Staff Cars on Hogan's Heroes
 

I've been always curious about the various Mercedes Benz staff cars that were seen on the old Hogan's Heroes show of the late 1960's. I know they had about three different small sedans plus a large 6-wheel phaeton. Does anyone have any more info about them including possibly the whereabouts of these interesting cars?

We ran a thread few months ago about Hitler's car..... spec'd with 100 gallon gas tank, armor plating, solid tires and alleged cruising speed of upwards to 100mph. The car is presently located at Canadian War Museum. Try 'hitler's car' on search engine - thread included photos, technical specs. and how the car was discovered after WWII - painted military green and used on dailly basis by American GI's.

These cars were property of a firm called
 

Pacific Auto Rental, and appeared in "Rat Patrol" on TV and in many movies...think the big Mercedes with the tandem rear axles was also in the movie "Night of The Generals," as was one of the smaller 170 sedans.

Believe 3-axle staff car was a G4 /W31 model
 

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Link to info on this model...
 

There's a dual rear axle staff car at the Forney Transportation Museum here in Denver. I believe it says on the plaque that it was used in Night of the Generals.(?)

Another reason to see "Night of The Generals"...
 

This obscure 1965 movie tried to unite the casts of the blockbuster Lawrence of Arabia and Dr. Zhivago. It's subject matter may have been a little too advanced for the times...serial sex crimes...but there are some spectacular cars in it.

The Mercedes staff car is in several scenes where "Rommel" played by Christopher Plummer, is shot by a strafing aircraft. There's also a beautiful Maybach Zeppelin convertible sedan (body by Spohn?) that is Peter O'Toole's staff car (he plays a Nazi general). While on leave in Paris, he and adjudant Tom Courtney(sp) spend a lot of time in an Hispano-Suiza sedan de ville.

Hogan's Heros G4
 

There is a fully restored G4 at the Lyon Air Museum in Santa Rosa CA. Could this be the Hogan's Heros car?

Hogan's Heros was a Bing Crosby production and Crosby loved Mercedes. The G4 was something he wanted for the show and after production wrapped it sat around in a warehouse for years. Everyone just looked at it as an old movie prop until Mercedes started to become more mainstream and not just something film stars could afford.

Film cars back then did not get the best of care since repairs were expensive and if they needed to move they could be towed by a rope that was off camera. I heard that Crosby insisted all of the HH cars run since some of the best Mercedes mechanics in the US were in LA and all of the costs of repairs could be charged off to the network. (HA! Take that, Network suits!)

One car I have wondered about is the Mercedes used in the Marx Brother's film A Night in Casablanca. The one they used when they were being chased by the airplane down a runway.

Anyone know what became of it?

I recall reading that the Mercedes used in A Night in Casablanca had originally belonged to Al Jolson.

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