Where's Ponch! (and I don't mean from CHIPS!)

[Cal]

True or False?

It was Eastwood's idea for The Man With No Name to where the famous 'poncho'?

2nd part.

Where is it today?

[Ramon]

Poncho Eastwood's idea - I believe True.

Where is it now - hangs in Eastwood's restaurant in Carmel?

[Cusser]

When I was in Clint's restaurant in Carmel in 1986 (Hog's Breath) there was no poncho on display, really not much of anything.

[Michael]

I don't think the Poncho was Clint's idea.  For one thing,the climax (in FOD) must of already been in the screenplay in fact,I wonder if they didn't come up with the breastplate idea(with the poncho covering it) first,then worked their way back. Also,Simi's original costume sketches have the Joe character wearing a serape.

[nighteagle]

Benito Stefanelli (Rubio in FOD, the guy on horseback who is in charge of escorting Marisol during the hostages exchange) told me that the poncho idea was Leone´s  and Simi´s together.
In 1999 in Rome there was a  Leone festival to commemorate the 10th anniversary of his death. I could not attend it, as I was working abroad but in the newpapers
they reported that Monco´s poncho was displayed there.
Where it is now I have no idea.

[KERMIT]

true. the idea was clint's. he paid for the poncho himself.

e-bay ?  i'd like to think that poncho is orbiting our planet right now in a time capsule where it would be safe. i dunno where durn thang is  

[Halis]

In Prof Frayling's biography of Leone, he acknowledges that there are several origin stories for the poncho, but sensibly declines to give weight to any one of them over another. He quotes the story that Eastwood picked up the poncho from a Hollywood costumiers, but also mentions the existence of an early sketch by Carlo Simi clearly showing the design for the poncho.
It's not beyond the bounds of possibility that Leone decided a poncho was required and asked Eastwood to bring one with him from the US.
Whatever the case, the poncho was the ideal garment under which to hide the metal plate, as suggested by Michael above, and therefore I have to agree that it must have been either in the script or the costume notes from a very early stage.
I believe that Kermit's endorsement of the idea being Clint's is off target.