Gear Head Tuesday - The Muppets Movie Studebaker

[Packard5687]

https://56packardman.com/2019/07/02/gear-head-tuesday-the-muppet-movie-studebaker/

[RadioRoy]

Here's the latest on the Muppet car restoration.

https://www.autoblog.com/2021/12/16/studebaker-national-museum-muppet-movie-car-restoration-fundraiser/

[r1lark]

Here's the latest on the Muppet car restoration.

https://www.autoblog.com/2021/12/16/...on-fundraiser/

They are raising $175K to restore that?!?

[StudeRich]

I have to wonder what the story is about this second Car? Their email doesn't mention it.

I know there were more than one probably 2 '51's used in the Movie but I didn't know they bought one.
We all Know about the Famous Blue Car that had a Camera in the Bullet opening and the driver and controls in the Trunk.

That Car was donated I believe (maybe sold) to the SNM by my former friend Richard Holcomb (RIP) from So. Cal.
I sold him my Boxwood (Ford) Green '63 Champ 8E7-122 back in the 70's.
I have to think about what he would say about spending $175,000.00 to Restore it. I think 50K should do it!


The one we all know and love ........................................... The "Other One"?

[Bud]

I remember back in the 70's a good friend of mine owned the car for a short time. The steering was done from the trunk with an interesting steering mechanism. I know that Bill sold the car to someone in LA, but I don't remember who that was, but possibly it was Richard Holcomb. $175k seems a bit high to restore a 51 Champion. Bud

[Milaca]

The museum must be as wasteful as our government to waste $175,000 on that car. It is a static piece, so no need to restore the mechanics of it (unless they intend to drive it in parades, even then it doesn't need to be perfect). Hire a technical college to airbrush the graphics back on and call it good! The original movie crew probably spent $20 on rattle cans of Krylon to get the desired effect, so why go overboard on it?

[Son O Lark]

I did a spit take when I read $175,000. Hire an air brush artist for $10,000. There are probably several at Notre Dame that would do a great job. Or maybe a wrap treatment?

[Bob Andrews]

People talk about CASO, but it doesn’t apply in this case, where is God’s name are they trying to spend $175,000? You could restore a whole Studebaker for around a third of that, let alone a stripped movie prop. Did they consult with somebody in the business or just pull a random figure out of the air?

This makes no sense. If you’re going to ask for this kind of money, it’s only fair to show how you justify the amount. If you’re asking for a nonsensically high amount, even more! I read the GoFundMe and the article and neither begin to explain how they arrived at this amount. I’ll pass. Not a good look for the museum.

[skyway]

Just clicked on the link & discovered that it’s OUR museum!
“Not a good look” indeed.

[Mark L]

It would be nice if someone from the museum who is familiar with the project could fill us in on the details. $175,000 is a lot for a restoration, even considering the extra closed-circuit video equipment that needs to be acquired and installed in the bullet and trunk to replicate what the driver used to operate the car.

Still, it would be cool to see it in a parade with Fozzie "driving" and Kermit riding shotgun. If the puppeteers had a sound system, Fozzie and Kermit could talk to each other and the crowd as they drive by. It would be great PR for the museum. I'm sure Bob Palma and Tom Lawlis would agree, driving the Boilermaker Special in parades and representing Purdue University around Indiana was an absolute BLAST! I'd volunteer to drive the Muppet car. However, I will demand adequate ventilation and air conditioning in the trunk. Driving the Boilermaker Special at 1 mph in the Indiana heat and humidity without air conditioning was like riding in a sweatbox.

I'll let the lawyers handle the conversations between SNM and Disney regarding a public appearance of their characters (yes, Disney has owned the intellectual property rights to the Muppets since 2004).

Many parade organizers also require vehicle owners to provide proof they carry a specified minimum amount of liability insurance (I've seen a minimum of $1,000,000 on some parade applications) and indemnify the parade organizers and sponsors just in case "something goes wrong". It's one thing to drive a movie car on a closed road, and another to be in a very populated setting. If this is part of the museum's plan, I envision the car carrying a lot more cameras and safety spotters walking alongside the car and in constant radio communication with the driver to prevent accidents. That would certainly add to the restoration cost.

[kurtruk]

I remember back in the 70's a good friend of mine owned the car for a short time. The steering was done from the trunk with an interesting steering mechanism. I know that Bill sold the car to someone in LA, but I don't remember who that was, but possibly it was Richard Holcomb. $175k seems a bit high to restore a 51 Champion. Bud

Maybe that was in the '80s? Filming was done in 1978-79.

[Bud]

Could be in the early 80's, but that is still forty years ago. Bud

[BobPalma]

Still, it would be cool to see it in a parade with Fozzie "driving" and Kermit riding shotgun. If the puppeteers had a sound system, Fozzie and Kermit could talk to each other and the crowd as they drive by. It would be great PR for the museum. I'm sure Bob Palma and Tom Lawlis would agree, driving the Boilermaker Special in parades and representing Purdue University around Indiana was an absolute BLAST! I'd volunteer to drive the Muppet car. However, I will demand adequate ventilation and air conditioning in the trunk. Driving the Boilermaker Special at 1 mph in the Indiana heat and humidity without air conditioning was like riding in a sweatbox.

Roger that, Mark...and a helluva chick magnet for underclass women, too! BP

[6hk71400]

They are raising $175K to restore that?!?

I just checked on Ebay for a brand new 35th Anniversary DVD, for $12.70 Since I doubt the car would ever show up for exhibition in Tucson, ( population 700,000) plus any number of smaller towns, it is doubtful many of us Studephiles would ever be able to see what $175,000 would look like in the form of a movie car that perhaps would have been seen in 15 minutes of a 90 minute movie.

Incidentally, at the International meet in Las Vegas, at the hotel we were staying , a local tv station was playing the Muppet Movie one night.

Bob Miles
LA Confidential has better looking Studebaker's in the movie
No, I am not Oscar the Grouch

[6hk71400]

I did a spit take when I read $175,000. Hire an air brush artist for $10,000. There are probably several at Notre Dame that would do a great job. Or maybe a wrap treatment?

Just an after thought: home many Studebaker's or Studebaker related products could be restored for $175,000? Would that be of a great benefit to the museum and all of us as well?

Bob Miles
Sometimes more money than brains shows up