shelbymotorsports Posted October 10, 2010 Report Share Posted October 10, 2010 Earlier this year Shelby American was contacted by Ron Howard's production company seeking info on the 1966 Shelby GT350 convertibles for an upcoming movie that was then titled "Cheaters" starring Vince Vaughn. I hooked them up with all the info and was starting to figure out a way that perhaps they could rent Carroll's continuation GT350 vert instead of building a clone for the movie. After some promising communication it quickly went to no more contact. I had just assumed that they had the info to build some clones and didn't need any further assistance from us. Well after the recent controversy of Vince Vaughn calling electric cars "Gay" in a movie trailer made me think was this the GT350 vert "Cheaters" movie? One quick phone call confirmed that indeed it was but along with the movie title name change came a change to the lead actors car. Apparently a sponsor check from Chrysler was more than enough for the 1966 Shelby GT350 convertible to be replaced by a 1970 Dodge Challenger convertible. Paying for product placement is the name of the game. With Chrysler paying for Chrysler and Fiat products to be used thru out the movie of course the vintage Shelby had to be replaced by a vintage Chrysler vehicle. Although I was first excited for the 1966 Shelby GT350 vert to be driven by the lead character in this movie, I no longer feel that way. This movie is starting to look like a script that was rejected by Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez. Its always puzzled me how Ron Howard can put out such good work one minute and then straight to rental the next minute. We'll know in a few months if I'm correct. I guess the 1966 Shelby GT350 convertible will remain destined for the Carroll Shelby movie. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FiaCobra Posted October 10, 2010 Report Share Posted October 10, 2010 That's the way things go sometimes. I'd rather the car be used in a bit hit kinda movie. It was nice to see the GT-500 in "I am Legend" even though it played a small part. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fontech Posted October 10, 2010 Report Share Posted October 10, 2010 Maybe good old Ronnie needs a Limer in the movie. Things change in Hollywood from one day to the next... Would of been nice to see a Shelby in a movie again. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Hawkins Posted October 10, 2010 Report Share Posted October 10, 2010 Personally, I am GLAD that you did not have a chance to Rent or Lease the Car to them. They have been known to tear up a Car, patch it just enough to hide all the real Damage and then haul ass after droping the Vehicle off. As Far as Ron Directing the Movie, he gets Paid the same no mater who is in it. I hope he can perform some Majic if it is going to be as bad as you say it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stidog Posted October 10, 2010 Report Share Posted October 10, 2010 I agree with Test, it would be a shame to see them tear up a great car. Tho I am kinda surprised Uncle Sam let Chrysler write that check... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Hawkins Posted October 10, 2010 Report Share Posted October 10, 2010 I agree with Test, it would be a shame to see them tear up a great car. Tho I am kinda surprised Uncle Sam let Chrysler write that check... I am sure it was considered Advertising. I don't think the Govt. is looking at their Advertising Spending, just their Bonus Spending. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cobrakalas427 Posted October 11, 2010 Report Share Posted October 11, 2010 I think "Opie" shoulda asked his "Paw" before he made such an important decision...Maybe all that time fishing and hanging 'round "Barney Fife" down at the Mayberry RFD Police Station blurred his vision...On second thought, maybe "Aunt Bea" shoulda smacked him around more back in the '60's! Seriously though, he's turned into another one of those "goofy" Hollywood types...Rant over! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Hawkins Posted October 11, 2010 Report Share Posted October 11, 2010 I think "Opie" shoulda asked his "Paw" before he made such an important decision...Maybe all that time fishing and hanging 'round "Barney Fife" down at the Mayberry RFD Police Station blurred his vision...On second thought, maybe "Aunt Bea" shoulda smacked him around more back in the '60's! Seriously though, he's turned into another one of those "goofy" Hollywood types...Rant over! I have asked this question 1000's of times and so far no one can tell me so I will ask it here since you used it.................................. What does "RFD" stand for? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stormeaston Posted October 11, 2010 Report Share Posted October 11, 2010 Money talks!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhr1961 Posted October 11, 2010 Report Share Posted October 11, 2010 I have asked this question 1000's of times and so far no one can tell me so I will ask it here since you used it.................................. What does "RFD" stand for? RFD stands for Rural Free Delivery, It was some kind of free postal delivery (government program) to help get mail to under developed areas in certain parts of the country. The Andy Griffith Show/Mayberry RFD was intended to represent life around the Mt Airy portion of North Carolina, which was very rural back in the 1950's and 1960's. Younger folks typically dont know that North Carolina didnt even have any interstate highways until the mid to late 1960's and much of the western part of the state didnt have electricity in the homes or indoor plumbing until the late 1950's/early 1960's.Not gonna bash on Ron Howard , I like most of his movies, I do think he made a mistake not using a Shelby. Stormeaston correctly assessed ........money does talk.ps: some people mistakenly think RFD in the show stands for Rural Fire District. It does not.ps:ps:For those of you that are a fan of the show then Mt Airy would make a great trip for you. They have Mayberry days and some other attractions in town related to the show. The city is just off I 77 in North Western NC and makes a great fall drive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsastang67 Posted October 11, 2010 Report Share Posted October 11, 2010 I have asked this question 1000's of times and so far no one can tell me so I will ask it here since you used it.................................. What does "RFD" stand for? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayberry_RFD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Hawkins Posted October 11, 2010 Report Share Posted October 11, 2010 RFD stands for Rural Free Delivery, It was some kind of free postal delivery (government program) to help get mail to under developed ares in certain parts of the country. The Andy Griffith Show/Mayberry RFD was intended to represent life around the Mt Airy portion of North Carolina, which was very rural back in the 1950's and 1960's. Younger folks typically dont know that North Carolina didnt even have any interstate highways until the mid to late 1960's and much of the western part of the state didnt have elecitricty in the homes or indoor plumbing until the late 1950's/early 1960's. Not gonna bash on Ron Howard , I like most of his movies, I do think he made a mistake not using a Shelby. Stormeaston correctly assessed ........money does talk. ps: some people mistakenly think RFD in the show stands for Rural Fire District. It does not. ps:ps:For those of you that are a fan of the show then Mt Airy would make a great trip for you. They have Mayberry days and some other attractions in town related to the show. The city is just off I 77 in North Western NC and makes a great fall drive. THANKS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
09KR0058 Posted October 14, 2010 Report Share Posted October 14, 2010 Dopey Opey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swbstudios Posted October 16, 2010 Report Share Posted October 16, 2010 ...and the Mopars and Ford/Shelbys continue to battle on the big screen. Bullitt-Mustang defeats Charger. Bucket list-Shelby wins, Dukes of Hazzard its the Mopar. Challenger is the star in Vanishing Point. Shelby is the star in Gone in Sixty Seconds. This time a Challenger was selected. I like them both. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedyburd33 Posted October 16, 2010 Report Share Posted October 16, 2010 Always cool to see some awesome cars in movies. I'd go nuts if I saw a black SGT in the big screen racing around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Hawkins Posted October 16, 2010 Report Share Posted October 16, 2010 ...and the Mopars and Ford/Shelbys continue to battle on the big screen. Bullitt-Mustang defeats Charger. Bucket list-Shelby wins, Dukes of Hazzard its the Mopar. Challenger is the star in Vanishing Point. Shelby is the star in Gone in Sixty Seconds. This time a Challenger was selected. I like them both. What do you mean by: "This time a Challenger was selected"? Is there going to be a GI60S - 2?. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Son of GT Posted October 16, 2010 Report Share Posted October 16, 2010 What do you mean by: "This time a Challenger was selected"? Is there going to be a GI60S - 2?. I think he means that Ron (Howard) selected a Challenger over a Shelby this time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shelbymotorsports Posted October 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2010 I think he means that Ron (Howard) selected a Challenger over a Shelby this time. Although I was poking fun at Ron Howard I doubt it was his decision. As far as I can recall Ron Howard is not a car guy and as I alluded too I believe in the end this was a product placement issue. In fact when I was dealing with the production company they didn't know that the 1966 GT350 convertible was not a production car, I guess there's so many clones now that things get clouded. After watching the movie trailer it appears that the lead characters roles are that of some sort of Chrysler executives so again it makes sense that the Shelby is out. And by the look of the movie trailer, thats a good thing. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2010KonaBlueGT Posted October 18, 2010 Report Share Posted October 18, 2010 I have asked this question 1000's of times and so far no one can tell me so I will ask it here since you used it.................................. What does "RFD" stand for? I wouldn't put much, if any weight into Wickepedia as you can change it as you wish. I lived in a RFD and it was a Rural Fire District, not a Rural Free Delivery. Phill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2010KonaBlueGT Posted October 18, 2010 Report Share Posted October 18, 2010 Although I was poking fun at Ron Howard I doubt it was his decision. It's not the Director of a project, it's the Producer that makes the money decisions. The Producer is the "money" behind the project. They are the "big boss", top gun, etc. S/he hires everyone else. The Director is hired by the Producer to DIRECT the Actors, not to make money decisions on the set. It was either the Producer or one of his/her hired guns (Set Director, Costume Director, etc.) that made the decision to go with whatever "Product Placement" agreement they ended up with (whic was most lucritive to the project...or which was more era correct, or.....(etc)). Phill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shack Posted October 19, 2010 Report Share Posted October 19, 2010 Yes - money talks. Wasn't long ago Ford was paying that price to have Ford Vehicles in all the new movies. Besides, was Knight Rider a big Ford ad or a TV show? Were there any non-Ford vehicles in Quantum of Solace? Director can have say over things like this, depending on what the producers let him do. Michael Bay is the one who decided the Transformers were all GM cars (and a Peterbilt) after bids from the big auto mfgs (though he likes working with GM). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twobjshelbys Posted October 20, 2010 Report Share Posted October 20, 2010 I wouldn't put much, if any weight into Wickepedia as you can change it as you wish. I lived in a RFD and it was a Rural Fire District, not a Rural Free Delivery. Phill To the post office, it's Rural Free Delivery. The government paid private contractors to deliver mail in rural areas. Some would drive hundreds of miles to deliver mail 6 days a week to only a few customers, most of the long distance drives were farms and ranches out in the boonies. I lived on a farm in South Dakotan and we received mail to "Rural Route 1" until the 70's. Nothing more than Name, RR1, City,State.... Zip codes came along very late. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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