Cars in the Godfather movie

[George49Ford]

I came across the following trivia comment concerning cars in the first GODFATHER movie.

“The cars in the film outfitted with wooden bumpers were an attempt to create a realistic effect. There was a steel shortage following World War II, so many vehicles were sold this way.”

I have never heard of any cars sold after WWII having wooden bumpers. Anybody out there able to shed any light on this?

Thanks, George Milliorn, Carson City, NV

[woodiewagon46]

I also read about this in an article in one of the club magazines. Some cars had a wooden bumper installed and you brought the car in at a later date to get chrome bumpers installed.

[TonyM]

It was always my understanding that the wooden bumper thing was during WWII, not afterwards. Here is a very famous photo of Rita Hayworth posing with a wooden bumper car in 1942.

[V12Bill]

Wooden bumpers were common after the war when the first 1946 models were released to the public. I don't know if it was a supply of steel or chrome or even a labor thing as all the unions were trying to geat the most for their members at that time.

Also , not mentioned, but for the same reasons, spare tires were omitted from the trunks. These you did not see, but when the tires were available, the new owners were notified to come in for the spare tire.

[Ken Arms]

My Dad told me because of the war there was no brake shoe lining available. He relined his with horse harness leather, he said they were the best brakes ever until it rained!!

[Vic Piano]

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A friend of mine on Long Island still has a car that he rented to the movie company for the Godfather, it is a '39 Standard Coupe. the movie company paid to have the car repainted to resemble a New York City Police vehicle, complete with the appropriate NYPD decals. I had the opportunity to drive the car from Long Island to an EFV8 Club Regional Meet in Lancaster, PA in '94 or '95 (CRS). Here's a photo of a photo taken at the Meet.