Most all of us are intimately familiar with the cars driven by James Bond, Thomas Magnum and the A-Team. But what do you do when something unusual flashes upon the screen? Because, let’s be honest, you gotta know what it is, right?
Ever watch “Danger Man?” No? Well, it’s worth checking out. It’s a British spy show featuring a pre-Prisoner Patrick McGoohan. In some markets, it was known as “Secret Agent,” “Destination Danger” and “John Drake.”
No matter the market, it’s an early-1960 black-and-white spy show: Less sex and violence than James Bond or “The Saint” while the half-hour format ensures fast-moving plots that save the day for democracy. Expect clever twists and, as usual for the time, plenty of smoking. Cool cars in the background, too.
Last night, we watched the episode called “The Lonely Chair.” It’s from the first season, so a release date of 1960.
The opening scene: a two-place race car–maybe something you would have seen at Mille Miglia or Targa Florio–slicing through a city, a young woman in the passenger seat. As the driver lets her off, a nearby motorist asks for help.
It’s a kidnapping! (Don’t get in cars driven by strangers, kids.)
Cue John Drake, McGoohan’s character, to save the day.
But, more importantly, what was that car?
Not a Ferrari, not a Maserati, not a Lancia. It looks smaller than those famed machines, too.
Quick, to the internet!
As usual, the answer was found over on IMCDB, the Internet Movie Car Database: the 1955 Parson MG, a one-off also known as the Weldangrind Special.
And what ever happened to this car after its TV appearance? Lost to the depths of history?
Nope, it’s still out there, with a recent listing documenting the car’s entire history, from inception and mid-’50s appearances at Silverstone, Goodwood and Brands Hatch through all of the later owners.
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