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It’s Optional

The only game on The Price is Right to regularly offer two cars.

Two cars of the same model were shown. One was a less expensive “base” model, while the more expensive one had certain “options” added to it. The contestant was shown a board of options and was invited to add them to the “base” model. If they could increase the lower priced car to within $100 of the higher priced car without going over, they won both cars!

It’s Optional was exciting, but it frequently caused the show to go overbudget. It was played approximately once per month and won more often than not, and giving away a pair of cars so frequently left staff unable to manage the show’s budget to their satisfaction. It endured about four and a half years before being pulled from rotation.

Contestants and host stand next to the game board for 'It's Optional,' showcasing various car options and their costs.
40th pricing game to debut
S7, September 4 1978 – S11, May 9 1983
Likely created by Jay Wolpert
FAQ
S7, Sep 4 1978
A young woman in a colorful shirt is looking at a male game show host, who is speaking to her with a microphone in hand, set against a vibrant backdrop.

“Leigh, what do you suppose most people hope to win?” purrs Bob. “A car!” responds Leigh.

A contestant named Leigh stands beside the host, both looking serious, as they discuss the game on 'The Price is Right'.

“Well, I am not going to give you a chance to win a car; I am going to give you a chance to win THESE!”

Two blue 1978 Chevy Chevette Hatchbacks displayed on stage with two contestants smiling beside them.

TWO new 1978 Chevy Chevette Hatchbacks!

A game show host with a microphone stands next to a female contestant in a colorful outfit, showcasing a large green board with various options for a game called "It's Optional".

And they can be hers playing It’s Optional!

30 price tag next to a toy car on a game board, with a green background and trees in the distance.

The less expensive “base” model is $4030…

Close-up of a game board from The Price is Right showing two cars with prices: 30 for the base model and 25 for the model with options. A pointer indicates a range on a scale.

…while the more expensive model with options is $4825. Leigh will have to determine which options will get her within $100 of that amount without going over.

A game show host points to a board with options for a contestant on The Price is Right, displaying prices for features like air conditioning and auto transmission.

Here are today’s six options, which range from tented glass to floor mats to a rearview mirror. All options were rounded to the nearest $5.

A pricing game board with options for a car, including Tinted Glass, Color Floor Mats, Air Conditioning, Inside Rear View Mirror, Auto Transmission, and Cloth Bucket Seats.

Leigh chooses the air conditioning.

Close-up of a female contestant on The Price is Right, speaking intently while a male host stands beside her.

Leigh wonders how much the air conditioning is, but Bob responds “you’re not going to know until we’re all through.” This rule changed quickly.

A green board displaying six car options with labels, including 'Tinted Glass,' 'Color Floor Mats,' 'Air Conditioning,' 'Inside Rear View Mirror,' 'Auto Transmission,' and 'Cloth Bucket Seats.'

She adds the automatic transmission, and listens to the audience hollering to stop.

Contestant and host discussing the pricing of two cars in the game 'It's Optional' from The Price is Right, with a visual display showing the more expensive car priced at 25.

Bob checks her first option, the air conditioning. The car moves about $470…

A game board displaying six options for a car contest on The Price is Right, including air conditioning priced at 0, alongside tinted glass, color floor mats, inside rear view mirror, auto transmission, and cloth bucket seats.

And confirms that’s what it’s worth. If that plus the auto transmission gets her total to within $695 and $795 of options, she’s a winner…

A toy car stops within the winning range in the It's Optional game on The Price is Right

The car moves, and moves… and STOPS! Leigh wins two cars!

A game board displaying various car options and their prices, including air conditioning, auto transmission, and tinted glass, with a host pointing towards them.

Bob confirms the auto transmission is $270!

Two excited female contestants celebrating a win on The Price is Right, with one wearing a white shirt and the other in a floral top. They are surrounded by a cheering audience.

Her friends in the audience are ecstatic! Maybe they’re hoping Leigh will gift one of them a spare car?

S8, Sep 13 1979
A contestant and host present the options board for 'It's Optional' game on The Price is Right, showcasing various car features and prices.

The rules were quickly changed so that the price of each option was revealed as soon as it was chosen. In exchange the contestant was capped to a certain number of options. Today Tonita can use no more than 4 options to add $940-$1040.

A scene from The Price is Right featuring a female contestant with curly hair holding a prize while Bob Barker gestures with his hands.

Tonita asks what a “convenience group” is, and neither Bob nor the production staff has a good answer.

A green board displaying a list of pricing options for a car game on The Price is Right, with various items and their associated prices listed next to each.

Tonita has added $930 of the $1040 she needs, and adding anywhere between $10 and $110 of options on her final pick will win it for her.

A game show scene from 'The Price is Right' featuring a display of two cars on a ramp, with a price banner showing 15 above them.

But the model car is $110 to $210 away from the range?

A host stands beside a green board displaying various options related to the game 'It's Optional' on The Price is Right.

Her final pick, a $20 battery, causes the bells to go off and winning music to play, even though the car is well short of the range.

A television screen displaying a price tag of 15 next to a classic car in a rural landscape.

The range was mistakenly placed $1040-$1140 away from the $3975 starting line instead of $940-$1040. So although it doesn’t look like she won, she did!

S8, Apr 24 1980
A game board displaying option prices for a car game, featuring items like 'AM-FM Radio' priced at 0, and 'Air Conditioning' at 0.

Most contestants opted for air conditioning and auto transmission their first two options, as they were most expensive, and honed in with smaller options. $100 for an AM-FM radio in 1980? What a bargain!

Many contestants reacting with excitement after seeing they have a chance to win two cars playing It's Optional on The Price is Right.

Most contestants went bananas when they saw they had the chance to win TWO new cars!

S11, Dec 6 1982
A game display from The Price is Right featuring two toy cars, one above the price 25 and another on a ruler marked up to 1100.

Here’s another placement error. The range ought to be $1025-$1125 away, but it’s only about $1010-$1110. This makes it look like a win when in truth our contestant is $5 short.

S9, Sep 19 1980, S11, Jan 12 1983, and S11, Feb 4 1983

Three contestants are known to have gotten the car’s price exactly right!

A contestant joyfully leaps in excitement next to the host, who is pointing towards a display board with options and prices for a game called 'It's Optional' on The Price is Right.

Winners received two cars: one with the options they had selected, and one with the options the show had selected.

S11, Dec 6 1982
A contestant and host present the game 'It's Optional' on The Price is Right, with a green options board listing car features.

On the second to last playing, Bob quipped that “about 75% of the contestants who play this game win.” This is likely the reason it was retired; it may have been too easy for a game with such a large prize.

  • Take an air-conditioned drive to the It’s Optional section of the FAQ
  • Tune the radio to Triple Play, the only other game to regularly offer multiple cars
  • Check the rearview mirror for the year 1978
  • Return to “Golden Game Gallery“