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They had advertised on a Dallas radio station that they needed a station wagon to use for Tom Cruise's family car in the movie Born on the Fourth of July.

My wife convinced me to send a photo: I did as a joke as I didn't believe they would want a plain 66 Valiant.

But a few weeks later they informed us that they had narrowed the cars to just three, and wanted to see the Valiant. A few more days later we received another call asking if we would come in and sign a contract.

This is the photo I sent in (Image 1), plus a few pictures taken on the set, and a black & white theater ticket office photo with Cruise and cast standing behind the Valiant.

It was my Dad's company/work car and he was the only driver. We drove it home from the dealer in the spring or summer of '66. I bought it when another car was ordered: It had about 30,000 miles then. I still have the car: it has almost 123,000 miles now, and my Mom said she couldn't believe it is still running.

-- Michael Sissel