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Folks --- having owned (unfortunately, past tense)a 1939 Packard Darrin 120 after seeing Banacek's car in 1972, I ordered a Banacek DVD recently just to see the Darrin again. To my surprise, there seemed to be TWO Darrins in the show. One was distinctly a 1941 with the upright side grills(which is what Banacek claimed), but one had a "bastardized" partial 1942 grill!!!???

WAZZUPWIDDAT!!!???

Carl,

The one that trailed the cloud of blue smoke was the real one, the other was a plastic knock-off, I forget what modern (at that time) chassis was under the replica. Or so the story has been told.

Dave
I've never heard the story about a "knock-off" with a modern chassis. I'm fairly certain that there were two authentic Darrins, one for filming on the east coast and one for the west. And yes, one of them was a 1942 that had been modified with the '41 side grilles, but the last few inches of the side grille of the '42 remained. Both cars have now been restored, with the '42 going back to its full '42 side grilles. I believe Don Sears owned (owns?) the '41, and restored it.

West, I could be wrong and I didn't save the article I read about it, it was years ago and of little interest to me then, but I'm certain that's what was printed, accurately or not.

Gusha, who's better than you at finding the images? No one, I suspect.

Guscha --- thanx for the verification!!! Those are the same two pictures I saved and what brought on my question.

Carl,

Here's the 1942 Darrin that was used in the Banacek series. It was restored for Ralph Marano, who later sold it after purchasing Bob Turnquist's Darrin.

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