Seventies Columbo wasn’t just compelling viewing due to the great writing and stellar casts. As a time capsule of the opulence of high-life living in LA, there’s plenty to treasure in almost every scene.
It’s always a blast to see the scruffy Lieutenant poking his nose around the giant mansions of Bel Air and Beverly Hills, but another aspect of the show I’ve always enjoyed is the style and beauty of so many of the vehicles on display. From Cadillacs and Rollers to Corvettes, Jags and even the humble VW Beetle, there are enough four-wheeled beauties to satisfy the cravings of any classic car enthusiast.
Much as I’ve admired the aesthetics of the assorted automobiles, one thing I’ve never had the expertise to do is credibly identify which of them are the very coolest, rarest or most interesting from a design or historical perspective. That’s why I’m delighted to hand over the reins (or car keys, perhaps?) to Columbo fan and classic car expert Marco DuBose, who will chauffeur you on your journey of discovery through the 10 coolest Columbo cars of the 70s.
The murderers and victims on Columbo were usually from the upper class and they drove cars to match their status. Being a bit of a car nut, I always noticed who was driving what cool and expensive luxury car. Which ones were the best? There are so many to choose from, but here are my votes for the top 10 cars on Columbo in the 70s, in order from best to the very best. Prices quoted here are in USD. I must thank the Internet Movie Car Database for help in identifying some models.
10. Rolls Royce Silver Cloud / Bentley S1
At one time a Rolls Royce was the high status automobile and a symbol of old money – especially if you had a chauffeur. It makes sense that there were quite a few featured in the show. The Silver Cloud was the core model for Rolls Royce from 1955 to 1966. Although Bentley is a separate company, it was acquired by Rolls Royce in the 30s and their models are intertwined. The Bentley S, for example, is a Silver Cloud with a few design changes. Unfortunately, Rolls Royces didn’t maintain value. Today’s prices range from as little as $40,000 to the low six figures.
Columbo appearances
- Etude in Black – Orchestra conductor Alex Benedict’s second car is a gold coloured Silver Cloud II, which his wife picks him up from the mechanic’s in.
- Dagger of the Mind – This episode’s victim, Sir Roger Haversham, has a green Bentley S2.
- Negative Reaction – Photographer Paul Galesko drives a Rolls Royce Silver Cloud III.
- Forgotten Lady – Aging movie star Grace Wheeler is chauffeured in a Bentley S1.
- How To Dial a Murder – Dr Eric Mason drives a golden 1962 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud III (pictured above).
9. Stutz Blackhawk
The Stutz Blackhawk was an odd luxury car made from 1971 to 1987. It was an American designed, Italian built body on a General Motors platform that featured 24K gold plated trim, maple wood trim and a liquor cabinet. It was very popular with entertainers of the day. Elvis bought the first one and at least three more. Lucille Ball, Sammy Davis Jr, Evel Knievel and Elton John were among the many celebrity owners. In 1971 it cost $22,500, which is equivalent to about $150,000 today. Only 500-600 models were made – and you could pick one up in an auction for less than $60,000 today. The Stutz appeared in two episodes, but unfortunately we don’t get a good look at it in either one.
Columbo appearances
- Forgotten Lady – Movie star Grace Wheeler’s dance partner Ned Diamond drives a Stutz Blackhawk which we only see through a window looking out onto her driveway.
- Murder Under Glass – Restaurant critic Paul Gerard drives a black and silver model (pictured above).
8. Mercedes-Benz 280 SE
The Mercedes-Benz 280 SE was produced from 1967 to 1972 specifically for the American market. A full-sized 4-door luxury car, it typified the German engineering that Mercedes is famous for. You can expect to pay low six figures for a convertible model in excellent condition today. The 280 SE has the unique distinction of being the car of two different murderers, both of whom transport their victim’s body in the trunk.
Columbo appearances
- Murder by the Book – Murderer Ken Franklin drives a 1968 Mercedes 280 SE convertible complete with a ‘Have A Nice Day’ bumper sticker (see above).
- Blueprint for Murder – Architect Elliot Markham must have purchased Ken Franklin’s Mercedes at auction. It even has the same license plate number! We don’t see if it still has the bumper sticker, though (see above).
- A Stitch in Crime – Heart surgeon Dr Mayfield drives what looks like a gray hardtop model, although we don’t get a good look at it.
7. Rolls Royce Silver Shadow
The Silver Shadow was produced from 1965 to 1980. It was a more modern Rolls Royce, a bit smaller to fit better on American and European roads, yet offering increased interior space due to unibody construction. In 1977 it was renamed Silver Shadow II to reflect several engineering changes. The Silver Shadow has the largest production volume of any other Rolls Royce model, a fact which is reflected in current values. You could ride like a Columbo murderer for as little as $20,000.
Columbo appearances
- Any Old Port in a Storm – Adrian Carsini drives a gray 1966 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow with personalized CARSINI plates.
- An Exercise in Fatality – Health spa franchise owner Milo Janus drives a red one.
- Try and Catch Me – The 2-door version of the Silver Shadow is called a Corniche. Mystery writer Abigail Mitchell owns a blue model which Columbo gets to drive (pictured above).
6. Jaguar XK120
The Jaguar XK120 is an open 2-seat roadster produced from 1948 to 1954. It was the first sports car produced by Jaguar after WWII. ‘120’ referred to the car’s top speed of 120 mph (faster without the windscreen), which made it the world’s fastest production car at the time. Those first models were aluminum bodies over wood frame. By mid-1950 they had switched to steel construction with the doors, bonnet and boot lid in aluminum. Also note that there are no external door handles. You can find one today for between $50,000 and $100,000.
Columbo appearances
- The Conspirators – Irish partisan Joe Devlin drives a 1952 Jaguar XK 120 Roadster (pictured above). Odd that an Irish nationalist would drive an English car!
5. Morgan +4
The Morgan Motor Company has been around since 1910 and is famous for using wood construction in its handmade cars. The quintessential British sports car, the Morgan +4 was produced from 1950 1969. The + referred to a larger engine – most used a Triumph engine – than its predecessor, while the 4 refers to four wheels. Until 1936 Morgan cars were 3-wheelers, with a single wheel at the back of the car and two at the front. You don’t see many of +4s come up at auction, but you might pay in the region of $50,000 for one.
Columbo appearances
- Dagger of the Mind – actor Nicholas Frame drives a +4 (pictured above), which is used to drive the dead body of Sir Roger Haversham from London to his country estate.
4. Citroen SM
With aggressively modern styling and many technical innovations, the SM was Citroen’s first attempt at a luxury car and was intended to compete with American luxury brands. Produced from 1970 to 1975 in France, using a Maserati engine with front-wheel drive, the car had some initial success in America but fell victim to changing safety regulations and an economic recession. Only 2,400 models were sold in North America. When Peugeot acquired the bankrupt Citroen in 1975, production of the SM was halted. You can find excellent models today for under $50,000.
Columbo appearances
- Identity Crisis – CIA agent Nelson Bremer drives a very distinctive green Citroen SM (pictured above).
3. Ferrari 330 GTS Spider
The Ferrari 330 designation encompasses a series of V12 cars produced between 1963 and 1968. ‘330’ refers to the displacement of each single cylinder in the 4-liter V12 engine. The GTS Spider is a 2-seater convertible based on the previous Ferrari 275 with a body by Italian coach builder Pininfarina. It was produced for only two years, from 1966 to 1968. Despite only 100 versions being produced, it shows up in two episodes of Columbo. If you can find one at auction, expect to pay $2,000,000!
Columbo appearances
- Double Shock – One of the murderous twins, Dexter Paris, drives a 330 GTS to his uncle’s home prior to the murder.
- Any Old Port in a Storm – It looks like this episode’s victim, Ric Carsini, was able to buy Paris’s Ferrari 330 GTS – but the license plate number is different (pictured above).
2. Ferrari 365 GTB/4
Unofficially known as the Ferrari Daytona, in honor of Ferrari’s 1, 2, 3 finish in the 24 Hours of Daytona race in 1967, the 365 GTB was produced from 1968 to 1973. The contemporary, sharp-edged look was a break from Ferrari’s traditional rounded design. Coincidentally, the engine in this model is Ferrari’s V12 Colombo engine – named for its designer Gioachino Colombo (perhaps a distant cousin?).
The Daytona gained fame in 1971 when Dan Gurney and Brock Yates used it to win the inaugural Cannonball Run. You may recognize the Daytona as the car driven by Don Johnson on Miami Vice, however that car was a replica built on a Corvette frame. Today you can buy pick up the real thing for around $500,000 to $700,000.
Columbo appearances
- Lady in Waiting – Sheltered heiress Beth Chadwick “accidentally” shoots her overbearing brother and only a few days later a blue Ferrari 365 GTB Daytona is delivered to her home. Coincidence?
- Short Fuse – Murderer Roger Stanford drives a silver/blue model (pictured above), at one point leading the police on a fake car chase.
1. Jaguar XK-E
With its distinctive long front end and forward opening hood, the Jaguar E-type has long been considered a classic British sports car. It is even rumored that Enzo Ferrari called it “the most beautiful car ever made.” The New York Metropolitan Museum of Art includes a roadster version in its design collection – one of only six cars so honored.
Produced by Jaguar Cars Ltd from 1961 to 1975, the Jaguar is an E-Type for most of the world but in America it is designated XK-E. They are still somewhat affordable with nicely restored models going for $50,000 to $90,000. There were three appearances of the Jaguar E-Type in total, and all look to be pre-1971 models. The series was not kind to the Jaguar XK-E, however, with two of them being destroyed! The car would also crop up in the ‘new Columbo’ episodes of the 1980s.
Columbo appearances
- Etude in Black – Alex Benedict drives a silver Jaguar XK-E (pictured above) which becomes part of the plot when he leaves it overnight at his mechanic but then sneaks back to use it in the murder of his mistress.
- The Greenhouse Jungle – A defenseless yellow Jaguar XKE is pushed into a canyon as part of a fake kidnapping plot.
- Requiem for a Falling Star – A blue XK-E is torched by an aging Hollywood starlet when she murders her assistant.
“It’s a French car…”
No listing of cars from the show would be complete without a look at the Lieutenant’s distinctive 1960 Peugeot 403 Cabriolet. Columbo is very proud of the car and seemingly oblivious to the fact that it is a heap! The 403 was produced in France from 1955 to 1966. The engine produced a whopping 64 hp. Columbo’s convertible version, called a Cabriolet, was a luxury model that included leather seats and was sold in very limited numbers. Prices at auction today vary wildly depending on the condition of the car, but a perfect specimen could set you back over $125,000.
We first see the Peugeot in Murder by the Book, but we don’t get a good look at it until Death Lends a Hand when Columbo is pulled over by a motorcycle cop. Although the car features a convertible roof, we rarely see its top down. The first instance comes in Lady in Waiting when the Lieutenant treats Leslie Neilson to lunch at a drive-in diner. The roof also comes down in Short Fuse, The Most Dangerous Match and Last Salute to the Commodore, which is additionally the only time we see someone else (Columbo’s sidekick ‘Mac’) behind the wheel.
As an aside, in 1991 episode Columbo and the Murder of a Rock Star the Lieutenant erroneously claims that he has lowered the roof for the first time. Keen fans know better.
Although cherished by Columbo, his car is perennially looked down on by others. In Short Fuse Roger Stanford refers to the Peugeot as “that old heap.” It’s the first joke at the Peugeot’s expense but certainly not the last. In Etude in Black a fun exchange occurs when Columbo asks the mechanic to take a look at his car with the bemused repairman asking “Have you ever thought of getting another car?” before refusing to do any work on it, saying “There are limits, mate.”
Similar gags are repeated in Requiem for a Falling Star, with the guard at the movie studio gate who thinks the Peugeot is there for a demolition derby scene; and again in Candidate for Crime when Columbo is pulled over into a vehicle inspection stop where his car has multiple infractions.
The beat-up Peugeot was clearly in a few accidents and we see two of them in the series. In A Matter of Honor, while in Mexico with Mrs Columbo, the lieutenant rear-ends a taxi. The accident sees his car impounded and keeps Columbo in Mexico to solve the crime. Meanwhile, in Make Me a Perfect Murder the episode starts with the singing detective getting caught up in a police chase and being rear-ended by a uniformed cop, resulting in Columbo wearing a neck brace for half the episode.
By the end of the 70s run in The Conspirators, the Peugeot looks very much worse for wear. Is that duct tape on the tail light? And a missing headlight? It’s amazing the car was even allowed on the road! However, the Peugeot gets a hero’s send-off with a dramatic helicopter shot of it driving on the Vincent Thomas Bridge over Los Angeles Harbor. And it would, of course, be back when Columbo hit the screens again in 1989. After all, where would the Lieutenant be without his trusty ride?
Marco DuBose is a video editor from Houston, Texas, who watches entirely too much television. If you’ve enjoyed this article you can download Marco’s more detailed rundown of all the most epic cars seen in Columbo from 1971-2003 right here (depending on your internet speed, it may take a while to open).
I do hope you enjoyed this article! My thanks to Marco for coming up with the goods on a subject many readers have asked about in the past. Let us know your own thoughts on the hottest hot rods the series threw at us. There are many noteworthy vehicles not included here that are showstoppers in their own right.
Until next time, farewell and drive safely! And remember, to quote our mate Columbo: “you take care of your car, and your car will take care of you.”
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As I know Jarvis Goodland also drives a Bentley S1 (coupe) in The Greenhouse Jungle.
I’m not greedy. I’ll take Benedict’s silver Jaguar and Tracy’s ’66 VW Beetle convertible.
I can’t believe I didn’t notice…I’m pretty sure that the VW Beetle Tracy drives in “Suitable for Framing” is the same VW that Eddie Kane drives in “Publish or Perish.” I’m almost positive they’re the same color, year, and they’re both convertibles.
I think you are right! I noticed that as well.
I’m surprised you didn’t mention
one of the most iconic luxury cars
of the early 70s. The Lincoln Continental,
Mark IV sedan with it distinctive grill, top
and external rear tire trunk.
I believe there are a number of those in episodes.
I’m sorry the following figures are about the 69 episodes, and not only the episodes of the 70s.
“The murderer drives a Mercedes”, could we say, because I found 19 murderers driving a Mercedes, from “Murder by the Book” until “Columbo Likes the Nightlife” (with a rented car). Some of those Mercedes are very present in the episode. Only 2 Mercedes seem to be driven by other people than murderers (“Make Me a Perfect Murder”— but it was the murderer who bought it! — and “Murder, a Self-Portrait”).
Other “popular” cars are Rolls, BMW and Jaguar. But BMW doesn’t appear until “Sex and the Married Detective” (1989). Some of the BMW are very present (“Agenda for Murder”).
I guess it was a policy of the car-importers to push their brands by offering the cars.
Off topic but important and cool news — the online version of The Economist has a nice article praising Columbo and Peter Falk. The article was just in the print edition too.
Marco’s meticulous list highlights the wide variety of swank rides available in one particular city. As CP notes in his article intro, the luxury cars of Columbo help underscore the power and money so reflective of a gaudy time and place – 1970s Los Angeles. The city is as much a feature in the series as an old raincoat, and the importance of L.A. is just one element of a brand new book (Nov. 2021), “Columbo: Paying Attention 24/7” by Professor of Film Studies David Martin-Jones of the University of Glasgow. The most important detail first – the Columbophile blog gets a shout-out from the author as “incredibly helpful”.
[Apologies, going off-topic in 3-2-1]: The book’s core theme centers on the crucial role that attention plays – how it is learned, how it is shaped, how it is directed – in 21st century socio-economic life. Martin-Jones traces the entire 70s-90s scope of Columbo episodes, and how its unique inverted-mystery format channels viewer attention by compelling us to play a type of “memory game” to keep track of the clues that Columbo would use to ultimately trap the murderer. In short, Columbo teaches us how to pay attention. It is this element of focused attention that other standard TV shows simply didn’t have, which has not only made the series consistently popular, but according to Martin-Jones, also makes Columbo episodes uniquely able to mirror transformations in society as a whole. This includes the 70s rise of a neoliberal, capitalist economy that exacerbates socio-economic divide in a globalized Los Angeles, and Columbo’s role in policing its’ excesses by catching the killers and thereby championing social justice.
Yeah, pretty heady stuff, but thankfully (mostly) clearly articulated. I really like the idea that Columbo’s clues keep us paying attention and are a huge factor in its continued popularity. I also enjoyed his angle on Columbo’s continual interaction with new technology, modelling for 70s viewers how to upgrade their own tech knowledge – from pacemakers and pagers to fax machines and floppy discs – and ease their own integration into modernity.
Unfortunately, some of the conclusions Martin-Jones draws (about Columbo, not about his overall theory of attention, which itself seems pretty solid) come across as wild overreaches of speculation. He explicitly states that he’s not interested in making any value judgments or offering critiques, which appears to be sound academic practice, but limits his perspective and keeps him from arriving at what would be, for us in the Columbophile community, some obvious and simple conclusions.
Here’s an example: “His melody accompanies a playful montage of a fountain moving independently outside before the children join….It is hard not to notice the shift of address toward a younger viewer in such a moment in what is otherwise a steamy episode.” That’s right – he’s intellectualizing the Tuba Scene! Even without reading David Koenig’s explanation that Peter Falk simply wanted to play the damn tuba, Martin-Jones tries to attach logic to tripe that had a much more humdrum explanation.
I found myself scribbling “BS” in the book margins on more than one occasion. All those different roles played by John Finnegan and Mike Lally? The flip-flops on Columbo speaking Italian and (as Marco notes) his Peugeot convertible top? Sgt. Wilson’s name change? The author’s take: “There is something strategic about the play with inconsistency which is made into a feature of the show, which helps shape how we pay attention in our everyday lives.” Uh, wait – the inconsistencies are a “strategic feature of the show”? The simpler Hollywood explanations – Falk liked casting his friends, the show didn’t have a Bible, there was some sloppy writing and decreased quality control – are tossed aside in favor of more complicated and tortured egghead hypotheses.
Despite these academic flights of fancy, Martin-Jones’ concept of the value of attention is actually intriguing and worth a look. $35 worth (Amazon purchase)? Maybe not, but you can have fun spotting where he’s clearly spinning things to crowbar-fit his theory. Have that pencil ready to scratch “BS” in the margins.
A great review Glenn! You’ve certainly used the power of attention yourself to clearly describe the inconsistencies in the book in question.
Fantastic article! Cars were spectacular and so was Colombo! Out of all the television detective shows starting in the late sixties through the early 2000’s, Colombo definitely was the best of the best! Thanks for this great article and “Thanks for the memories” as Bob Hope would say.
Thanks for the article, that guy has been busy!
Joe Devlin driving an English car is all part of his cover as a supposed peace maker.
Great article Marco!
…thanks.
Great article! I also enjoy the old cars in “Columbo.”
Another memorable Mercedes was Mark’s gift to Kay in “Make Me a Perfect Murder.”
There’s that snazzy golden-brown sports-car Freddy was going to buy in “Death Hits the Jackpot.” We don’t get to see much of it, but it’s cool.
In “A Matter of Honour,” the murderer’s car is well-known to the world.
And just in general, I like old 1970s square cars, so the series is a great source of them.
Fantastic article! Well researched and great fun to read. Like the offbeat French vehicles. Nelson Brenner’s choice is not to everyone’s taste but the Citroen SM is an unusual and stylish vehicle.
And that Peugeot….
My wife and I not only enjoy the great writing and acting in the Columbo episodes, but also have always loved the beautiful homes and incredible cars. Mine personally is the powder blue Rolls in Try & Catch me. Great article and well done.
Love the article & the comments but have to agree with Jerry, the blue Rolls is my favorite.
It’s a creampuff……but since i drive a 2007 Honda Civic i guess all of these cars are incredible!
One model that shows up a number of times is the Mercedes-Benz R107 convertible, usually referred to as a 350SL, 380SL or 450SL, depending on the engine size of a model year. They had to keep increasing the engine size to offset the loss in power caused by various emissions-limiting devices. The model was produced from 1972-1989.
Those are also the numbers Columbo figures out are car models in Make Me A Perfect Murder. If I recall correctly, Kay Freestone was given a 450SL. The final model in the line, was the 560SL, sold from 1986-1989. I haven’t yet watched all of the ABC Columbo episodes, so I can’t say for certain that the SL shows up in those, but it would likely be in there. It was a classic car for the wealthy Californian, the 1987 model listed for around $52,000, which would be around $120,000 today. There are a lot of them still on the road and can be had for relatively low price for a luxury sports car.
Off the top of my head, aside from Ms Freestone, other appearances of the SL are in Playback, the car Harold van Wyck (Oskar Werner) drives, Charlie Clay (Robert Vaughn) has one in Last Salute to the Commodore, and I think Mark Collier (George Hamilton) is seen driving one in Deadly State of Mind.
Columbo’s Peugeot also lacks seat belts and turn signals. We learn this from the appalled DMV examiner Mr. Weekly (wonderfully played by Larry Storch), when Colombo gives him a lift back to the DMV, in one of my favorite episodes, Negative Reaction. Weekly is so unnerved by Columbo’s poor driving habits that he forces Colombo to stop the car and gets out to walk. One of the best set pieces in Columbo.
Yes that’s one of my favourites too; I think that’s the one where he ends up eating a meal with a bunch of homeless men in a shelter – great stuff!
Although in the 90s Wayne Jennings had a beautiful red XKE roadster.
Great article, Marco. But are you sure Columbo’s Peugeot is a 1960? Elsewhere (including in David Koenig’s “Shooting Columbo”) it’s listed as a 1959. [That’s also the year, according to 1973’s “Requiem for a Falling Star,” that Columbo arrived in L.A. (“As long as I’ve been in Los Angeles, this is the first time I’ve ever been on a movie studio. It’s true. Fourteen years, never been here before.”).]
And is there any truth to Columbo’s statement to Nelson Brenner in 1975’s “Identity Crisis” that “there are only three like [his Peugeot] in the country”?
As to Elliot Markham purchasing Ken Franklin’s Mercedes at auction, with the same license plate — as previously mentioned on the blog, this may be owing to the show resurrecting filmed, but unused, “Murder by the Book” footage of a tire blowout on the Mercedes (with a dead body in the trunk) for “Blueprint for Murder.” The original scripted scene, cut from Bochco’s “Murder by the Book,” was certainly reused in Bochco’s “Blueprint for Murder.”
Finally, do you expect the price of a Rolls Royce Silver Cloud to continue to plummet? Can you let me know when it goes below $10,000?
In “Murder Can Be Hazardous to Your Health”, Columbo himself calls it a “1950 Peugeot sir, they’re very rare.” For a car that wasn’t produced until 1955, yeah, that’s pretty rare. I’d love to stop harping on the lack of quality control in New Columbo, but the little details keep bothering me.
I’ve read there is little difference between the 1959 and 1960 models, but you are right that it is typically referred to as 1959. I’ve also read that only 500 or so of that model were produced so Columbo’s claim could be right!
A French car expert once emailed to say that while the car was released for sale in 1959, it is technically correct to refer to it as a 1960 model because it was released after October 1959.
You’re right. The (official) trick was (or still is?) that cars released in the second part of the year were (or are?) considered being released the following year. It’s interesting for the price people agree to pay.
The car is NOT cool but it is a curiosity. Early in the Dead Weight episode, the killer general is driven away in a car that had three taillights. In a row, not like now when the third brake light on a sedan is generally up below the rear window. I’m just curious what this car was.
I really enjoyed this article. I always appreciated the contrast between Columbo’s old heap of junk and the many villain’s luxurious showstoppers….
It was fun to discover all the many details about these beauties and pair them with the owners they were related to!!!
Good article, with nice detailing (just like the cars themselves).
Re: The Mercedes-Benz 280 SE of “By the Book” and “Blueprint”. Eliot Markham definitely did rip off the “Have a Nice Day” sticker when he came into possession of Ken Franklin’s car (wouldn’t you?). In the scenes showing Eliot transporting Bo Williamson’s body, we get very brief glimpses in both close-up and medium shots of the vehicle’s rear. And while it’s at night, the yellowish digits of the car tag (and the green inspection sticker) are clearly visible. The practically-screaming yellow sticker is not. That bumper message was clearly a Spielberg-ian touch, as I can’t imagine Ken Franklin mussing up his sweet ride so garishly.
The durability of Columbo’s Peugeot is quite remarkable. By 1973’s “Any Old Port in a Storm” it had already clocked over 100,00 miles, and was still chugging down L.A. freeways through 2003. Props to Columbo’s mechanic!
Nice contribution Marco. Thanks!
I’m admittedly not an informed ‘car guy’ by any means, but IMHO the #4 Citroen design is rather ugly. However, I’m in full agreement that #7, #3 and #1 are gorgeous rides.
The aesthetics of a Citroen SM are an acquired taste for sure, but they are a mechanical marvel. Front wheel drive with a Maserati engine and full air suspension. Unfortunately, when you combine French reliability with Italian reliability, the result is, well, completely unreliable. Keeping one on the road was and is prohibitively expensive.
Interesting info. Cool!
amazing article as usual!
A great article! Seeing the cars of the ‘60s and ‘70s in their natural habitat is one of my favorite aspects of the show. I certainly agree with your rankings too, as owner of a ‘63 XKE coupe. 😉
I also thoroughly enjoyed reading this about the cars. I’ve always admired the upscale autos in Columbo and tried to guess the model number and recall if and when I’d seen one back in the day.
The writer did miss one car “crash” involving Columbo. In “Caution: Murder Can Be Hazardous ToYour Health” there’s that ridiculously played out back and forth car ballet scene where Columbo bangs into Wade Anders’s car in the front driveway of his office.
And also, I don’t remember in which episode, Columbo banging in a police-car at the spot of a murder.
I thoroughly enjoyed this article. Thank you.
I am more of a muscle car aficionado and one car that was missed is the ’71 Dodge Challenger in “Death Lends a Hand”, owned by golf pro Ken Archer (Brett Halsey). Very nice with a convertible top like Columbo’s car!
Yes, that’s a nice muscle car but we don’t get to see much of it. I also tried to keep to victims and murderers.
That reasoning would explain the omission of Buddy Castle’s spectacular fire engine red Corvette Stingray in Exercise in Fatality.
Unfortunately, the Corvette didn’t make the list even though I really wanted to feature Buddy Castle’s fantastic pants!