World's most famous spy ever is... Brenda Priddy?
It's no secret that automotive spy photographer Brenda Priddy is synonymous with shots of heavily-camouflaged cars and of engineers enduring extreme climate testing. But now, she has been outed as The Most Famous Spy in History on a website called ShareRanks.This shooter of top secret sedans and covert convertibles has been ranked above notorious agents such as Mata Hari who was executed as a German spy. Priddy even tops Revolutionary War spy Nathan "One Life to Live" Hale who is probably in every American history textbook in the country.
That's her in the photo with her back to the camera. It's the only photo she'd authorize for use with this story. "After all, I don't want people to know what I look like!" she said in an e-mail to us (one we suspect that originated in her underground bunker somewhere in the Arizona desert). Then again, someone of her spy caliber could have sent it from right here in the Autoblog offices. Hmmmm.
As someone who makes a living off exposing the secrets of the auto industry, how does she feel about her newfound fame? We asked her that and a few more questions that you can read the answer to after the jump.
Photo Copyright Brenda Priddy, used with permission.
Brenda Priddy found a few minutes in her busy life as an international spy to answer a few questions from Autoblog...
AB: How does it feel to not only be included in company like Nathan Hale and Aldritch Ames, but to top the list of famous spies?
BP: Ames isn't my favorite, but I'm taking lessons (figuratively speaking) from Mata Hari.
AB: What's a day in the life of a world-famous spy?
BP: SIlly questions like this and other things that I can't talk about (or else I'd have to kill you!)
AB: Now that you've been outed, are you going to write a book?
BP: I'm going directly to the Big Screen.
AB: Spies are known to have used some creatively hidden cameras in the work. Have you ever shot a camouflaged car with a lipstick camera?
BP: Lipstick camera? No. But I have with a Russian-designed cigarette-box camera.
Thanks for talking to us, Brenda. Tell Mr. Bond "hello" for us next time you see him.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Patrick 6:04PM (2/06/2009)
She may be a spy but her work is just for entertainment for us car enthusiasts. Those other spies have shaped the course of history with the information they've gathered.
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Mazda FTW! 6:09PM (2/06/2009)
You mean like the TMZ guys?
ugg.tryptophan 6:41PM (2/06/2009)
are you kidding? i couldnt live without seeing camoflauged versions of future production cars
turbo-quattro 7:02PM (2/06/2009)
I dont know if I would say it shapes history, but automotive spy photos can bring about a lot of hype in the automotive world. which, i guess, shapes history in the automotive world.
Atomicbri 8:54PM (2/06/2009)
She helps shape my history of the type of car I may come to buy, seeing if the car she has snapped may become a hit or a dud! Priddy is on a high pedestal in the automotive world! I love her work as a "spy"
Gardiner Westbound 6:18PM (2/06/2009)
Mata Hari was executed October 15, 1917, during WW1.
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Epyx 1:11PM (2/07/2009)
"I only regret that I have but one life to give my country."
You morons linked to the Wiki page and still gave him an erroneous nickname.
Should read: Nathan "One life to GIVE" Hale.
Dont worry, still love the blog, warts and all.
bart 6:21PM (2/06/2009)
hey brenda, i'm still waiting on audi rs3 spyshots ;)
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P.V. 6:22PM (2/06/2009)
She needs to put on some camouflage for that picture: I would recommend the camel-colored stuff Audi used for the A7 or the psychedelic stuff BMW uses.
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FThorn 6:34PM (2/06/2009)
Does she chat here?
I know she has chatted on Allpar forums in the past.
http://www.allpar.com/forums/index.php?s=0b110196eb28a49c391a654903326898&showtopic=98937&st=0&p=903771&#entry903771
I think that's COOL that she joined in the discussion
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Tourian 6:41PM (2/06/2009)
I've always wondered about her. I didn't know if she actually did the spy work, or if was just her name on the company that was a troup of spies. Neat.
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That One Person 8:06PM (2/06/2009)
I would think there has to be a couple people working under her or just random Joe Blows who sell pictures to her. It's like every other day there is a new picture out with her name on it. And those locations are usually spread out. Unless she travels and there is a delay in the release of the photos, I don't see how she could do it.
Quan 6:49PM (2/06/2009)
Yeah... as someone else also said, Mata Hari was dead long before World War II started.
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gmerl1955 7:17PM (2/06/2009)
nice ass
Brenda Priddy 7:26PM (2/06/2009)
Of course I'll chat here :-)
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axium 7:30PM (2/06/2009)
Oh snap! Haha.
Do you do spyshots by request? Can you infiltrate the Jag headquarters and bring us some 2010 XJ goodness?
duo 7:34PM (2/06/2009)
How do I get in on this business?
Brenda ... 7:42PM (2/06/2009)
Hey Duo - I'll start by stating only one in ten photos actually sell. It could be a pretty boring job!
b.
duo 7:59PM (2/06/2009)
It's not so much for the money but the thrill of it! Plus, it's cool getting to see heavily camouflaged and trying to figure out what it might be. I've seen a couple driving around where I work a couple of months ago and still haven't figured out what they are.
Sal Collaziano 8:34PM (2/06/2009)
Hey. I'm pretty sure I've seen pictures of you before. :p
Sal C.
http://www.madisonross.com