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Playboy Magazine Cars and the War......

By
Real Estate Agent with Century-21 Homestar

If you hate Playboy Magazine you can blame it on your government....and if you love Playboy Magazine well you can blame it on your government also....The Magazine that the government hated came about because of thier actions......You think I'm kidding?

 1st January, 1942  The U.S. government no longer allowed the sale of civilian vehicles (i.e. cars and trucks).1942 U.S.A. Car Production Stops It was after this date that automobile manufacturers were required to make only vehicles which were to be used for war purposes.

Automobile plants during this time were dedicated to the sale of bombers, jeeps, military trucks, and other gear. The government offered automakers guaranteed profits regardless of production costs throughout the war years. Furthermore, the government allocated $11 billion to the construction of war manufacturing plants that would be sold to the automobile manufacturers at discounts after the war.

When the war ended in 1945, there was quite a demand for new automobiles and auto manufacturers had stopped manufacturing vehicles and equipment for the war effort. And one new company that started up after the war was the  Playboy Motor Car Corporation of Buffalo, New York.

The Playboy car was a little automobile that was built by the Playboy Motor Car Corporation. The company only made a reported 97 prototype cars prior to closing up shop. None were ever originally offered for sale to the public. There are currently only about 40 Playboy cars known to still exist in the world. Of those, only about 15 are known to be in roadworthy condition.

So you ask what does this have to do with Playboy Magazine?

 INTERESTING TRIVIA ABOUT THE PLAYBOY CAR

According to an episode of the "Biography" TV series and of "The E! True Hollywood Story," a woman who worked for Playboy Motor Cars at the time they shut down suggested to her son's friend that he use the Playboy name for his new magazine. That friend's name was Hugh Hefner.

"The Playboy name was suggested by a friend whose mother had worked at the then defunct Playboy Motor Car Company..."   - Signed Hugh M. Hefner

So you see it is the governments fault we have Playboy Magazine #1 reason they went to war and stop production of the automobile  #2 reason they didn't bail out the little guy after the war(sound familiar).....

So if you love or hate the magazine just remember it is your governments fault we have it.......or at least their fault it is called Playboy.......

Have a great new year everybody and as always peace zane

 

Show All Comments Sort:
Rick Hendershot
BlogEasy for Real Estate Agents - International, IT

Hey Zane, Interesting story. Of course it's the government's fault. What isn't?

Jan 01, 2010 02:27 AM
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

I'm with Rick... what isn't the government's fault would make for a much shorter list.  So how much are those 15 road worthy playboy cars worth Zane?

Jan 01, 2010 02:48 AM
Todd Clark - Retired
eXp Realty LLC - Tigard, OR
Principle Broker Oregon

Tucker was another company that didn't survive because no one would bail out the little guy. But, I do have to ask, do you have a picture of that car, because I've never heard of it.

Jan 01, 2010 07:51 AM
Zane Coffin
Century-21 Homestar - Geneva, OH
(Geneva Ohio Real Estate Agent)

Rick ....thanks for stopping by...

Tammy....I would think they would be worth alot ...but only as much as someone would pay for one..I don't think you can put a value on these since there was so few and never offered to the public for sale

Todd.... pretty cool looking what do you think?

Jan 01, 2010 12:03 PM
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Zane, that is very interesting.  I've never heard that story before.

Jan 01, 2010 12:22 PM
Zane Coffin
Century-21 Homestar - Geneva, OH
(Geneva Ohio Real Estate Agent)

Barbara....I thought it was pretty cool myself...I would love to have one of those cars...peace zane

Jan 02, 2010 03:07 AM
JL Boney, III
Coldwell Banker - Columbia, SC
Columbia, SC Real Estate

I can honestly say that I have never heard this before, but I do love strange facts my friend.

Jan 02, 2010 07:17 AM
Marilyn Harrell
Better Homes and Acres - Beaverton, MI
Wixom Lake - Beaverton MI

Thanks for the mini history lesson! Have a great day. Happy happy joy joy!

Jan 06, 2010 10:22 PM
Jay-Paul Lowry
Riverside, CA

Zane,

 

I love history, and contempt for the Government so this was a great blog for me. And Todd Clark is right about the Tucker as well.

 

JP

Jan 15, 2010 09:01 AM
Karen Kruschka
RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA
- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

Zane  The photo above makes the car look very similar to the Nash Rambler

Feb 26, 2010 12:16 AM
William James Walton Sr.
WEICHERT, REALTORS® - Briotti Group - Waterbury, CT
Greater Waterbury Real Estate

What would be so cool Zane is to have anyone who was around at that time be able to comment on this...by the way, where are you?

Apr 12, 2010 04:13 PM
Jim Frimmer
HomeSmart Realty West - San Diego, CA
Realtor & CDPE, Mission Valley specialist

Very interesting. It looks to small for my purposes as a real estate agent, though. lol

May 16, 2012 01:40 PM