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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Ashland to host World Peace & Prayer Day Improving the lives of women is the focus for Soroptimists in Ashland Temperatures expected to drop 20 degrees Documentary about Southern Oregon University football's national championship team to screen for free Police Reports Education New Southern Oregon University board votes to bump tuition nearly 5 percent in the fall Why OLLI matters: A personal perspective Southern Oregon University names director of marketing Dianne Williamson: College admissions mania ill-advised Rotary Club of Ashland names Riley O'Sullivan as Student of the Month Environment Mt. Ashland Ski Area to host party March 28 Mt. Ashland hopes coming storm will reopen ski area Wild Side: Selfish and other reasons for saving endangered species Mt. Ashland Ski Area: Low snow closes 'bunny hill' chairlift for beginning skiers With pre-season conditions worst in 25 years, catastrophic wildfires expected in region this summer Business Cars We Remember: ‘Topper’ movie car most memorable Ride & Drive: 2015 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Snow hopes dashed, Mt. Ashland Ski Area hosts season-ending party Saturday Iconic Ashland bookstore to celebrate 35th anniversary on April 19 Test Drive: 2015 Honda Accord Politics and elections Jackson County Commissioners plan no tax on marijuana for first year Grassroots group campaigns for Plaza paver do-over Arthur I. Cyr: Iran – a crisis without end Short-term rental restrictions kept in some areas, loosened in others Arthur I. Cyr: South Korea represents long-term triumph – for them and for US State News Oregon's governor appoints new secretary of state Nation - World Obituaries Death Notices Alicia Applegate Hardy Death Notices Rosalind Dee Death Notices Shareable Sports Latest Stories Blazers clinch playoff spot Thompson-Siporen second in decathlon Documentary about Southern Oregon University football's national championship team to screen for free Fantasy Sports: Reds’ Chapman opens list of top closers Bill Ballou: Pace-of-game rules are a good start to improving baseball High school Thompson-Siporen second in decathlon Grizz baseball team caps Arizona trip with another win Grizzlies rally past Colorado school for Greenway Festival victory Ashland softball team splits pair in second day of Bend tournament Grizzlies rally past GP, to 2-0 start Southern Oregon University Grizz baseball team caps Arizona trip with another win Grizzlies rally past Colorado school for Greenway Festival victory Ashland softball team splits pair in second day of Bend tournament Ducks enjoy the challenge Oregon bows out Voices Latest Stories Our View: One for the books Council Corner: Ashland’s climate plan Wry & Ginger: Daylight saving and our hour of need Letters to the Editor, March 30 Chris Honoré: Some political and social observations Editorial Our View: One for the books Our View: Build it; they will play Our View: How it should work Our View: Ashland High principal is the head of her class Our View: Tuition trauma Letters Letters to the Editor, March 30 Letters to the Editor, March 27 Letters to the Editor, March 25 Letters to the Editor, March 23 Letters to the Editor, March 20 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent Guest Opinion: Hannah Thomas-Garner's father thanks the Ashland community Guest Opinion: Ashland is asking for trouble with new room rental rules Guest Opinion: More reasons to oppose Jordan Cove Guest Opinion: It's Groundwater Awareness Week; test your well Columns Council Corner: Ashland’s climate plan Chris Honoré: Some political and social observations Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent Herb Rothschild Jr: Failing at charity Philip Maddocks: GOP plan offers hope for poor once they become rich Chris Honore Council Corner Editor's Notes Jeffrey Gillespie Herb Rothschild Revels Latest Stories Community blog: Ashland High grad performs at OSF's Hip Hop Open Mic Top 5 things to do this week Laurie Lewis and Kathy Kallick pay tribute to Arkansas bluegrass duo Vern Williams and Ray Park The Oregon Shakespeare Festival presents Eugene O'Neill's autobiographical 'Long Day's Journey into Night' Community blog: Words, wine and Craig Wright Theater Ticket Availability Review: From past into present in OSF's 'Long Day's Journey' Ticket availability Ticket Availability Ashland Contemporary Theatre seeks new artistic director Music Futureshock: Kendrick Lamar release points to road ahead Laurie Lewis and Kathy Kallick pay tribute to Arkansas bluegrass duo Vern Williams and Ray Park Album reviews: Recent and recommended for March The Farr Side: New format for ‘American Idol’ as show continues a strong run Improv rock and folk band hosts a dance party at the Ashland Community Center Visual Art Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Movies Movie review: In ‘Danny Collins,’ Pacino helps us imagine a Lennon story Noah Baumbach talks Ben Stiller, adult comedies and more In 'Timbuktu,' lust for power disturbs peace Movie review: ‘The Gunman’ misses the target Movie listings: March 20-26 Food and Drink Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Improving the lives of women is the focus for Soroptimists in Ashland Rogues Episode 2.5: Interviewing a missing man's partner It Is What It Is: There’s only one thing worse than being sick … David Murdock: What’s in a name? (Quite a bit, actually) Brent St. Germain: Feeling the burn again Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Rogues: Tales from the Valley Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business Business Services NEWS NOW Our View: One for the books ... Council Corner: Ashland’s climate plan ... Ashland to host World Peace & Prayer Day ... Our View: One for the books ... Council Corner: Ashland’s climate plan ... Ashland to host World Peace & Prayer Day ... Cars We Remember: 'Topper' movie car most memorable By Greg Zyla More Content Now DailyTidings.com By Greg Zyla More Content Now Posted Mar. 30, 2015 @ 8:42 am By Greg Zyla More Content Now Posted Mar. 30, 2015 @ 8:42 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2324,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> Q: Hello, Greg, I enjoy your columns very much and I can tell you’ve “been around” for a very long time. However, I’m now 82, so I probably have a few years on you. I’m hoping you can do an article on the “Topper” movie car. In this move, they had a custom and very sleek personal vehicle that looks custom made. It had a speedboat style back with a fin and a windshield that looked like a ’38 Studebaker. I also felt that it might have been a Buick “8” or a Graham or a Lycoming. I just could never figure out which car it was, as it had Cord-like hood pipes, too. Perhaps this car is lost in a museum somewhere, and I’d like to know if you can help in locating it and letting your readers know what kind of car it actually was. Any information is appreciated, and please keep those interesting columns coming. Curt N., Alex, Minnesota. A: Curt, I sure do remember the “Topper” movie car, which starred Cary Grant and Constance Bennett and was produced by Hal Roach back in 1937. My brother and I used to watch the 30-minute TV “Topper” series shows during the 1950s as we grew up, along with “Ramar of the Jungle,” “Lone Ranger,” “Sergeant Preston of the Yukon,” “Tombstone Territory” and the other popular series of the day. As for Topper’s car, it was indeed at the time the most famous movie car ever to hit the screen. It was actually a 1936 Buick Chrysler … yes, a combination of the two cars built by Pasadena Coachbuilders Bohman and Schwartz. Built specifically to be featured in the “Topper” movie for the “always out for a good time” ghosts, it did include as you note styling cues from Cord (exhausts) and Graham (shark-like front end), along with Buick and Chrysler styling. After the movie, Mobil Gas purchased the roadster and had Bohman and Schwartz do some updates to the body. They re-christened the car “The Gilmore Special,” and later the “Mobilgas Special.” Mobil owned Gilmore, and fans of A.J. Foyt will quickly recognize the name Gilmore, as the company sponsored many of his championship Indy cars. Originally built on a 1936 “Straight-8” Buick chassis, the car received Chrysler underpinnings in 1954, including Bohman re-fitting the body and interior on a new 1954 Chrysler Imperial chassis powered by a 235-horse Chrysler Hemi V-8. After a few more updates, the car was purchased by Jim Brucker as part of his “Movieland – Cars of the Stars” collection in Buena Park, California. The car was then auctioned off in 2006 by RM Auctions/Sotheby’s when Movieland closed. It sold for $132,000 and ended up at the fabulous R.E. “Pete” Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, he the founder of Hot Rod Magazine in 1948. I had the pleasure of interviewing Mr. Petersen prior to his passing in 2007, and he mentioned the “Topper” movie car to me. I’ve attached photos of the car as it appeared in the movie and as the Movie World car as displayed in 2010 at Petersen’s museum. Hope this all helps, as the “Topper car” was a huge part of the 1937 movie, and now gives reason for all my readers to watch. Thanks for your letter, Curt, and here’s to many more years of enjoying the cars we all grew up with. Greg Zyla writes weekly for More Content Now and other Gatehouse Media publications. He welcomes reader questions on collector cars, auto nostalgia and old-time racing at 116 Main St., Towanda, PA 18848 or at [email protected]. By Greg Zyla More Content Now DailyTidings.com By Greg Zyla More Content Now Posted Mar. 30, 2015 @ 8:42 am » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. » EVENTS CALENDAR Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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