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Road Runner Probe: ICAS Giveaway Car

By Wes Eisenschenk

In 1959, custom car builder Robert Larivee and his brother, Marvin, founded Promotions Inc. It was the Larivees’ joint venture into the world of showing cars, which was a very popular hobby throughout the 1950s. In 1962, Promotions Inc. moved from the cozy confines of Michigan to sunny California, where Bob could network with SoCal’s blossoming show car scene.

By 1963, Bob had formed the International Show Car Association (ISCA) in an effort to have better judging for the ever-expanding genre of show cars. One series of shows that Bob created was the International Champion Auto Show (ICAS). These two were and are often confused with each other.

With a character car, you’re allowed to have a little fun. The famous running-bird logo featured on 1969 cars was enlarged and flanked part of the door and fender on both sides of the car. Beautiful women stretched out on the decklid came standard on the Road Runner Probe. (Photo Courtesy Chuck Miller Collection)

The tail section of the 1968 Road Runner Probe featured recessed tail lamps, an aluminum spoiler, and a full-length red stripe. The car wore Turbine Bronze paint from the factory. (Photo Courtesy Chuck Miller Collection)

Envisioned by Gene Baker and constructed by automotive design artist Chuck Miller, the Road Runner Probe was the giveaway car at the International Champion Auto Show. Terry Taylor of McLean, Illinois, was the top builder with his immaculate 1957 Chevy named Fire Chief, and so won the Probe. (Photo Courtesy Chuck Miller Collection)

Prepping the Giveaway Car

During the 1960s, Bob Larivee had developed a working relationship with the auto manufacturers in Detroit. As a grand prize giveaway for winning the ICAS, each year Bob had a car customized as a reward to the top builder. For the 1969/1970 ICAS show circuit, he had worked out a deal with Chrysler to give away a 1968 Plymouth Road Runner.

This Road Runner was shipped to Styline Customs where renowned fabricator Chuck Miller and designer Gene Baker worked on it. This wasn’t the first venture between Promotions Inc. and Styline Customs. Over the years, Bob hired Chuck to work on other custom car projects; the most notable was Red Baron.

Chuck remembered that the car was delivered in white, a color that gave them a blank canvas. With Gene’s vision of the car in place, the task of fabricating the Road Runner began. The car received a new, beautiful Candy Tangerine paint job. On the tops of the fenders, doors, and quarters, Chuck blended the paint to a deep coat of silver. The contrast was striking. Down the middle of the car, he added a Candy Tangerine stripe, visually dividing the car in half.

The 1968 Bird received a series of fabrications, including raising the fresh-air hood scoop at a 45-degree angle with the filler plates facing each other. Cosmetically the car received a set of Cragar S/S wheels, Goodyear GT wide-tread tires, Hurst shifter, roll bar, Thrush mufflers, and Stewart Warner tachometer. Chuck added a rear spoiler and Cibie headlights.

A large, brazen road runner ran across the bottom of the door and fenders, as seen on the 1969 models. The words “road runner,” in lower case, as on the 1969s, were scripted with a box outlining them. The word “Probe” appeared in cursive lettering under the box. Other than the tach and roll bar, the interior remained stock.

The Winner Is

Terry Taylor of McLean, Illinois, won the Road Runner Probe for the conversion of his 1957 Chevy. The car, named Fire Chief, featured a tilting front end and a chromed 292-ci Chevy powerplant. Terry also won a seven-day trip to Los Angeles.

It’s unknown how long Terry owned the Probe. He passed away some years ago, and his relatives have no information on the car.

This wonderful color shot of the Road Runner Probe really accentuates the creativity in color blending on the car. Of the noted fabrications, the fresh-air hood treatment, the custom roll bar, and the recessed headlights really stand out. (Photo Courtesy Chuck Miller Collection)

Fortunately, the car would be recognizable if discovered, unless it was converted back to its stock appearance. Very little information on this car exists other than a few clippings from a magazine article and these four photographs.

If you have any information on the Road Runner Probe, contact either Chuck Miller or Wes Eisenschenk.