The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Business idea for my Stovebolt - Photo prop

I met a gentleman at a car show last summer that told me he lets people use his truck for photo shoots (family photos, senior pictures, weddings, etc) and charges accordingly. Anyone else ever do something like this?

I can't speak to the specifics but I know there has been a least one group in the film industry that has reached out here or through HQ looking for trucks for movies etc. In fact Charlie, in the photo to the left, was in a Clint Eastwood movie, Flags of Our Fathers I believe. One of the members trucks from our ATHS chapter was in a drug commercial on TV so we affectionately refer to it as the "Drug Truck". At the former HQ, Friendship Florist, photographers used some of the trucks in the Old Dominion Stovebolt Society as props for family Christmas and wedding photos amoungst the trees and in the fields and, Mike B's famous 1957 Chevrolet Firebolt was used for a Hallmark Christmas ornament.

Terry B has done a couple of weddings and 2-3 Proms with his ‘53 3100. 🛠

I loaned my '48 to a youth group at a church for a prop at a dance for the kids. They took pictures with it.

I was happy with a letter of acknowledgement with a charitable value. I was then on my own with the IRS.

I was contacted by the ad agency for GMC and they asked if I would be willing to provide my truck, a 1936 GMC, for a commercial that would be done in the desert in CA. They offered 12K to use my truck and would pay to have it transported to CA and back to FL. I could go out to CA and ride in my truck for the filming but would not be allowed to drive it. Also, all the windows had to tinted very dark so that no one would be seen in the commercial.
After asking them a lot of questions, to which they answered mostly don’t worry, I declined their offer.

Later that year I ran into a gentleman who did car commercials for all the manufactures, at a car show and told him my experience. He told me that if I valued my truck to never let them take passion of my truck without myself being within 100 feet at all times. He said at most ad agencies, vehicles are considered props and you have been compensated for their use, hence they could care less if anything gets damaged.

I too, have loaned my truck out. A couple farm weddings, and a bridal catalogue photo shoot! One soon to be bride wanted it for her wedding at Valley Forge Military Academy. Everything was set, but her father was worried about liability.She was heart broken, so I informed her I would sign off on it! He wouldn’t budge!
You do know that, girls, love those one-ton trucks! They are chick magnets!!
There are some pics in my bucket,
Jim

Have had several vehicles in movies; 37 Buick, 28 Chevy 1.5T flat bed truck, 46 Chevy 1/2T pickup, 57 T-Bird, a circle track Super Modified, and a 4 engine pull tractor was used as a prop. By far the most requested vehicle is a 1930 Plymouth Taxi for weddings, proms, etc. I tell them up front that if I don't supply the driver I don't supply the ride. The Buick, 46PU, and 28 flat bed were all in the Hallmark movie "An American Story". Some of the movies were filmed but never released---pays the same. The weirdest build I've done was a 50 Ford 2dr in the 50's style that was done COMPLETELY dry; not even grease on the wheel bearings. It was built into the entertainment room of a high dollar house as a conversation piece and can't be removed without tearing down walls.