Buzz and Todd
All Google Searches for "Route 66 TV" leads to sites which say that Buzz and Todd's first Corvette was a 1959! I suspect that the (Horizon, not Frost) Blue Corvette shown on the early promo ads, was in fact a 1960 model, not a 1959. This blue 1960 Corvette was probably used to film the first couple episodes, since they were probably filmed in Aug-Sept 1960, and before the release of the '61 model. I have NOT been able to get episodes 1-4 of season 1 (1960)yet, because of very high demand, but, all other episodes from season 1 have them driving a 1961 with Powerglide. You can bet that Chevrolet put them in the latest model Corvette, just as soon a Marketing had one available! The successive cars, after the first were, supposedly, fawn beige, because they filmed better in B & W.
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Re: Buzz and Todd
One of the books I have shows a photo of George Maharis' (Buz) personal black 1962 FI Corvette on the set of Route 66.
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Re: Buzz and Todd
The show's pilot episode was filmed in February 1960 in Concord, Kentucky though the town was supposed to be Garth, Alabama (fictional)...neither nowhere near Route 66. Robert Redford was actually in the running to star as Tod Stiles, but Martin Milner eventually won the job. George Maharis was already signed on to play Buz Murdock. By the time the show was picked up by CBS, the 1961 Corvette was already in production so you will only see the blue '60 in the first episode. The remaining episodes of season 1 featured a fawn beige 61. They switched from blue to beige because the blue reflected too much light in Black and White film. Chevrolet gave them a new Corvette every 3000 miles, and they went through 3-4 cars each season.
Chevrolet also gave the stars a new car...George Maharis got a Corvette and Milner opted for the Corvair wagon so he could haul his family on the road during filming. A station wagon was used as a camera car for the forward shots and a corvair, with the camera set up in the trunk (front of the car) was used for shooting the rear.
There is a book available from James Rosin that has some pretty good details about the show and interviews with the actors and production staff.
Also an interesting piece of casting trivia, Burt Reynolds was approaced as the replacement for Buz when Maharis left the show, but Burt didn't want to be a "replacement guy".Comment
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Re: Buzz and Todd
Great post Andy. Thank you. Save the Wave.>GeorgeComment
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Re: Buzz and Todd
the first car was a 59.Comment
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Re: Buzz and Todd
Cuz all 59's had black wheels and they were better for B&W tv too!
....oh I'm so funny sometimes!
p.s. seriously, great info guys, thanks for sharing.Comment
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Re: Buzz and Todd
Joe: Jim Rosen has written a book detailing the history of Route 66, you can get more info at RTE66BK@yahoo.com or call Jim at 215 379 2436. He is a very helpful and willing source of historyComment
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Re: Buzz and Todd
Joe C., Bill W.
Tod finds himself unexpectedly penniless with just one possession, a 1960 powder-blue Chevrolet Corvette
DonaldComment
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Re: Buzz and Todd
Anyone know what ever happened to all the vettes that were used in the series? ...especially the '60 powder blue from the first pilot.
I would bet that the owners that have them are clueless that theirs were used in the series. There must have been at least 8 of them (2 per yr?).
Steve L.Steve L
73 coupe since new
Capital Corvette Club
Ottawa, CanadaComment
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Re: Buzz and Todd
episode named black november used a 60..licence plae # 2d7876.Comment
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Re: Buzz and Todd
Bill,
That's the first episode. Synopsis as written on the Epguides.com website:
"Tod's wealthy father dies, leaving the Yale grad penniless but for his 1960 blue Chevrolet Corvette. He meets Buz, who worked for Tod's father, and the two decide to start driving across the country. The Corvette breaks down in a small Mississippi town with some very nasty residents. The boys discover that the town hosted a POW camp during WW II and that the town boss had an escaped prisoner lynched when his son was killed in action. The boss plans to lynch Tod and Buz to keep the town's secret."
Joe
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