Crazy, Sexy, Cool–and WTF?!?–Vehicles from the Petersen Vault
What’s black and white and rad all over? This custom El Camino, above. When it comes to this retro-perfect half and half ebony and ivory ride, you’ve gotta’ have faith. The 1964 Chevrolet El Camino, named “Blind Faith,” was the work of Hot Wheels designer and custom car king Harry Bentley Bradley. There was no gray area when it came to Bradley’s feelings about the checkerboard car as it served as one of his own personal rides. Fun fact: Bradley was the man who designed the 1995 Oscar Meyer Weinermobile!
The El Camino is modded out, includes classic line work in black and orange–which matches the interior–and includes a rear-mounted V8 that produced 395 horsepower. It not only has killer looks but the performance, too. This black and white cookie of cars is truly tasty.
This 1955 Fuji Cabin 5A, below, missed a great opportunity in its name. Why didn’t someone call it “The Cyclops”? We also would have accepted the “Mustachioed Monocle.”
The Japanese-designed “Space Age Scooter” is a stylish three-wheeled wee ride that takes its inspiration from the experience of driving an enclosed scooter, which is less space age than the name implies. However, the Fuji Cabin’s one-eyed frontend does remind us a Dalek on Doctor Who. It was made of lightweight fiberglass and powered by a kick start Gasuden scooter motor. Nothing says power like a kick-start engine! Unfortunately, the Fuji Cabin wasn’t a hit, and this is only one of the 85 produced.
We do love the mid-century futuristic lines and color, and appreciate that these cars were trying to offer lightweight vehicles that were affordable and reliable in postwar economic times. However, it looks like it’s missing a giant wind-up gear in the back.
Speaking of three-wheeled cars with questionable names, pictured below is the 1974 concept car “The Dale,” an eponymous creation of designer and inventor Dale Clifft. The Dale was inspired by the ongoing gas crisis and promised high fuel economy. In this case, the story might be more interesting than the car.
The banana colored (and shaped) car was hyped by Twentieth Century Motor Car Corporation, a company with an endless amount of hype, and very limited amount of capital.
The head of the company steered investors not to the Yellow Brick Road, but to Ponzi-land. She took investors’ money for the banana-mobile and split.
The slant nosed yellow rocket was remarkably lightweight at less than 1,000 pounds. Despite this, it promised safety, as well as a high-end sports car style and streamlined design. With a 3.4 liter air-cooled engine, and a low price of $2,000, The Dale seemed too good to be true. Unfortunately, it was. The head of the company, Geraldine Elizabeth Carmichael, steered investors not to the Yellow Brick Road, but to Ponzi-land. She took investors’ money for the banana-mobile and split. Sadly, Clifft was left with nothing but his prototype, and a few full-sized models. An interesting endnote: Carmichael went on the lam for many years and was eventually apprehended…in Dale, Texas.
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