What car did the narrator drive in "American Pie?"

"Rainbow" (rainbeaux) 07/10/2017 at 21:00 • Filed to: None

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We can assume that the narrator is not actually Don McLean, because it’s not exactly an autobiographical theme. So it’s irrelevant what he actually drove.

His character, however, was a teenager who had a Chevy pickup truck. Based on the age of the character, I assume he owned a used truck. Judging by the era, however, I also would assume that he already had a fairly well-paying job and his truck wouldn’t be TOO old. As “The Day The Music Died” was February 3rd, 1959, I’m guessing that his truck came from the early ‘50s.

So, I’m going to pin it as a 1947-53 Advance Design pickup. The next generation is totally possible, too, though... I just get the feeling that his character is more rural, however, and might be turned off from the fancy new power steering and wrap-around windshield.

Are there any other cues in the lyrics that point to an older or newer truck? Is this not a big mystery and there’s already an official, ‘canonical’ car? I don’t know and I don’t care. This is what I’m going to picture every time I hear that song.

MM54 > Rainbow 07/10/2017 at 21:09

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I don’t know but this song came on Pandora literally as I clicked on this article and I’m somewhat concerned about that

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Rainbow 07/10/2017 at 21:57

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I’m donning my flame suit for this hot take...

I hate this song.

deekster_caddy > MM54 07/10/2017 at 22:24

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Pandora is freaky sometimes. I could swear they were listening to my conversations before picking a song sometimes!

deekster_caddy > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 07/10/2017 at 22:26

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How about this version? You can’t hate this one!!!!

Carbon Fiber Sasquatch > Rainbow 07/10/2017 at 22:27

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Once we figure this out we need to know what kind of flatbed Ford is in Take it Easy

Tristan > Rainbow 07/10/2017 at 22:33

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“I was a lonely teenage broncin’ buck
With a pink carnation and a pickup truck”

I always imagine that exact truck but in dark green when I listen to the song.

j250ex > Rainbow 07/10/2017 at 22:36

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I think you have the right model but I don’t think it would have been 4x4. That wasn’t really common on trucks until a little later.

6691 zapS > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 07/11/2017 at 01:07

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Not your thing?

Slant6 > Rainbow 07/17/2017 at 07:51

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He did drive the Chevy to the levee, but it was dry. Now the music video has a Chevrolet sedan, which means they might be different vehicles, but could still be the same.