Can anyone tell me which sort of station wagon Mike Brady drove in the Brady Bunch back in the early seventies? I can't remember whether it was a GM clamshell wagon or a Ford Country Squire or similar.
Whatever it was, it was enormous.

Mike Brady actually drove the cool convertible. I believe there were at least 2 different convertibles, the last one being a 74 (I believe) Caprice convertible. Greg and Marcia used it for their driving contest. Greg choked and broke the egg on the pylon, Marcia won...

Carol Brady drove a Dodge/Plymouth station wagon. It was the mid-size model (Coronet or Belvedere?). She wrecked it one episode...ok, she didn't "wreck" it, but she backed into another car in a store parking lot, while distracted by Bobby/Cindy fighting in the back seat (the dangers of parenthood). The other driver tried to sue the Brady's, claiming whiplash and other damages. Mike threw his briefcase on the courtroom floor, the victim turned his head, which the Judge saw and threw the case out and all was right with the world again.

I never watched the show... :rl:

When they went to the Grand Canyon, I thought they had a Coronet. I thought they had mopar throughout the show's run but I could be wrong. It was kind of cool I thought when an insurance company (can't remember which one:banghead3:) "revisited" the set, and there was a Buick clamshell in the garage:2_thumbs_up_-_anima.

Remember watching something on TV that explained that the Brady wagon was a late Sixties Plymouth.That Mike's first convertible was an early Seventies Plymouth and,when the show changed sponsorship,he got the Chevy.They kept the wagon,as it was a bought prop.

When they went to the Grand Canyon, I thought they had a Coronet. I thought they had mopar throughout the show's run but I could be wrong. It was kind of cool I thought when an insurance company (can't remember which one:banghead3:) "revisited" the set, and there was a Buick clamshell in the garage:2_thumbs_up_-_anima.


I don't remember the Buick...I gotta see that. I checked IMCDb.org for the Brady Bunch, but all I got was the movie, not the series. I also did searches under Coronet and Belvedere and found nothing.

I just found the info on the cars (the page also has info on the house, as well)...

Here's the website: http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/The_Brady_Bunch_-_The_Brady_house/id/5514540

Here's what it says:

The Brady Bunch - The Bradys' cars

During the first two seasons, each of the Brady family's motor vehicles were supplied by Chrysler Corporation: a blue 1969 Plymouth Fury III convertible (which Mike drove) and a light brown 1969 Plymouth Satellite
(http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/The_Brady_Bunch_-_The_Brady_house/id/5514540#)station wagon.

For the 1971–1972 season, the Bradys obtained new vehicles, once again supplied by Chrysler Corporation: a blue 1971 Plymouth Barracuda convertible and a brown 1971 Plymouth Satellite Regent station wagon. The 1971 Barracuda was modified during the 1971 – 1972 season into a 1972 model, with the addition of that year's particular grille and tail light combination (interestingly, the Chrysler Corporation never produced a 1972 Barracuda convertible). Greg, who by this time had his license, sometimes drove Mike's convertible, although he briefly owned a 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air convertible, a car which proved to be a lemon.


The Bradys kept the 1971 Plymouth station wagon throughout the rest of the series (this vehicle played a central role in the episode "The Fender Benders"), although Mike kept switching cars, which by the 1972–1973 season, were supplied by General Motors. These were as follows:

1972–1973 - A blue 1972 Chevrolet Impala convertible.
1973–1974 - A maroon 1973 Chevrolet Caprice Classic convertible with white interior during the first half of the season. Starting with 1974 episode, "The Driver's Seat" and continuing through the remainder of the series, the convertible is a red 1974 Chevrolet Caprice Classic convertible with black interior.
There are two known surviving "Brady Bunch" cars: The blue 1969 Plymouth Fury III convertible (which has been perfectly restored), and the modified 1971 – 1972 Plymouth Barracuda (which was found in 2001 in extremely poor condition, and is under restoration by its current owner). The whereabouts of the remaining vehicles are not known.
During A Very Brady Christmas, Mike's car is a 1988 Chrysler LeBaron convertible; the family station wagon is not seen.
In The Bradys, Mike continues to drive the same car as in A Very Brady Christmas. The family station wagon (which a drunken Marcia attempts to drive) is a 1990 Buick Estate wagon.

I don't remember the Buick...I gotta see that. I checked IMCDb.org for the Brady Bunch, but all I got was the movie, not the series. I also did searches under Coronet and Belvedere and found nothing.
I was a little vague in my description. It was insurance commercial, and the spokesman was doing his pitch as he walked around a recreation of the Brady backyard.

Mike Brady actually drove the cool convertible. I believe there were at least 2 different convertibles, the last one being a 74 (I believe) Caprice convertible. Greg and Marcia used it for their driving contest. Greg choked and broke the egg on the pylon, Marcia won...

Carol Brady drove a Dodge/Plymouth station wagon. It was the mid-size model (Coronet or Belvedere?). She wrecked it one episode...ok, she didn't "wreck" it, but she backed into another car in a store parking lot, while distracted by Bobby/Cindy fighting in the back seat (the dangers of parenthood). The other driver tried to sue the Brady's, claiming whiplash and other damages. Mike threw his briefcase on the courtroom floor, the victim turned his head, which the Judge saw and threw the case out and all was right with the world again.

I never watched the show... :rl:
I did, but I must have been about nine or ten at the time.
I clearly remember both the driving contest and Mike dropping the briefcase in the courtroom. Funny how certain things stick in one's mind.
All these relplies are rather good, by the way. Thanks everyone for your efforts.

I did, but I must have been about nine or ten at the time.
I clearly remember both the driving contest and Mike dropping the briefcase in the courtroom. Funny how certain things stick in one's mind.
All these relplies are rather good, by the way. Thanks everyone for your efforts.

I was only joking about not watching the show...I actually watched it as much as possible. I, too, was only about 10 or so when I watched it. It's true about things sticking in one's mind. Funny thing is that I only saw the "Fender Bender" episode one time...and never have seen it again. I would like to see it again. I just stumbled upon the website about the house/cars. Seems that there is a lot of interest in the subject. Interesting...

My favorite episode was the one where they were playing jokes on each other, pretending there were ghosts in/around the house.

I'm a teacher, and I like to put interesting posters up on the wall in my classroom. The boys who live in there are 11/12.
One of my display posters was a picture of the Brady Bunch, minus Mike, who must have taken the picture. The boys didn't notice very much, except that the Bradys had such perfect teeth (by British standards) and that Alice looked like their French teacher.
It was another story with my colleagues, though. Most had very fond memories of the Bradys, though none of us could remember the middle girl's name.
It seems that early seventies America was a rather fun place!

I'm a teacher, and I like to put interesting posters up on the wall in my classroom. The boys who live in there are 11/12.
One of my display posters was a picture of the Brady Bunch, minus Mike, who must have taken the picture. The boys didn't notice very much, except that the Bradys had such perfect teeth (by British standards) and that Alice looked like their French teacher.
It was another story with my colleagues, though. Most had very fond memories of the Bradys, though none of us could remember the middle girl's name.
It seems that early seventies America was a rather fun place!


Well, I can't speak too much of 70's America. I was born in '71, so I was there, but young. Plus, I grew up in a very isolated area (southeastern New Mexico) that was controlled in large part by the Catholic church. So my recollection was somewhat different, to be sure.

As far as the Brady kids' teeth, I believe that almost every kid got braces while on the show. My 10-year old is going to need braces (he's part shark...he's got 2 rows of teeth on the top/front :disagree:) and even with insurance, it's going to cost me over $2500. I can't imagine what a family the size of the Bradys would have had to pay for all those braces!

The middle child was Jan (AKA: "Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!!!")

I'm a little older, born in 1966. I grew up in New Zealand, which is probably as isolated as New Mexico.
Culturally, the US made a huge contribution to my childhood. I was a great fan of the Monkies as well. They had a rather wonderful Mustang.

Sheesh Topher, that's a pile of money for Dental. My wife is the bone nibbler here and takes great care with hers. She just got a filling and cleaning for under $350.00. Hadn't seen a dentist in over 12 years! They gave her a free tube of whitener type toothpaste that made her gums feel like there were pins and needles in her mouth. She dropped that and two weeks later she's back to bone-nibbling. I cringe every time she gets a drumstick. That poor bird wouldn't make a decent test for an autopsy!:rofl2:

Sheesh Topher, that's a pile of money for Dental. My wife is the bone nibbler here and takes great care with hers. She just got a filling and cleaning for under $350.00. Hadn't seen a dentist in over 12 years! They gave her a free tube of whitener type toothpaste that made her gums feel like there were pins and needles in her mouth. She dropped that and two weeks later she's back to bone-nibbling. I cringe every time she gets a drumstick. That poor bird wouldn't make a decent test for an autopsy!:rofl2:

Fortunately, my dental coverage is better when it comes to more routine things, such as cleanings/fillings, etc. Cleanings/fillings are free after your first 4 years with the plan (they are $4 for the first 4 years). Crowns/Root canals are around $40 or so. Bridges a little more, I think. But the plan falls short on orthodontics...and the orthodontics plan only applies to my children. My wife and I, both, could use to have our teeth straightened for bite/TMJ issues, but we would not be covered...so it would cost around $4500-$5K each to get braces...therefore, we won't get them.

I'm a little older, born in 1966. I grew up in New Zealand, which is probably as isolated as New Mexico.
Culturally, the US made a huge contribution to my childhood. I was a great fan of the Monkies as well. They had a rather wonderful Mustang.

AAAAHHHHHHHH!!! The Monkees! I forgot they ever existed! I loved the Monkees. Their car was quite cool.

I'm a little older, born in 1966. I grew up in New Zealand, which is probably as isolated as New Mexico.
Culturally, the US made a huge contribution to my childhood. I was a great fan of the Monkies as well. They had a rather wonderful Mustang.

The Monkees car, aka the Monkeemobile, was actually based on a 1966 Pontiac GTO. It was built by famous customizer Dean Jeffries.

http://www.monkees.net/DOCS/MMOBILE.HTM

You're confusion with the Mustang probably comes from the twin '66 Mustangs built for Sonny and Cher, by George Barris.

...My wife and I, both, could use to have our teeth straightened for bite/TMJ issues, but we would not be covered...so it would cost around $4500-$5K each to get braces...therefore, we won't get them.

So it's not like 'jack up the horn and put a new car under it', huh?:D

My mother had a calcium deficiency, when I was born, so by 23, I had to get all of mine yanked, and new falsies. Luckily, I got the right guy the first time, and still have them 39 years later. Replaced one broken tooth in Mexico back in 1999. Never came out during a sneeze or laugh, not even a full moon! :rofl2:

The Monkees car, aka the Monkeemobile, was actually based on a 1966 Pontiac GTO. It was built by famous customizer Dean Jeffries.

http://www.monkees.net/DOCS/MMOBILE.HTM

You're confusion with the Mustang probably comes from the twin '66 Mustangs built for Sonny and Cher, by George Barris.
Good God, that isn't a Mustang.
I knew it was red and a convertible, so maybe I just pictured a Mustang. The Mustang is, to many people, the ultimate sixties American convertible, so maybe that explains it.
I did watch Sonny and Cher too.

The more recent Brady Bunch movie (which is as good as it is bad) uses a pooh brown 1972 Montego for the wagon.

http://www.imcdb.org/images/181/829.jpg

The more recent Brady Bunch movie (which is as good as it is bad) uses a pooh brown 1972 Montego for the wagon.

http://www.imcdb.org/images/181/829.jpg
I'd be happy with that pooh brown Montego wagon...:p

I'd be happy, rolling around with Marcia in the back of that Motego wagon!!!:dance::yahoo::tup:

I have not seen the Brady movie in a long time. But I do remember the Mercury Montego wagon was used in a clip where Jan is learning how to drive, she hits a fire hydrant. There was also a song played by the Monkeys "The Last Train to Clarksville".

I'd be happy with that pooh brown Montego wagon...:p

My mom had a 77 LTD wagon she referred to as baby sh*t brown all my childhood.

My mom had a 77 LTD wagon she referred to as baby sh*t brown all my childhood.

She'd know that color and smell, intimately.:rl: I was the oldest in my family, back in the day of cloth diapers, changing and washing them for my 4 siblings. :rl:

hahaha. My mom says she liked that car because she could get all 3 or our old-style car seats across the rear bench.

hahaha. My mom says she liked that car because she could get all 3 or our old-style car seats across the rear bench.

I see her point. I have a 2001 Park Avenue, considered a "large luxury car" by today's standards. When both my boys were in car seats, there was practically NO room in between the two car seats. When they were both in booster seats, a small child could fit in the middle, but we tried three booster seats once, when we had my nephew with us for a weekend...forget it...they wouldn't fit. Now, we're down to one in a booster seat and the other doesn't need one...much better. :whew:

Back in the 70's, we went to a funeral for a family member and we sat 4 across the front and 4 across the back in my mother's 72 Mercury Marquis. My mother's 2004 Grand Marquis won't hold but 3...and not very comfortably at that.

I see her point. I have a 2001 Park Avenue, considered a "large luxury car" by today's standards. When both my boys were in car seats, there was practically NO room in between the two car seats. When they were both in booster seats, a small child could fit in the middle, but we tried three booster seats once, when we had my nephew with us for a weekend...forget it...they wouldn't fit. Now, we're down to one in a booster seat and the other doesn't need one...much better. :whew:

Back in the 70's, we went to a funeral for a family member and we sat 4 across the front and 4 across the back in my mother's 72 Mercury Marquis. My mother's 2004 Grand Marquis won't hold but 3...and not very comfortably at that.

That's why the mid-60's and early 70's were called Hippie! Now, please don't send you're mom to beat me up.:rofl2:

I see her point. I have a 2001 Park Avenue, considered a "large luxury car" by today's standards. When both my boys were in car seats, there was practically NO room in between the two car seats. When they were both in booster seats, a small child could fit in the middle, but we tried three booster seats once, when we had my nephew with us for a weekend...forget it...they wouldn't fit. Now, we're down to one in a booster seat and the other doesn't need one...much better. :whew:

Back in the 70's, we went to a funeral for a family member and we sat 4 across the front and 4 across the back in my mother's 72 Mercury Marquis. My mother's 2004 Grand Marquis won't hold but 3...and not very comfortably at that.
I once got three adult male passengers into my Clio, not including me. If you are not familiar with the Clio, you won't understand what a feat that was - they are very small cars.
When I was growing up, my family had a 1974 Holden Kingswood wagon as our family car. It had bench seats front and rear and a 3-speed manual column-change gearbox. You could fit 3 in each row - not quite as much as your mother's 1972 Mercury Marquis but not far behind.
Nowadays, the best offer is a supposedly seven-seat MPV, which can only carry that many people if the rear five are children and the boot (trunk) is not in use.
If I had a family, I'd import a 1972 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser as my family car - just to be different - but there would undoubtedly be some jobsworth official who would render its centre seats unsafe on health & safety grounds.

1971 Plymouth Satellite Regent station wagon.

Kinda right, it was a 71 satellite custom. It has straight trim not molded to a body line, and there is no wood grain. My car has been mistaken for it for a long time. Apparently a rather large diecast dealer has made the same mistake.

http://www.hollywood-diecast.com/wish%20list.htm

Look at #8, pic look familiar? I wouldn't mind if they made a model of it though...


Also, all 3 parts of the Grand Canyon episode will be on TV LAND Thursday, Oct 22 starting at 7:30pm est time.

In reference to the "Brady's cars, there was a blue metallic 1970 Plymouth Barracuda used. The 1970 Barracuda was seen in a few episodes, most notable was the episode when Greg is learning to drive and he's driving down a Hollywood street with Mike in the passenger seat. Glad to read that the old Barracuda is in good hands now by a private owner. If my memory serves me correctly, I also remember, in the show's last season, a 1973 Plymouth Satellite wagon. The first year for the big rubber bumper guards. P.S. As for more famous automobiles, I read an article a few years ago that the medium blue metallic 1973 Ford Mustang convertible used on the Mary Tyler Moore show had been completely restored and put up for auction. Wish I would've know about it. As a little kid I remember seeing that Mustang on the beginning and ending of MTM and loved that Mustang. On Saturday nights I looked forward to seeing that Mustang every time my parents watched MTM.

Here is the wagon from the 1973 season ... note the 73 Caprice Classic convertible in the garage...

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e172/Tennesseestorm/73plymouthwagon.jpg

Does it look like they took out the back door and quarter side glass in that shot?

Does it look like they took out the back door and quarter side glass in that shot?

Maybe the 1/4 side glass, but I see the door glass there. Sometimes they used that "fog" stuff over the windows.

What would the Plymouth have had, a 383 or 400 V8?

That one may have had a 318.

Oh yes, of course. The 318 also saw service in the Australian Chrysler Regals (similar to the Plymouth) of the time.

Mopar 318 was a good engine. It was used for many years... even up until recently I think. ??

It was well loved in NZ too.
That said, most Chrysler Regals had a 'Hemi 265' 4.3 litre straight-six. That was a stonking engine, and almost as powerful as the 318, which was reserved as a smoother engine on the top-line luxury models. All engines had the TF 727 if they were automatic.

It was well loved in NZ too.
That said, most Chrysler Regals had a 'Hemi 265' 4.3 litre straight-six. That was a stonking engine, and almost as powerful as the 318, which was reserved as a smoother engine on the top-line luxury models. All engines had the TF 727 if they were automatic.

Did that 'Hemi' 265 have anything in common with the old slant six?

No.
Up until 1970, the Australian Chrysler Valiant had the 225 slant-six, which was identical to the US engine. With the introduction of the 1970 VG Series, the six-cyliner option was the Hemi 245 (4.0 litre), a larger variant of which was added for the 1972 VH Series, the aforementioned 265.
As far as I am aware, these engines were unique to Chrysler Australia. I haven't seen any reference to them in any US Chrysler cars of the time.
As I said, the 265 was known as a very powerful and tractable engine. I think it put out around 200 bhp in basic form when the 318 offered only 220 (Australian engines were not throttled by anti-pollution equipment until 1976 so where rather more powerful than the early seventies US engines).
The Hemi 265 engine's ultimate form was as the triple-carb 'Six-Pack' which produced 265 bhp in the Australian E49 Charger R/T and was, with the 1970 Ford Falcon GTHO Phase III, Australia's fastest-ever road car for a very long time.

Just to confirm, the six-cylinder Hemi engines I mentioned were designed and built purely by Chrysler Australia for the domestic Valiant/Regal and Regal 770 cars.
I remember the slightly burbly sound they made overlaid with the TF's soft first-gear whine. I'd love to drive one today.

I get razzed about my Monaco being either the brady bunch wagon or the Family Truckster wagon, so much so you wouldnt believe it

Speaking of Hemi's, all engines with spark plugs mounted over the center of the piston are hemi's. This includes the 4 cylinder Toyotas and Ford Escort ZX2 2.0 liter engines.

Hemi refers to the hemispherical shaped combustion chambers.:tiphat:

I know, but the word 'Hemi' conjures up more than just the shape of the combustion chambers. It's what the Chrysler engines are, what they sound like and what they have been marketed as over the years that matters. To me, 'Hemi' refers to a thundering great V8 rather than a Toyota combustion chamber.

Funny about the Hemi thing :bowdown: and what it invokes in car nuts. My wife's late brother built a 'cuda convertible and installed a 440 six pack. The car ended up being the one Don Johnson sold off at B-J. In the TV series it was passed off as a Hee Haw and we'd laugh knowing Al, the late B-I-L, would have really gotten a kick out of that. He'd of been distressed though at what it sold for versus what he got for it.

Funny about the Hemi thing :bowdown: and what it invokes in car nuts. My wife's late brother built a 'cuda convertible and installed a 440 six pack. The car ended up being the one Don Johnson sold off at B-J. In the TV series it was passed off as a Hee Haw and we'd laugh knowing Al, the late B-I-L, would have really gotten a kick out of that. He'd of been distressed though at what it sold for versus what he got for it.

I remember a yellow convertible Cuda from the show. Was that it?
P.S. The show we're talking about is 'Nash Bridges'.

I remember a yellow convertible Cuda from the show. Was that it?
P.S. The show we're talking about is 'Nash Bridges'.

Yes, that was the car and the show. For years before he had the 'Cuda and some other stuff he had a Town and Country wagon - nice car, always loaded with kids, put a ton of miles on it and was sad when it finally just withered away as many did that were driven on salted roads and used hard and put away wet.

It was well loved in NZ too.
That said, most Chrysler Regals had a 'Hemi 265' 4.3 litre straight-six. That was a stonking engine, and almost as powerful as the 318, which was reserved as a smoother engine on the top-line luxury models. All engines had the TF 727 if they were automatic.

I suppose you mean in NZ they all came with 727's?
My 318 powered wagon has a 904, with "heavy duty tow package" but that was an option.

Kinda right, it was a 71 satellite custom. It has straight trim not molded to a body line, and there is no wood grain. My car has been mistaken for it for a long time. Apparently a rather large diecast dealer has made the same mistake.

http://www.hollywood-diecast.com/wish%20list.htm

Look at #8, pic look familiar? I wouldn't mind if they made a model of it though...
Although I have never seen The Brady Bunch the car on the link is a '72 Satellite Regent, not a '71.

The grille is slightly different. My car's a '71 Satellite Custom (without side mouldings):

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e112/Wilf13/cars/plymouth%20longtop/2009/IMG_2083.jpg

So I guess my car looks like an American icon..? :rednose:


http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e112/Wilf13/cars/plymouth%20longtop/2009/IMG_2081.jpg

When Googling for it I see lots of Americans actually hate my car

http://www.rateitall.com/i-977798-brady-bunch-station-wagon.aspx

:rofl3:

This is my wagon allright (only the color is wrong):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpP6x-NDsb0



Ok - stick with me here - from 2:12 until 3:17 and then from 4:24 onwards there it is... My car but then in a lighter color :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruws8v4V_MY

Strange to see this, whoa!

I suppose you mean in NZ they all came with 727's?
My 318 powered wagon has a 904, with "heavy duty tow package" but that was an option.
I think they were 727's, yes, but I'd have to look it up to be sure.
I don't recall Valiants ever being optioned with a heavy-duty towing pack. I think all could be set up for towing pretty much as they were (towing is very common in NZ) and most people got along fine with the 265.
As I said, the 318 was marketed as a smoother powerplant for the Regal 770 luxury models, but, given the small power advantage over the 265 and the latter's much better economy, they weren't that common.

Although I have never seen The Brady Bunch the car on the link is a '72 Satellite Regent, not a '71.

The grille is slightly different. My car's a '71 Satellite Custom (without side mouldings):


I know what the car in the link is, that is my car. As in that pic is a pic I took of my car in a local park several years ago!
I have come to find out, that over the years the Brady bunch had a new satellite wagon every year from at least 68-73.

Oh, and your car is beautiful. I love that color, and dog dishes and RWL's really set it off. I was going to do that to mine, but I decided it's staying stock.
Are those the police edition dishes? They've got holes in them right?

The Brady's did have one Dodge Coronet 500 wagon in the show and it was a 1968 model.I seen it on the first season DVD.
They did have a new Sattelite Custom wagon each year from 71 to 73.
I am getting a 73 with 318 and three on the tree standard trans,no power steering,no clock,no radio.
http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee64/jazzandmoparguy/IM000059.jpg

That sounds an interesting spec. The only cars I ever came across with which you could do this was the seventies Holden Kingswoods, which could be equipped with nothing extra but a 253 or 308 V8 (3-speed manual column-shift).

As soon as I get it home,I will start a thread on her.