White racing suit worn by Richard Pryor in the film Greased Lightning: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

This white car racing jump suit was worn by Richard Pryor as the character Wendell Scott in the film Greased Lightning (1977). Single blue vertical stripe at sides. The jump suit has full-length sleeves and ankle-length legs with ribbed knitted cuffs on the sleeves and the legs. It closes at the center front with a metal zipper that runs from the crotch to standing collar. The zipper is hidden by a placket and self-fabric tabs with Velcro closures are attached at the waist and neck. Blue stripes are sewn along the outer side of the sleeves and the outer side of the legs. There are two (2) inset pockets, one at each front side waist, and one (1) inset pocket at the proper right chest set diagonally that closes with a metal zipper. Embroidered patches reading "CHAMPION" and "UNION 76" are sewn on the proper right front chest above the pocket. A second "CHAMPION" patch is sewn on the upper arm of the proper left sleeve. A fourth patch reading "RACESTAR" is sewn to the tab closure at the front neck. The jump suit is not lined. A label reading "MPCC" in handwritten black ink above the embroidered work "RACESTAR" is sewn at the interior back neck. To the left of this label is an additional label with printed text detailing fiber content and care, also with the text "MPCC" handwritten in black ink above the printed text.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 1977
• Manufactured by: Racestar
• Worn by: Richard Pryor, American, 1940 - 2005
• Subject of: Wendell Oliver Scott, American, 1921 - 1990
• Type: jump suits
• Medium: nylon, metal zippers, and Velcro (TM)
• Dimensions: H x W: 67 1/2 x 60 in. (171.5 x 152.4 cm)
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Athletes
• Topic: Automobile racing
• Topic: Clothing and dress
• Topic: Costume
• Topic: Film
• Topic: Sports
• Object number: 2012.109.2
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
• Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of African American History and Culture through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed. The underlying object's rights statement is: No Known Copyright Restrictions Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.