By:Patrick Smith

   Sammy Davis Jr. was a major legend. Famous for several abilities, Sammy was an accomplished tap dancer, comedian, actor and singer. Sammy was also known for his role in the Rat Pack along with Sinatra, Martin, Lawford et al. Sammy was a genuine star. There is no way he could be an unknown, He just had too much going for him. Despite personal setbacks, Davis made it to the top with guts, charm, instinct and a drive few people have. Once he was well set up in life, Davis indulged in one of his passions, classic car collecting.

 During the late sixties and early seventies, old cars of the twenties and thirties were all the rage to collect. The Flapper Era and Dirty Thirties was the golden age of custom coachwork creations and factory limited editions built using the best technology and craftsmanship possible at the time. Duesenbergs, Cadillacs, Packards, Bentleys, Pierce Arrows and a host of smaller makes that only lasted a few years were the focal point of these collections. Sammy Davis owned a small horde of those kind of cars, some of which can be seen in Charlie's Angels season 2 episode The Sammy Davis Jr Kidnap Caper, 1977.

   Sammy also liked new cars especially exclusive high end customs. When you're wealthy and a star, just buying a loaded Lincoln Mark IV isn't really enough of a statement. A certain amount of gravitas and style is expected by your audience. Any dentist in Burbank can buy a loaded Mark IV. No, it has to be special, something you're not going to find just across the street. It's going to be a Titan. So that's what Sammy Davis Jr. got himself in 1972. First, some history behind the Titan car. This was a collaboration between Underwriters Auto Leasing Company based in Beverly Hills and George Barris, King of the Kustomizers. What happened was Dick Fox, Underwriter Auto Leasing president, wanted to add a luxury car along the lines of the Stutz, Rolls Royce Silver Spirit or Excalibur without incurring the outrageous cost each of those cars. Simply put, using any of those cars would hurt the bottom line. Fox approached Barris about doing a version using a production line car and extensively upgrading it. Barris liked the idea and developed a concept car which was approved.

A proud Sammy Davis Jr with his Titan custom car at an airport.

  Sammy's Titan: The car was called the Titan. It was based on the Ford Thunderbird according to Jack Scagnetti. The 460 V8 engine with C6 Cruiseomatic transmission was used and the car was loaded except for moon roof. Some serious modifications were done there which didn't require a sliding roof. About 18 cars were made; 1 of the early cars was done for Sammy Davis Jr.
 

Notice no sunroof and a solid antenna on the rear quarter panel.

    Sammy's car was very luxurious. Ten inch front fender extensions were added, a floating bumper and lower air dam kit with fancy steel trim was added. Wire wheels with custom "T" center caps went along with custom grille cap and a 24 karat plated gold "T" in the center of grille were part of the package. The trunk lid was modified with a fake spare tire carrier and the roof was given a half halo treatment using fiberglass raised panel covered in leather patterned vinyl. Inside the car was soundproofed with a quarter inch of foam between upholstery and inner sheet metal panels. The upholstery was done in suede and leather.

   Sammy's car had all this stuff and was finished in 24 coats of white acrylic lacquer. His carpet was double cut pile which is basically shag. We're talking serious pimp mobile here. Sammy's car was completed at a cost of $35,000 in 1974 dollars. Sammy is shown picking up his ride at Mc Carren Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada where the entertainer performed many shows. It isn't known how long he owned this car or if he even had title to it. Quite possibly Underwriters  Auto Leasing made a promo deal with Sammy to help give the car an elite status. Having it seen in Las Vegas and owned by a Rat Pack-er would be a valuable promotional aid.

The car as it looks today.

    The whole issue is up in the air since Sammy passed away, a car has appeared for sale claiming to be the Davis Titan. It is finished in dark maroon paint with beige vinyl roof and sports a burgundy standard Thunderbird interior without any custom finishes at all. The engine is a Ford 429 V8. The ad states 428 while another website discussing the car says it's a 429 V8. All I know is the Barris book said Sammy's car was 460 powered.
Original but completely Redone Or Just Another Titan?:
   While it is most likely a Titan from the original 18 produced, I have serious doubts this one was Sammy's car. There are too many differences in spec, paint, trim and general equipment to be the Davis Titan. Perhaps Davis owned more than one Titan. If so, this is one not documented in the Barris-Scagnetti book. Davis's Titan didn't have a sunroof. This one does. Sammy's car had front bumperettes and angled turn signal indicators built into the fender extensions, This car has no front bumperettes and turn signals under the headlamps. The grille of Sammy's car has a gold plated "T". This car has a chrome plated T. Strangely enough there is another photo taken earlier in its life with the T gold plated but without the engraved Sammy Davis Jr grille cap! The current pictures of it for sale have a plain chrome T grill emblem. It seems this is the same car that was for sale earlier minus the gold T and eagle hood ornament and a fancy engraved grill cap added.

Older pic of the maroon Titan with different grille and no turn signals.

  So Many Questions, So Few Answers:
    The rear quarter windows are custom treatment with three cut out opera windows, The car listed for sale is a full padded quarter sail panel. The radio antenna is mounted on the driver side quarter panel, This car has no antenna at all. The interior appears to be your standard Thunderbird upholstery in leather without suede anywhere and that carpet isn't double cut pile.

Sammy's white Titan wasn't sunroof equipped.

Standard T bird interior with not a trace of suede and that carpet isn't double cut pile.

 If it is the same car, it has been modified so much that it's value as a Sammy Davis Titan is moot. The only conclusions I can draw are this is another Titan done up to resemble a Sammy Davis Jr car or the man actually had a second one in maroon. The third possibility although unlikely is the white car was completely redone to this specification. For now I have to consider Sammy's original Titan a Lost Star Car.
                *Article (c) Patrick Smith 2014. Images PHS MEDIA ARCHIVES.