In a message dated 97-05-27 08:57:00 EDT, lytebrite(at)cinenet.net (wyndham c)
writes:
>The reasoning behind the Alpine choice and not the Tiger was not only
>mechanical, but for the story line, as well. Being an enthusiastic Alpine
>owner, I am proud to say that the Alpine carried "Miata" populist status in
>the old days and was not primarily seen as being ultra chic and top of the
>line. This stayed in line with Maxwell Smart's less than stellar status as
>a secret agent. His following cars (Karmann Ghia and Fiat Spyder) keep this
>train of thought in tact. To own a high powered machine such as the Tiger
>would have been the antithesis of Smart being the everyman secret agent.
>Comments?
>-Wyndham
>
From another enthusiastic Alpine owner:
The Sunbeams used in Get Smart (occasionally a Mk IA Tiger, but usually a
Series V (not IV) Alpine), always appeared with either Tiger script or no
I.D.. Alpines a part of the story line? Nah.
With its short wheelbase, the Tiger/Alpine may have been intended to give
some sort of "toy car" look to complement the not-so-suave Agent 86. (By
comparison, look at the long, sleek lines of the Ferrari that Smart drove in
the pilot episode) Also, I've read that Chrysler was a big sponsor of the
show. Maybe there was an advertising tie-in. At least one other Tiger
(light-blue) and an Arrow also appeared in various episodes.
Dick Sanders
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