Crew Story, photo essay: The history of the camera car

Film Tech History

CAMERA CARS: UNSUNG WORKHORSES OF THE INDUSTRY

Camera cars, or insert cars as they are called on the set, are the unsung heroes of the movies. The workhorses are always there, but never seen. Their history goes all the way back to the first mass-produced vehicles. One of the earliest best known examples being the 1925 film Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ. These 1924 Lincolns were constantly being upgraded for the next 30 years. When Tom Sparks opened his shop opposite Paramount Studios in Hollywood in 1949, the camera cars were worked-over 1924-26 Lincolns. Flathead Ford engines replaced the Leland-designed Lincoln V-8. They were ok, but had inadequate steering and brakes. They were used until 1956. It is true that Chrysler Corporation supplied two camera cars to some studios after they visited sets and saw an opportunity for publicity. The year was 1949 and the studios didn’t like the straight with engine or the fluid drive. In 1956, Gil Casper, a camera car driver, came to Sparks. He had saved some money and wanted a camera car built to his specs. Using a 1956 Ford 3/4 ton cab and chassis, Sparks cranked out six units. He said, “Overnight the 1926 Lincolns were obsolete. I built one new truck each year for Casper.The regular inner car will have as many as 12 people on the car at one time. Even during a bright day, lights will be used to prevent unwanted shadows. An aircraft generator powered b a Corvair engine supplies power for the big lights. The engine is soundproofed. The light weight of a Corvair engine is important, as weight must be held to a minimum. The engine does not run all the time, but it can't be noisy when it does, sense the soundproofing. The engine runs a full rpm for a few minutes at a time. 1960s we would see the beginning of the modern camera car. For Chase scenes and race movies, where faster speeds are needed, Sparks built a Casper a Chevy El Camino using experience from his early drag racing days.

Over the years camera cars have been at the bleeding edge of technology, constantly pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. From the beginning of strapping cameras to wagons to the latest innovations having remote telescoping cranes on the roofs of SUV’s, camera vehicles have come a long way. Check out the history accompanied with each image.

Excerpts from Michael Maher premium beat, Roadsterhouse