Gossip Friday: A Speed War

From May 1936:

Out of a “gag” gift from Carole Lombard, Clark Gable is fashioning a gasoline racer in which he plans to show the actress what speed really means on the Muroc Dry Lake.

The entire idea had its inception last February 14 when Miss Lombard presented the Metro Goldwyn Mayer star with a broken down car of well-known vintage, painted white with red hearts appropriate for Valentine’s Day.

Up until the present time Gable had been too busy before the cameras in the picture, “San Francisco” to do much thinking about what disposal he would make of the heap.

But under the hood there now lies a new engine all dressed up with suck provokers of speed as overheard valves, superchargers and what have you. In about another week, according to Gable, he will have the car in racing form and he will insist that Miss Lombard be on the sidelines for the tests.

It is possible this may provoke a speed war between Miss Lombard and Gable because she is seriously thinking of having a fast buggy made for herself.