its white finish. Photos of the car taken at that time with stars Rod Taylor and Dennis Cole were used to promote the "Bearcats!" TV series that was developed from "Powderkeg". In fact, a two page color layout of car details were published in the Sept 18, 1971 edition of the nationally distributed "TV Guide" magazine. The photos show quite a bit of wear to the finish as well as a nick to the radiator that I've matched to a still promotional photo from "Summer Magic" that indeed confirm it's the same car. The article notes that this real Stutz won't be seen in the series, that Hollywood car builder George Barris (famous for the TV Batmobile and Musnter's Coach) built two replais "...for about $25,000 for the pair". (As a note: in a press release Barris claimed a much higher price for the cars..plus a third similar--but not exact--replica he retained for car show duty). Barris used this car as a model for those two replicas used in "Bearcats!" (which see). Since those two cars were made of metal, he used this car as a model, not as a mold for fiberglass. The car was eventually sold when Pacific Auto Rentals stopped doing business and was purchased by a collector in Northern California. He told me that there was some confusion between this car and the barris replicas, so he was able to purchase the car on somewhat favorable terms. During a restoration the car was repainted black and fitted with red wire wheels. It is still in that collection.
antp ◊ 2023-01-02 18:26	See /movie.php?id=66631 for the rest of the series, following this pilot TV-movie

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14stutz

◊ 2007-11-15 06:25

The car was owned by Pacific Auto rentals whose owner bought it off a used car lot sometime in the 1930s. It subsequently appreared in a number of films "Wings of Eagles", Disney's "Summer Magic" and a one-time visit to the TV comedy "Green Acres" .

For 1970s "The Great White Hope" it was repainted white from it's earlier red and black finish. As the car for the two trouble shooters for hire in the TV film "Powderkeg" it retained its white finish. Photos of the car taken at that time with stars Rod Taylor and Dennis Cole were used to promote the "Bearcats!" TV series that was developed from "Powderkeg". In fact, a two page color layout of car details were published in the Sept 18, 1971 edition of the nationally distributed "TV Guide" magazine. The photos show quite a bit of wear to the finish as well as a nick to the radiator that I've matched to a still promotional photo from "Summer Magic" that indeed confirm it's the same car. The article notes that this real Stutz won't be seen in the series, that Hollywood car builder George Barris (famous for the TV Batmobile and Musnter's Coach) built two replais "...for about $25,000 for the pair". (As a note: in a press release Barris claimed a much higher price for the cars..plus a third similar--but not exact--replica he retained for car show duty).
Barris used this car as a model for those two replicas used in "Bearcats!" (which see). Since those two cars were made of metal, he used this car as a model, not as a mold for fiberglass.

The car was eventually sold when Pacific Auto Rentals stopped doing business and was purchased by a collector in Northern California. He told me that there was some confusion between this car and the barris replicas, so he was able to purchase the car on somewhat favorable terms. During a restoration the car was repainted black and fitted with red wire wheels. It is still in that collection.

antp

◊ 2023-01-02 18:26

See /movie.php?id=66631 for the rest of the series, following this pilot TV-movie

	The vehicle is part of the movie
	Vehicle used a lot by a main character or for a long time
	Vehicle used by a character or in a car chase
	Minor action vehicle or used in only a short scene
	Background vehicle
	Unknown vehicle role
	Seen only in preview/trailer
	Seen only in deleted scenes
	Seen only in an alternative ending
	Seen only in an extra DVD contents

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Powderkeg, Movie, 1971

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