This one was modified for the puppeteers.

The Muppet Movie introduced the beloved puppets to the big screen back in 1979. Fozzie Bear, Kermit and a 1951 Studebaker Commander were also there. Although it was painted in wild camouflage, it has seen worse days. The Studebaker National Museum houses one of the cars that was used for filming. There is an effort to restore the car to its original glory.

The campaign aims to raise $175,000 for restoration of the car. So far, GoFundMe shows $3,220 raised. It will be more than just restoring its appearance. The money will also preserve the modifications that were made to it for special effects. Although the museum intends to restore the vehicle’s mechanical systems, it is not your average Studebaker.

The Muppet Movie featured two “Bullet Nose” Studebakers on screen, one of which was modified to fit the puppeteers. This meant that the driver’s seat had to be moved to the trunk. The car needed a camera in the front to feed an image to the driver at the back, so they could safely operate it.

The Commander was left in the backlot of a film studio before it was gifted to the Studebaker National Museum. The car is far from the film’s glory days. The car’s original wild paint has been stripped away, leaving only a few design elements. Although the trunk needs a major overhaul, the interior isn’t too bad. There are tears in the seats. It is not visible from the outside, however.

Although the museum did not give a time frame for restoration of Studebaker, it is possible that it will take some time. According to the museum’s press release, a donation box located next to the Studebaker has been collecting donations for over $9,000 for the past years. The museum still has a lot of work ahead of it, thanks to the GoFundMe campaign.