Actor Jack Dodson, a.k.a., "Howard Sprague" on TV's 'Mayberry R.F.D.', Loved Collecting Vintage Cars

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Beloved character actor Jack Dodson, who died of heart failure in 1994, was best known for his persnickety performance as the stuffy but affable Howard Sprague on TV's Andy Griffith Show (CBS, 1960-1968) and its sequel, Mayberry R.F.D. (CBS, 1968-1971).

Many don't know that Dodson, off-screen, collected vintage cars; something his TV persona Howard Sprague most likely would have done as well if he could have afforded it.

A Closer Look

Following the cancellation of Mayberry R.F.D. in 9171, Jack Dodson sold his 1938 Buick 80 Roadmaster 4-door Convertible Phaeton, painted peanut butter-cup beige with a beige convertible top fabric.

Dodson had invested in the car's overall reboot after his original purchase of the vehicle, which he affectionately referred to as his Casablanca.

That nickname was a reference to the 1942 Oscar-winning movie, Casablanca, starring Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart.

Ever since first seeing Casablanca, Dodson had sought to attain the same 1938 Buick 4-door convertible Phaeton showcased in the movie's final sequences.

However, after a time, Dodson eventually sold his prized vehicle for $13,500.00.

Beyond Good Ol' Mayberry and Old Cars

Beyond collecting vintage cars off-screen, and playing Howard Sprague on-screen, Jack Dodson made over 150 TV appearances, mostly as a guest star, on shows like The Fugitive, Hawaii Five-O, Newhart, Barney Miller, Cagney and Lacey, St. Elsewhere, Matlock (in which he reunited with Andy Griffith, that show's star), L.A. Law, among several others.

In the Big/Little Picture Scheme of Things

In the big/little picture scheme of things, Jack Dodson will always be fondly remembered for his cherished performance as Howard Sprague.