There is a hidden car that appears in American Graffitti. When Milner comes to a stop next to the '60 Caddy at the stop light, a flash of yellow moves across the screen. If you have the movie on DVD, pause it and move through that part frame by frame, a super bithcin' yellow '57 Chevy 2 door wagon with no front bumper, chrome reverse wheels and black wall tires will be revealed.
That’s super interesting, Mike. I’ll have to see if I can find it later. I was waiting for someone to post that car, Dan. Always thought it looked bitchin in the movie. Will
There was a ‘39 Chevy in the movie built by my uncle. It was used for a straight on night shot and a couple of other partial scenes because of the graphics on the sides. He told me that when they were done with filming the car scenes, they offered the owners the choice between residuals or a one time $400.00 payment. He, like most of the other car guys took the cash, thinking it was just another car movie. He said that was one of the biggest mistakes he’s ever made. He sold the car shortly after that due to an impending divorce and while at a car show a few years later, saw the car. He approached and asked the owner, (at least the second since he sold it), about where he got it. The owner told him he built the car himself in his custom shop. My uncle just said, “nice car” and walked away. I tracked down the current owner about four years ago and sent him the original Ca. Registration card for it. It was Hemi powered with graphics that read, “Hemi Roid” and the Ca. Plate was, “PrepH”.
Thanks lothiandon1940 I remembered something else he told me about that experience. They were under strict orders from the production company. Absolutely no burnouts. Well after they got their money, a bunch of guys did burnouts down the Main Street and a camera crew was filming it all. Now that would be some great footage to see.
I heard it was supposed to have a 409 in it, which would be correct for the year the film took place in. 427/454 wasn't out yet in 61. My little diecast model of the car has a 409 in it, for what that's worth.
As many times as it’s been shown since then, even if it were $2.00 a showing, that’s a bunch more than the $400.00. I reckon
Hi will I wish I had more about the movie part of the cars life, well....maybe I do but it hasn’t come back to the surface just yet. Gettin’ on in years and sometimes it takes awhile to plumb the depths. The photo that Dan Hays posted of the car is after my uncle sold it. I know because it didn’t have those wheels while he had it. I have the article that accompanied that photo somewhere and if I remember correctly, it credits that current owner with the build. I have some early photos of the car that I’ll post soon. Along with the, “PrepH” Ca. Reg.
MY BROTHER BUILT 5 AMERICAN GRAFFITI CARS FOR PEOPLE HE IS ON HIS 6TH ONE NOW HE BUILDS THEM FROM GROUND UP
I’m not sure how he heard about the movie but if I had to hazard a guess, it might have been at his fab shop in Oakland or at the strip. He’s in an assisted living place now in Oakland and when I call him, in order for him to hear me, he needs a higher decibel level than I am capable of producing. I’ll drop him a line and see if I can find out.
Great stuff Ol Skool Looks like your brother has made a nice cottage industry for himself there. Do each of them come with a girl? Or is that an option?
GREAT post!!!! I had no idea the history of the ‘parked 39’ what a bitchin car!!! Would love to see the film footage of these forbidden burnouts you speak of!!!! Such a shame your uncle sold it. That’s gotta be the coolest 39 Chev I’ve ever seen, either that one or the green ‘Jolly Dolly’ 39 from Maryland(??) can’t think of the owners name right now. Couple magazine features of it in the 60’s...
As a young kid in my town I had the chance to be behind a yellow deuce coupe while in my Dad's car.Years later I see the same view with the rear of Milner's car in the movie..Life imitate's art,? Art imitate's life? I don't know,...I do know it's all Very Cool....
Kevin When my uncle told me about the filming of the burnouts, I searched and searched for any mention of them. All to no avail. I agree, how cool to see those! Jeff
More photos and brain droppings, George Carlin’s phrase, not mine. Been rifling through my shop and my memory and have come up with some more “Hemi-Roid nuggets. I found the only three photos of the car from when my uncle owned and raced it. His ex got custody of all of the photo albums. I scanned the Ca. Registration card and up in the right corner is the aforementioned, “PREPH”. On the back of one of the photos, he wrote, “430 ci Chry Hemi, 9:95 @ 141mph. Another memory of my conversations with him came back while I was scanning these photos. Apparently there was an older gent in the Bay area that did all of the gold leaf, pin striping and lettering on the fire trucks in the area. He turned his nose up at hot rods and refused to do any striping on them. One day he stopped into my uncle’s shop for some reason and was looking at the unlettered ‘39, reminiscing about having one just like it and what fond memories he had of it. My uncle asked him to do the lettering and graphics, but he refused. When he was shown the rendering of what he wanted, he got such a kick out of the “HEMI-ROID” that he agreed to do it. At a very hefty price. Well, I think that is just about all I have to contribute to this discussion. But, I never know what memory will percolate to the surface, so....... I just took delivery of a really nice ‘30 Model A from a long time member’s son. Unfortunately I’m in New England so it may be a while before a nice test drive. Be well All
Lothiandon He’s not past tense just yet. It’s been fun sharing what I know about the car with the group.
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