When
fins were in. What, a blind spot?
Therefore they made the rear
roof all glass
The
1960 DiDia 150 was a luxury, custom-designed iconic, handmade car
also known as the "Dream Car" forever associated with its second
owner, singer Bobby Darin. The car was designed by Andrew Di
Dia, a clothing designer, who Bobby Darin had met whilst on
tour in Detroit in 1957. Darin telling Di Dia at the time that
he would purchase the car if he ever "hit it big”. For seven
years, from 1953 to 1960 the DiDia 150 was hand-built by four
workers, at a cost of $93,647.29 but sold to Darin in 1961 at
a cost of over $150,000 (1.5 million today). ] At the time the car
was listed as most expensive 'custom-made' car in the world by the
Guinness Book of Records. ] The body was hand-formed by Ron
Clark and constructed by Bob Kaiser from Clark Kaiser
Customs.
Its metallic red paint
was made with 30 coats of ground diamonds for
sparkle.
Built in Detroit, Michigan, clothing
designer Andrew 'Andy' Di Dia designed this "unrestrained and
unconventional" automobile. Only one example was ever
built.
The
normal V8 engine is located at the front with an engine
displacement of 365/427. It has a rear-wheel drive, the body
and chassis is hand-formed from 064 aluminum with a 125-inch
wheelbase alloy tube frame.
It
has a glass cockpit in back, a squared steering wheel and
thermostatically controlled air conditioning system.
The
interior is rust colored in contrast to the ruby paintwork.
The
design included the first backseat-mounted radio speakers and hidden
windshield wipers, that started themselves when it
rained. Other features include retractable headlamps, rear
indicators that swivel as the car turns, 'floating' bumpers and a
trunk that was hinged from the driver's side. Each of the four
bucket seats have their own thermostatically controlled air
conditioning, individual cigarette lighters and ashtrays, as well as
a radio speaker. The original engine, a Cadillac V8, was later
replaced by a 427 high-performance by Ford when it was taken on the
show circuit.
Fred Underdown's New Car..... Oh
that's Dream Car
Darin drove his wife, Sandra Dee, in the car
to the 34th Academy Awards in 1961.
When
Bobby drove the car to the Academy Awards, Andrew Di Dia and Steve
Blauner followed behind him in a limousine. The car had two fans and
a switch that you had to turn on. Bobby didn't realize, so it heated
up. All the magazines said the car caught fire but it
didn't.
Di
Dia toured the car around the country, when Darin wasn't using it
for public appearances. After publicity and film use, Darin donated
his "Dream Car" to the St Louis Museum of Transportation in 1970
where it remains.
Source: Internet
