Superbird at autoshow

[nascarxx29]

Ran across a thumbnail of superbird at ? auto show.Doors open cant see vin decal

[Ghoste]

Haha, need one of those CIA Cray supercomputers to resize it.

[nascarxx29]

Larger but no clear has Superbird sign over top car

[Aero426]

Sitting in the car is Lucius Slade, winner of the Superbird offered at the 1970 Detroit Auto Show.   His lady friend is at the far left of the shot.  She won the mink stole at the show in an unrelated event.   

More photos here in this issue of the DSAC newsletter.    Click the link and go to page 3. 

http://www.superbirdclub.com/files/nov_dec_2006.pdf

[nascarxx29]

I found the old completed ebay auction   1969 Press Photo Plymouth Superbird Winner Lucius Slade Al Scheibel President

[nascarxx29]

Backside of picture

[Aero426]

In the past there has been some discussion that the car Mr Slade is sitting in was not necessarily the actual giveaway car.     I would agree with this as the Vitamin C Superbird was also seen at Chicago and was likely part of the touring road show (just like the #6 Daytona) for the major events.     The sign says, "Win a Superbird like this one."

[nascarxx29]

Seen also on ebay some different factory superbird pictures of the white press car
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=superbird+photo

[Redbird]

I have a fair number of pictures of the Vit-C Superbird at the 1970 Detroit (held in Nov '69), 1970 Chicago, and 1970 New York auto shows. Other than to have them at home, I don't know how to use them, because the the images of pictures are owned by the Detroit Free Press, Ford and others. This is what I believe it says on the lower sign at the 1970 Detroit show.

WIN a Superbird (like this)
GIVEN AWAY BY COURTESY OF METROPOLITAN
DETROIT CHRYSLER PLYMOUTH DEALERS

The big white/orange/black backlit Superbird sign was used at the 1970 Detroit, Chicago, and New York shows. I have pictures of it at all 3 shows. It was probably at other shows too. If one compares the Chrysler and Plymouth cars in the displays, it becomes apparent that C-P must have hauled cars for the shows between different cities for the shows.

The Superbird at the 1970 Chicago show was right at the center of the auditorium next to the big Geo-Sphere (kind of the organizing globe) centerpiece.

[Redbird]

The base the Superbird was on for the 1970 Detroit, Chicago, and NY shows was a hold-over from the 1969 shows.

For the 1969 (Fall of 1968) Detroit Show, a Sox and Martin b-body car was on the base. For the 1969 Chicago and NY shows the base Supported the Duster 1. Note that the Duster I was also called the Beep-Beep X1 at certain shows. I have pictures of the white plastic base panels on the display base being lit from below at at least one show, and I would imagine they were lit in a similar fashion at other shows. I am somewhat of the belief that the Duster 1 was not completed in time for the 1969 Detroit show and that is why the Sox and Martin b-body car was in the display there.

I also have a whole series of 8x10 pictures of the mock up C-P did for the 1969 Chicago show. C-P used promo models to build the mock-up, it is huge (also of note is that I have seen mock-up models of GM displays for the auto shows using promo models so the practice must have been widespread). Of note for the Chicago show is that in the mock-up; Plymouth had both a b-body and a SS/B Sox and Martin cars painted for the mock-up (and they were both on display at the actual show) , they also had the base for the Duster 1 built in the mock-up (including the back panel which I believe Steven Juliano has). So I believe the base was long planned. I have never quite figured how Plymouth got the Superbird, Duster1, and Sox & Martin b-body car in the wheel cups on the base for the shows.

Some of the written text I have from Ford internal albums notes the Duster 1 display in 1969 had light, sound, and movement as part of the display. For 1969 there was also a caricature of a drag strip Christmas tree as part of the display at both Chicago and NY, which undoubtedly was also lighted. There were also audio speakers next to the display-sound (they are on the mock-up model too). So I have a question to of the possibility the sockets that the wheels were held in could perhaps have allowed up and down movement.

My second favorite part of the 1969 promo mock-up of the Plymouth display is the part where the 3 go-go girls would actually stand for the shows. The promo model mocks the whole thing up, including numerous electric motors to make the whole thing move. It must have been quite a sight.

I have a lot of pictures of the 1971 Chicago auto show. The base the Superbird was placed on in 1970 does not appear on any of those pictures. So I am guessing the base had a 2 year shelf life.

[nascarxx29]

Duster 1 Beepbeep X1 at show
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bossmustang/3048563071/in/set-72157609640995271

[nascarxx29]

[nascarxx29]

Another1970 show another Superbird this time its a Hemi
http://draglist.smugmug.com/Drag-Racing/NJC-Auto-Show-1970/18183283_KnxkkH#!i=1397051204&k=ZNvDvxr

[nascarxx29]

Recreation print of superbird at auto show

http://image.moparmusclemagazine.com/f/miscellaneous/car-art-by-david-snyder-auto-show-1970/41329139/-auto-show-1970-automotive-artist-david-snyders-latest-m.jpg