Whatsit, and Who Are They? - Solved! Mamie Van Doren's mink wheelcovers

[Ray B.]

What is the unusual accessory this guy is holding?
One point if you find it. Another if you can identify this happy couple.

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Also, please be sure to check out our other puzzles, and, please post a puzzle of your own if you'd like - the more, the merrier.

Thanks!

[jotage21]

Jane Mansfield?

[Ray B.]

Not Jayne Mansfield (I already had a puzzle featuring her), but you're not far. Remember that you must identify the two if you want to score.

[guido66]

Padded hubcaps, to avoid scratches when parking against the kerb   

[Otto Puzzell]

The way she's rubbing her face on it, I assume its soft - fur, perhaps?

[Ray B.]

The way she's rubbing her face on it, I assume its soft - fur, perhaps?

Yes! Now you have 72 hours to tell us what kind of fur, and who they are.

[streamliner]

Is he George Barris, perhaps?

[streamliner]

...and his beloved wife, Shirley?

[Ray B.]

No. Please read the other posts.
They are husband and wife, true, but not car related. More the kind who would put fur hubcaps (what kind of fur?) on their car.

[neilshouse]

Are they Sandra Dee and Bobby Darin?

[Ray B.]

No. For the girl, jotage21's Jayne Mansfield guess was closer.

[Quiller]

Could the fur be mink?

[streamliner]

Jean Harlow?

Bunny fur?

[Ray B.]

Mink: YES!

Jean Harlow, no (she was dead since about 20 years when this picture was taken).

[hugo90]

Is it Mamie Van Doren and Ray Anthony?

[Ray B.]

Yes sir, good thinking. Once you've eliminated Jayne Mansfield, what comes next? Mamie Van Doren.
One point for you, and one for Quiller who steals the point from Otto Puzzell.

[hugo90]

I had to search pinup sites to find her, and discovered that her name came from Mamie Eisenhower and Charles Van Doren, so entirely made up.

[Ray B.]

Now Mamie Van Doren was a Jayne Mansfield ersatz. Jayne herself (notwithstanding the intellectual qualities of the lady) was a Marylin Monroe ersatz.
But now we have Sandra Giles who may have been a Mamie Van Doren ersatz. Her first movie was called "Lost, lonely, and vicious"

But she beat Mamie by far when she covered her whole T-Bird with fur!

[Otto Puzzell]

They don't make 'em like that any more.

[Otto Puzzell]

Another pic of Sandra and the 'bird

[Otto Puzzell]

A nice, big pic of Sandra and the 'Bird.

[Otto Puzzell]

What the heck - one more.

[Ray B.]