I’m sure all of you have at least heard of Arthur Miller’s famously grim 1949 play, Death of a Salesman, perhaps having even seen it, or had to read it in school, or, like me, having absorbed a sort of collage of what it must be about by countless references and parodies and clips of various performances seen across every manner of media possible. I think I even have vague memories of playing an Atari 2600 Death of a Salesman game? Regardless, or perhaps even irregardless, there’s an all-new production of the play happening now, and much of the advertising is centered around an interesting two-door car.
But what exactly is that car? Fellow Autopian Peter emailed us to ask just that, and that was how I found out about this new Broadway revival of the play, and was clued into the various bits of promotional materials that make extensive use of what looks to be some manner of ’60s-era American iron.
Also, Nathan Lane is starring in it! Who doesn’t love Nathan Lane? Sickos, that’s who. Let’s take a look at this car and how it’s being used in these promotional materials:
The car seems to be the visual focus of the promotional/advertising campaign for the play; it shows up all over the website, in television and online videos like the one above, and on printed materials as well, like the cover of Playbill:
In print materials, the car is mostly shown in profile; in video, the car seems to be a full 3D model. You can see bits of it here at the beginning of this video with the cast (below), as well as in the promo video above:
So, of course, the big question is what is this car, exactly? Well, I have some idea what it must be based on:
I think the original source car must have been a 1965 Ford Galaxie 500. There are differences, of course; the turn indicators are integrated into the sides of the grille, the rake of the hood over the stacked headlamps is a bit more pronounced, the greenhouse is lower, and some other detail differences, but it still feels very Galaxie 500-like to me.
The taillights aren’t exact, either, but do seem inspired by the Galaxie 500’s lights, at least:
The profile view differs a little more drastically from an actual Galaxie 500:
The shape of the greenhouse is quite different, being less sharply angular than the actual Ford, especially around the C-pillar. The beltline also kicks up a bit just ahead of the rear wheelarch, where the actual car is as straight as uncooked spaghetti. The wheelarches themselves are a different shape, and, really it’s quite different.
Actually, hold up; I think the profile car image is entirely different than the 3D model of the car! So what is the profile car based on? It’s definitely not a Galaxie 500. It may not even be a Ford! It feels sorta GM to me.
It’s not quite an Impala, not quite 442? Chevelle? Not quite. Malibu? Not exactly. Hmm. Oh, wait! It’s still a Galaxie 500! Just a year newer, and the XL one:
I think the wheels were even stock ones:
Yep, looks like a ’67 Ford Galaxie 500XL. Why two different Galaxies?
I reached out to the company that seems to have done the graphic design for this campaign to ask about these cars. Why did they choose them? The play was originally written in 1949, and is set around that time, too. So does this new production move the setting to the mid to late ’60s? If so why? I’m not complaining, I’m just curious.
Also, the car used here feels a little too, well, cool for the character of Willy Loman, the protagonist of the play and a man who feels more sad and broken than this tough-looking coupé with aftermarket-looking wheels would suggest. I always pictured Willy trundling around in something like a used Hudson until maybe “upgrading” to a Henry J around 1951. This car just seems too cool for a sadsack like Willy.
If and when the creative team gets back to me with some answers, I’ll update the post. I think overall the campaign looks amazing, with its unflinching simplicity and starkness. The color palette I think is fantastic, too. I just have questions about this car.
I’m excited to see a car used in this context, though! I hope they don’t think I’m ungrateful. I just want some answers.
Top graphic image: Winter Garden Theater
Just saw the press photos of the Death of a Salesman play in a NYT article. The car on stage is – a dark red 1964 Chevy Chevelle 4-door sedan. Very Willy Loman-ish, I think…
I was very disappointed to miss the recent Ivo van Hove production of this with Brian Cranston, but I’m glad to see I have an opportunity to make up for it with this one!
Too cool for the character? Yes. Maybe too perfect? Absolutely. But also ideal to ride until the character drops dead. His heart already skips some beats.
This is just about stealing the design language of Mad Men’s branding. The font, color scheme, and inclusion of a big bodied 60’s luxo barge all look like they were lifted right off of Mad Men’s DVD cover art.
1: I hope they record this for posterity.
2: Did they make any ugly cars in 1967? Nope.
3: Who else (besides Torch) plays Spot the Changes with the cars in TV commercials? And does every prescription drug come with a generic convertible?
It’s a 196X Fauxrd.
I’m more bothered about the wrong AI artifacts than whatever car it’s trying to be, like the wheels center not being centered or the 4ft wide oval steering wheel.
Not sure I want to see a production that moved the time setting to the 1960s, but maybe they’ve tied it to events of the day and it works?
top fender emblem sez 429, so search Jay Leno’s ’66 7-litre Galaxie. 100%
My automatic instant car recognizer said the same.
There is a lot of first-generation Buick Riviera in the roofline of that 3D model. I would be surprised if someone asked ChatGPT/Gemini/Copilot to generate a 3D model of a generic fullsize mid60s American coupe.
I saw some Riviera in there myself – as well as, absurdly, some 70s AMC Matador sedan design language across the front end.
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSFj5zGcJUGNqQcJiMF0m1d-jjaYhzfS8I3vImEjmKXgA&s=10
All galaxie; Front is a 65 gal, taillights are a 66, side profile & slanted back end/from b pillar back is a 68
My brain immediately went to ’60s Ford, and I think this choice is actually spot on. You’re a salesman trying to fake it until you make it, and you need more trunk space than you’d get in a Corvette. It’s a cool but more practical vehicle for overcompensating.
A: way to bury the lede that it’s not JUST Nathan Lane, but also Laurie Metcalf starring. You know, Roseanne’s hilariously insane sister?
B: This is a much better …uh… vehicle to do a long run at the Wintergarden than something like a decade of Cats.
Got a beautiful piece of direct mail for this show, and I also pondered the car. It’s definitely Galaxie inspired, and pulling it up a couple decades makes sense, given the age of generations who would respond to the earlier cars (which would’ve been pretty dull in 2-color profile illustration) vs the attention a more flashy ’60s retro piece can command. Boomer stuff still stomps with a big footprint. And since they have all the money, they’re also the ones who can afford the Broadway show experience, including transit, hotel, and food. $$$$$$$$$
Henry J is a good choice for Willy Lowman, or a Plymouth business coupe. OR – the Sears Allstate version of the Henry J.
They’ve either moved up the setting for the play or the marketing company decided to go with a classic American car and couldn’t think of anything older than the 60’s. They probably put more effort into making the car juuuuust generic enough to keep Ford from sending a letter than they did in coming up with something appropriate for a down-on-his-luck salesman. If you move the setting up to the mid 60’s I can’t see Willy Loman in a new Galaxie. Something like a Rambler American would make more sense.
Front end looks like a 1965 Plymouth Fury. Taillight does look like a Galaxy