An inside view of Robby’s jeep on the Ext. Desert and Space Ship set, showing the battery which powered Robby’s head dome and chest effects panel, and the old 12 volt Dodge combination starter motor and generator which ran the jeep. “Buddy” Gillespie designed the jeep to run only with Robby’s head and upper torso in place, sans operator. Cuts of the robot entering and exiting the jeep were filmed separately. The jeep was equipped with only two seats (Ostrow had to ride on top of the rear body!), with one of the actors controlling the starter, brake and steering mechanisms, ostensibly being operated by the robot. Effects man Bob MacDonald, who worked putting together the fiberglass body and custom chassis, remembers driving it around the MGM lot after construction.

Frederick S. Clarke and Steve Rubin. “Making Forbidden Planet.” Cinefantastique, vol. 8, no.s 2-3 (Spring 1979): pp. 4-67. [caption on page 38 and photo from page 39].