I ran across this article I saved when I was 11 years old. It was run in the May 24, 1959 issue of "This Week Magazine", a supplement that was included in a lot of Sunday newspapers at the time.
Frank Lloyd Wright's car
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Empty Pockets
ex-GT Owner
2112
Blue/white 06'
From what I have read, even those, as gorgeous as they were, were plagued with practicality/reliability/maintenance issues.
texas mongrel
GT Owner
He actually did build a few cars, called the 'dymaxion' I think. It was essentially an early 30s Ford frame, mounted backwards and with one wheel only at the rear. The body looked like the front end of a Stratocruiser. It was a cool looking car. All the originals were lost, but somone recently built a faithful replica at huge cost.
texas mongrel
GT Owner
Correction, that was Bucky Fuller! Sorry, brain fart on my part. The dymaxion is still a cool car, and Buckminster Fuller was a cool guy.
I'd almost completely forgotten about the Dymaxion. Here are some interesting links - apparently one of the three original cars survives, plus at least one replica.
http://www.washedashore.com/projects/dymax/chronology.html
http://dymaxioncar.com/index.html
http://synchronofile.com/dymaxion-car-restored/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dymaxion_car
I saw a Dymaxion many years ago (late 80's early 90's?) at a now defunct car auction at the Sundome in Sun City, Arizona. I recall that at the time, I didn't think it was a replica. It was certainly one of the strangest cars I'd ever seen. I'm sure I have a photo of it, but it might take days to find it!
http://www.washedashore.com/projects/dymax/chronology.html
http://dymaxioncar.com/index.html
http://synchronofile.com/dymaxion-car-restored/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dymaxion_car
I saw a Dymaxion many years ago (late 80's early 90's?) at a now defunct car auction at the Sundome in Sun City, Arizona. I recall that at the time, I didn't think it was a replica. It was certainly one of the strangest cars I'd ever seen. I'm sure I have a photo of it, but it might take days to find it!
More on the Frank Lloyd Wright car. Note the reference to it being inspired by the International Harvester Farmall M tractor:
http://www.mediaarchitecture.at/architekturtheorie/broadacre_city/2011_illustration_007_en.shtml
http://www.mediaarchitecture.at/architekturtheorie/broadacre_city/2011_illustration_007_en.shtml
The Dymaxion reminds me of a similar looking car I happened to spot while driving by an auto paint supply store in Mesa, AZ in February 2008. It is a 1932 Arrow Plane, one of six built. To my surprise, when I went in to take photos I found that it shared floor space with a six-mile 2005 Ford GT!
2112
Blue/white 06'
Empty Pockets
ex-GT Owner
Mgmt needs to see to it the store's inventory is straightened up a bit. I'd be embarrassed to have my customers walk in and see that mess.
Maybe the cars were placed there as a visual diversion? :lol
Maybe the cars were placed there as a visual diversion? :lol
The store is really a pretty interesting place to visit - here's more of what's there to see. I don't think the GT is in the store anymore.
(Larry - check your PM's in a couple of minutes.)
I went into that store as it's close to Falcon Field years ago to buy some stainless fittings and screws for my Glasair and I was surprised to see the GT in there. A number of other interesting vehicles are also in that shop as I remember. I'll have to make another stop.
Chip