My experience on "Studio Cars" used in movies and TV shows.
My father-in-law, when he was living, was Vice President of Warner Bros.
Pictures. The studios were given cars, by auto manufacturers, to use in
picture production. They were replaced every year so the exposure was
to the latest models. More cars were given to the studios than the
really used in the pictures, and found their way into many executive
level hands. These included limousines used to chauffeur stars around
for special events. The manufacturers were not the least concerned,
because having major executives seen driving their cars was good for
them too.
Even Actors were given promotional cars, by either the studio, or the
manufacturer, if they were of value to them as advertising. The short
body boat tailed Duesenberg SJ's that were "owned" by Cary Grant and, I
think, Clark Gable were actually gifts for promotion. As was the Tiger
you see Cary Grant in - picture on TigersUnited.com, and believe Marlene
Deitrich's Duesenberg as well. Not a new practice.
The "studio" cars were owned by the manufacturers, NOT the studios,
except in the rare instance of specialty cars, like the Batmobile, which
were bought by the Production Company (not necessarily the studio).
That is the most likely reason that Don Adam's appears in a different
car in different seasons. A change of "freebies", most likely chosen for
how many other "considerations" were included. Sometimes the
manufacturers also paid additional money if the car was actually used in
a film.
At the end of a car's useful life as advertising, it is either returned
to the manufacturer, or sold at very low cost to employees of the
studios choice. That's how I got the '56 Ford with the T-Bird engine
shown on my story.
Nice work, if you can get it.
--
Steve Laifman < Find out what is most >
B9472289 < important in your life >
< and don't let it get away!>
<SLaifman@SoCal.RR.com>
<http://www.TigersUnited.com/gallery/SteveLaifman.asp>
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