Forges et Ateliersde Construction d’Eure et Loire Better known as Facel Vega. A large loaded bar folds down for the passengers in the back seat. Kangaroo upholstery provides a unique high quality comforts. My dad knew a gem of a car when he saw one…We had a 1967 GTO and and a 57 Chevy. He used a Ranchero for his pool cleaning business. This is our front yard, a block from MGM. Across the street, in a double sized lot once owned by Ronald Coleman, we found this car. A famous animal trainer for motion pictures and television resided next door to him. Glen Smith, often, famous movie dogs walked down our street, Frank Inn brought over Bengi for a visit, other dogs from the Lassie TV series stopped by. My street is like an extension of the backlot, complete with MGM security drive -by’s in a red Bronco. It’s all in a days work for me. Chips -MGM TV -filmed 3 episodes on my street. Sounds easily carried down my block from the MGM backlot. As a kid, Combat sounded like it was filming in my backyard. I was an MGM/ Desilu museum of sorts. My street leads you to…MGM Lot 2.My front yard- 1972. This car sat parked in a driveway for years, never moving, just a few houses down from ours. This became my dad’s pet project, to bring this super low mileage classic back to it’s glory. My pop-Donald LeRoy Norden, waving good -by as he takes his prize for a spin around town. After he would leave for work in his 57 Chevy, my friends and I would sneak drive this…My dad would roll in his grave if he saw what these cars go for, price wise- now.You too could be The Talk of the Town… Ronald Colman and Cary Grant. “Who’s this guy driving my car?”is Ronalds expression.My dad was so proud of this car, now I know why. It’s worth a fortune. But our family did not see one red cent. Easy come easy go, like my movie props, I guess. I wasn’t old enough to drive legally but we moved itaround, that’s a good way to put it, it just moved it up and down the street, to be seen. Like the big shots we were… Lost Horizon set, this car sat in a huge yard tucked into a over grown corner, similar to this spot. Nature was trying to recapture it. I’d see it everyday, it never moved until my dad got his hands on it.
R.I.P …RAC-OOO
36 made- and Ronald Colman bought one.
Finished product look a like…
This is on the cheap side…That’s just the average Joe version, the value climbs as the star power of the owner is factored in.This sold for 500 K…Steering on right side for our Abbey Road friends. My dads had a push button automatic transmission located between the front two seats…Ornate wood console trim. The engineer who designed this ride is Carlo Manchetti, a former Le Mans winner. Ford and Ferrari would meet their match. Capable of 160 MPHSimilar to ours, push button gear shifter…and ignition. What a prize…302 k-SOLD… with no movie star attachment. I can’t believe we got rid of this car. The perfect MGM ride to work, I could push it there I live so close…Quite the fleet, some fine transportation for Mr Coleman. His last two roles were Around the World in 80 Days, and The Story of Mankind, both cameos. He died on May 19, 1958, at age 67 from pneumonia.Debbie Reynolds-DER 000- very interesting because my dad’s Facel Vega had the license RAC OOO. Neither middle initial matches either star. Ronald’s middle name was Dean. Debbie Reynolds was formerly Mary Francis.These are coded license plates.It Started with a Kiss–but this car ended up chasing down every colorful- yet evil villain in the 60’s…Alan Morton posted this sequence on a site Fiction, Horror & Fantasy on TV. Nice job Alan!“There’s lipstick and a hair brush in the glove box Batman”The dynamic duo outside the Bat Cave...”I smell Debbies Reynolds perfume Batman” -“Relax Robin, or I’m selling this car!“Prior to production of the classic film Bullitt, Sports Illustrated invited Steve to a track in Riverside, Ca. The top high performance vehicles in the world were at his disposal. What fun this man had…The studio demand he be off the racing circuit, of which he’s highly efficient,1966 Jaguar-very smooth at 110 MPHyet capable for family errands. Ms. McQueen is “kind of keen on it”A Red Corvette Sting Ray, Red car -427 inch V-8, $ 5,500 top end. A blue Ferrari 275 GTS with a rear mounted 5 speed gearbox. Steve regards Ferrari as the supreme engineer…price $ 14,500 A blue Aston-Martin DB6 starts at $15,400. The red Cobra 427 is a real” Stop Light Bandit” price $7,500A red Alfa Romeo, Duetto, the latest from the small distinguished Milan works, corners brilliantly with superior brakes. McQueen likes it looks but would like more power in a car that costs $ 4000. A blue Porsche 911 delighted McQueen with predictable handling with furious cornering. This proves Porsche solved it’s oversteer problem Steve remembered from his racing days.This rear engine vehicle costs $6,500.When Steve’s not racing cars-he’s racing bikes!Bavaria, Germany- Location.Elvis, the car collector, on the backlot..A mega-star two seater…check out those fancy guitar sun flaps above.BMW below…Caddy above at airportJust imagine running into The Blue Moon Boys, at some late night Texarkana diner, grabbing a bite to eat in- between traveling, trying to make ends meet…“That’s a catchy name for a band fellas!”Elvis was not a shy star and in public acknowledged his fans, several Culver City residents in the 60’s and early 70’s have had their own personal encounters with The King, including my sister Nancy at Vet’s Park Auditorium while making Viva Las Vegas. Elvis with a mouthful of Novocaine in his last ever photo- after hours in a dentist chair… You have to admire a guy that keeps his dental appointments- no matter what hour of day or night !
Lets start in 1923…
It was then this imported British actor named Ronald Colman got his first lead opposite Lillian Gish, in The White Sister. It launched his career as a romantic idol in the silent era. But, Ronald had more success in talkies. Some of his acclaimed films include ( A Tale of Two Cities, Lost Horizon, and ThePrisoner of Zenda)
Ronald Colman died the same year he bought this car, it’s a 1958 Facel Vega. A French Body on top of a Chrysler V-8, 325 horsepower engine block. This car was brand new. But it sat exposed, for a decade at least, with zero conditional love. It’s lost it’s owner and turned into a golden lonely orphan, parked under a fruit tree on a dirt driveway. How it got there, your guess is as good as mine. Real old people lived there. They must have in some way been connected to Mr Colman.
The elder gentlemen and owner was not into cars, so much so, he left a window down, ruining the kangaroo skin upholstery. .That was impossible to replace we found out in my dad’s attempt to restore. The sin here was, this car was brand new. The engine purrred once it was jump started back to life. The mechanical end seemed right out of the factory, but the interior aged significantly.
It moved on to our front grass for awhile as my dad always had 3 or 4 classic vehicles in our long driveway. My friend Jimmy and I often sat in the backseat, and pretended to be adults drinking and carrying on-like movie /rock stars. 93 KHJ and The Beatles played through the speakers. Ringo had nothing on us, we could match him car for car, song for song…
You can’t do a car story without mentioning two other legendary car collectors, Elvis and Mr. Steve McQueen. I hope you enjoyed the ride!
They called me the "phantom of the backlot." Join me on my adventures through the historic and celebrated MGM studios, in Culver City, during the height of its glory.
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3 thoughts on “Vintage Stars in Fancy Cars”
Absolutely fantastic!!
Thank you, Donnie.
Much appreciated. A fun time for all. Thanks for reading me
I love this story myself. My dad loved that car. I wish I took pictures of the license and bar in the backseat. Kangaroo upholstery only a star would own in the day!
Phantom of the Backlots 
Absolutely fantastic!!
Thank you, Donnie.
Much appreciated. A fun time for all. Thanks for reading me
I love this story myself. My dad loved that car. I wish I took pictures of the license and bar in the backseat. Kangaroo upholstery only a star would own in the day!