Small open-sided trolley cars from the earliest street railways were quickly replaced by a unique design called the California-type. "California cars" have an enclosed center section with benches, while on each end the benches are out in the open air. Only in fair-weather California would the unusual design be very practical, thus the application of the regional classification to its name. The classic look of the San Francisco cable car is a California-type design.
The iconic nature of cable cars to California, principally associated with San Francisco, motivated Travel Town’s developer, Charley Atkins, to make multiple attempts to acquire one. He was rebuffed by the Mayor of San Francisco until a collaboration with the International Flower Show in Los Angeles gave an opportunity to salute the City by the Bay. San Francisco would loan a cable car to Los Angeles, first for display at the flower show, next to the Travel Town exhibit, with the understanding that ownership would never transfer. The cable car was re-numbered #28 when used in a movie in 1962.