Kishore Kumar apparently made Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi, hoping it would fail commercially. He wanted to show losses in his income, and thus avoid paying a huge income tax to the authorities. So he made two films - Lookochuri (Bengali) and Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi, and waited eagerly for them to collapse,
However, both surprisingly went on to become box-office successes. Kumar was so disgusted with this that he gave Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi and all its rights to his secretary Anoop Sharma, who retained the copyright. The income tax case on Kishore Kumar was not solved even after forty years.
Kishore Kumar convinced his elder brothers Ashok Kumar and Anoop Kumar to be part of the film and also wrote a concept for his father's car which he had inherited.
Its speculated that real life romance between Kishor Kumar and Madhubala started while shooting the song Haal Kaisa Hai Janab Ka in Mahableshwar.
Bengali director Kamal Majumdar was to direct the film but he backed out three hours before the Mahurat saying he wont be able to direct a Hindi film with three Ganguly brother's.After Kamal Majumdar opted out Kishore Kumar went to Satyen Bose's who had directed Bandi 1957 en route to the studio told him that will have to direct Chalti Ka Naam Gadi.
Paanch Barah Aana (5.75 Rs) song had a inspiration behind it. Ashok Kumar who studied in Indore Christian College owned them 5.75 Rs.This was disclosed by his nephew Amit Kumar when he visited the college in 2002.