Highway Patrol #127

[Rafe Hollister]

I've been watching the 'Highway Patrol' TV series (from the decade of my birth and manufacture of my Hawk) on YouTube. Every few episodes there is a Studebaker in the background. In episode "127 Trailer Story" the bad guy and his wife buy one of the fugliest (funky-ugly) cars that I have ever seen. The center of the grill is horizontal, the sides vertical, pinched nose and bulbous fenders with ridiculous chrome trim. It reminds me of Mrs. Chrisinger, my third grade teacher... you really want to look away, but can't. At about the 9 minute mark, Broderick Crawford aka Matthews, asks what the car is, twice. The patrolman finally answers with a description, but not the make. (he says its a 1921, but no cars looked like that in the 20s)
Please help, I can't eat, I can't sleep, it's driving me nuts... and tho this isn't a Studebaker question, you 'know it all guys' are the only ones I can turn to.
If you can id it, maybe post a picture?
Rafe Hollister
PS I really like those faux exhaust port holes on their patrol Buicks... Wonder what they would look like on my Hawk?! Or perhaps a bullet nose?

[studeski]

Don't have a clue. But do know that Broderick Crawford was the only that could burn rubber on grass!!!

[shifter4]

Certainly someone must have loved this thing .

[Rafe Hollister]

Yes, that's it. But what is it?! I couldn't find a pic on the net, so kudos for your search. Maybe someone knows what it is?
Rafe

[Rafe Hollister]

Did you get that picture from the YouTube video?
Rafe

[skyway]

1940-ish Oldsmobile?

[bezhawk]

41 Nash?
Maybe.

[IndStudenut]

Does this look it Rafe?

[Rafe Hollister]

Yes, That's it!!!
Rafe

[skyway]

Yup; complete with the little trim “drips” outboard of each headlight!

[shifter4]

Yes , I did a screenshot from a Youtube vid . I was pretty sure that it was an Olds , but decided to let the Forum make the call .

[Bud]

The car in the second picture is a 1941 Oldsmobile.

[Silverplate]

The Buick portholes really were not fake because the car was designed and built with them. Fake in that they did work.

[Rafe Hollister]

Here are better pictures. However the two tone paint and old beater style of the TV car made it even more funky. 1941 Oldsmobile. This makes sense because most of the cars on the show are Olds and Chryslers.
Of all the grills I have ever seen, this one is the most disturbing, as if the headlights are crying waterfalls... with the possible exceptions of the 55 Speedster and the Packard Hawk... Oh burn!!!
Rafe Hollister

[bensherb]

Hey, careful ! I like the Packard Hawk! (Except for the upholstery on the top of the door outside the glass.)

[Noxnabaker]

Packard Hawks are COOL! That's IT!
I think 46-48 Dodge is quite ugly too. (I might get one just to change the grille; a bit like the face of Avanti )

[64LarkLover]

I see that crying effect too-and the the headlights seem bunched up close in the front of the car.

[StudeRich]

It is definitely Not a Happy Face !
Pontiac's those years were not far ahead of them.

[Hawkeye]

I thought we were talking Studebaker here.
I grew up on Highway Patrol, very few Studebakers sorry to say .
I seem to remember one episode where Broderick Crawford raced to a house to keep a suspect from escaping, he blocked the driveway as the suspect, a lady I think was backing out in a '57 Golden Hawk.
I was so disappointed he blocked her, because out on the highway he never would caught that Golden Hawk!

[skyway]

Isn’t Cruiserline Ventaports the proper name for Buick’s “portholes”?

[Captain Billy]

Not the theme song....still good

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2un_jJMD4lI&list=RD2un_jJMD4lI&start_radio=1

[Rafe Hollister]

Great song! That guy can play... working the tuning keys. And only country music could produce such a funky double guitar!
Rafe