19 Things Producers of ‘The Beverly Hillbillies’ Hid from Fans

16. That Jalopy is Now in a Museum

Almost as famous as the rest of the cast, the dusty broken-down 1921 Oldsmobile Model 46 Roadster used in the series has earned its place in history. Who could forget the images of the clan bouncing around in the opening sequence as they cruise down Sunset Boulevard? Well, that jalopy is now the best known exhibit in The Ralph Foster Museum at Missouri’s College of the Ozarks. The show’s creator, Paul Henning, gifted it to the museum in May 1976 for its Bicentennial celebrations. That old beater actually made a trip overseas. In 1967, numerous episodes were filmed in England. The truck was dismantled and shipped across the pond for some authentic Clampett adventures while there.

17. Just How Much Were the Clampetts Worth?

The show started with the Clampett fortune at $25 million and it grew to $100 million by the end. Adjusting for inflation that would be going from around $195 million to $583 million!

18. Buddy Ebsen Became a Successful Author at 93

At a time when most of us will be long retired (or dead) Buddy Ebsen decided to pen a novel. Kelly’s Quest was rejected by nine publishers, so he decided to self-publish. His book actually made No. 3 on the Los Angeles Times paperback best-seller list in 2001. Prior to that, his 1994 autobiography The Other Side of Oz was also well received.

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