Author Topic: SOLVED: Djetset 986 - 1978 Gadabout rental car by Ray Fletcher, New Orleans, USA  (Read 597 times)

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Offline Djetset

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For a point, what is the story behind these cars (year, name, etc.)?
A car is for life, not just for Christmas.

Offline Djetset

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Re: Djetset 986
« Reply #1 on: October 29, 2019, 03:51:57 PM »
Experts?
A car is for life, not just for Christmas.

Online fyreline

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Re: Djetset 986
« Reply #2 on: October 29, 2019, 05:07:52 PM »
I vaguely remember the story (I think). A man in New Orleans tried to start up a business renting these antique-style cars for sightseers in the city. They were called "Gadabouts" or something like that. I will see if a good search turns up anything more.
"You are entitled to your own opinion, but you are NOT entitled to your own facts"

Offline Djetset

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Re: Djetset 986
« Reply #3 on: October 30, 2019, 05:30:42 AM »
I vaguely remember the story (I think). A man in New Orleans tried to start up a business renting these antique-style cars for sightseers in the city. They were called "Gadabouts" or something like that. I will see if a good search turns up anything more.
Yes, you've basically got it, as these are Gadabouts; planned rental cars for New Orleans tourists. Just to finish the Puzzle off for the point, any rough idea what year this would have been? Now Locked to you.
A car is for life, not just for Christmas.

Online fyreline

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Re: Djetset 986
« Reply #4 on: October 30, 2019, 10:03:33 AM »
The closest I can come for a year is 1978 or 1979.  Still can't find the name of the guy who came up with the rental car idea, so I'm glad you didn't ask for that. Seems like it would have been a pretty good idea, I wonder why it didn't work out? Maybe some of our members in the New Orleans area might know.
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Offline Djetset

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Re: Djetset 986
« Reply #5 on: October 30, 2019, 10:35:18 AM »
The closest I can come for a year is 1978 or 1979.  Still can't find the name of the guy who came up with the rental car idea, so I'm glad you didn't ask for that. Seems like it would have been a pretty good idea, I wonder why it didn't work out? Maybe some of our members in the New Orleans area might know.
Yes, 1978 is the year. Ray Fletcher was the character being this scheme, and the story behind this failed enterprise seems to be that the 'serious' car rental companies banded together to crush this new potential rival, just as the Detroit 'Big Three' automobile maker allegedly did to kill off Tucker in the late 1940s! Well done, another point to you.
A car is for life, not just for Christmas.

Offline hermanoto

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… built by Vintage Reproductions Inc., Ft Lauerdale.
Four different bodystyles, o.a. Surrey and C-cab

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Thank you, hermanoto - I wondered who had built the cars. They seem like neat little units - too bad that nothing ever came of it.
"You are entitled to your own opinion, but you are NOT entitled to your own facts"