Raspbernie Report post Posted June 2, 2012 From Eric Carmen: Marathon Man—Capitol Records, in tandem with teenybopper publication iStar Magazine, held a nationwide sweepstakes in 1973 as a special promotion for the release of Raspberries’ fourth single, “Let’s Pretend.†The prize was a custom-made raspberry-colored “Rollswagen.†The Rollswagen was a specially built Volkswagen customized to look like a miniature Rolls Royce. The contest entry form—printed in Star Magazine and depicted on a special picture sleeve accompanying every purchase of the “Let’s Pretend†45 single—indicated that the automobile, designed by car customization king George Barris, featured a “special raspberry-pearl paint†and had a green vinyl top.Barris created such infamous customized cars as the Batmobile, Monkeemobile and the Munsters Koach. Teens were asked to fill in the entry form indicating which bandmember—Eric, Wally, Jim, or Dave—was the “foxiest†and why. One hundred second prizes of Raspberries LPs, as well as an unnamed number of consolation prizes consisting of “raspberry jam and ice cream gift certificates from Capitol Records†were also awarded.Bernie 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brian Mc Carthy Report post Posted June 2, 2012 That is so Neat Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kirk Report post Posted June 2, 2012 What a treat! Thanks, B! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wendy-Ann Report post Posted June 2, 2012 Teens were asked to fill in the entry form indicating which bandmember—Eric, Wally, Jim, or Dave—was the “foxiest†and why. OMGOSH! I remember stuff like this from 16 and Tigerbeat magazines.Hmmmmm...my answer would have been simple.Who is the “foxiest†band member: Eric.Why?: Duh!I know! I would have won! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Raspbernie Report post Posted June 2, 2012 FYI: Jim won!Bernie 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wendy-Ann Report post Posted June 2, 2012 I can see how.However, my entry was never submitted.I'm a positive thinker. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LatetotheParty Report post Posted June 3, 2012 Great picture of the band...I am surprised that there is no color film of the Rollswagen..considering the color was the main event... Love the pictures all the same; the boys looked HOT... Jean 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aventurine Report post Posted June 4, 2012 Cool pics! Thank you Bernie!BTW David Smalley looks like Carpenters.......his salopette pants! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
raspathens Report post Posted June 5, 2012 Maybe this has already been answered, but does anyone know what happened to the car and/or its whereabouts? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Raspberrybelle Report post Posted June 5, 2012 Good question Raspathens.BTW, I think the name should have been Raspberries Rock n' Rollswagon.Belle 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LatetotheParty Report post Posted June 6, 2012 Last I heard or saw somewhere on this site..some young lady in Florida won the car but no one knows of the winner's or car's whereabouts... Jean Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
raspathens Report post Posted June 6, 2012 With enough time and money, looking for it would be fun. My instincts tell me that it escaped the crusher but sits somewhere in a junk field rusted out and barely recognizable. Still, assuming the right "matching numbers", and a boatload of money, it could be restored to its former glory. Imagine driving it through Times Square blaring "Let's Pretend" through its 8 track. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Raspbernie Report post Posted June 7, 2012 I would love to find the name of the girl who won it. Maybe someone in Florida can search for articles in library archives on the contest winner. Jim Bonfanti remembers getting a key to the city by the mayor of the town, so it would definitely have generated newspaper articles.Bernie Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LatetotheParty Report post Posted June 8, 2012 Found this color picture; it DOES exist! Jean 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MikeC Report post Posted June 8, 2012 Wow!! It looks like a Rolls-Royce hotrod. Awesome! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AnneNR Report post Posted May 15, 2014 George Barris is legendary in his designs! These are absolutely wonderful photos --- Thanks, Bernie. Thanks LateToTheParty. Since I never followed teen mags back then, I can see there were some great stuff like this (custom cars for the stars!) that I didn't get to read about until much later. Flashbacks like this are the best !! :D AnneNR 6 6 __/ 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
