This movie was shot entirely on-location without any filming done on studio soundstages.
The "assembly line" scenes for BMC (fictional Bethlehem Motors Company) were filmed at the AMC (American Motors Corporation) plant located at Kenosha, Wisconsin. In several shots, you can catch glimpses of 1978 AMC Gremlin, Pacer, and Concord models being built and painted. The plant was purchased by Chrysler, along with the rest of AMC/Jeep in 1987, and demolished by Chrysler in the early 1990s. Interestingly, most of the BMC models on display were not disguised AMC models. Almost all of the contemporary "BMC" model automobiles were poorly redecorated and remodelled Ford cars. Recognizable 1970s era Ford cars included the Granada and the LTD, among the unfortunate victims of fairly hideous restyling. The only car which did not seem easily recognizable, or quite so bad, was the title model itself, "The Betsy", which was probably a skinny restyled mid 1970s Ford Mustang II.
The character of Jake Weinstein (Joseph Wiseman) was loosely based on infamous mob financier Meyer Lansky, who was also the basis for the character of Hyman Roth (Lee Strasberg) in "Il padrino - Parte II (1974)."
This movie is listed among The 100 Most Enjoyably Bad Movies Ever Made in Golden Raspberry Award founder John Wilson's book THE OFFICIAL RAZZIE® MOVIE GUIDE. Interestingly, even though it was a critical bomb, it met the approval of Harold Robbins, and although it was not a blockbuster, it was a moderate financial success.