Frank Lloyd Wright's car


GT38

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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_1.jpgFrank Lloyd Wright's Car_2.jpg
 

Empty Pockets

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Me thinks he shudda stuck with designing buildings...
 

2112

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Me thinks he shudda stuck with designing buildings...

From what I have read, even those, as gorgeous as they were, were plagued with practicality/reliability/maintenance issues.
 

texas mongrel

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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

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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.
 

GT38

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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!
 

GT38

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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
 

GT38

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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!

Arrow Plane 15.jpg

Arrow Plane 13.jpg

Arrow Plane 10.jpg

Arrow Plane 09.jpg

Arrow Plane 24.jpg
 

2112

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^^^^Cool display......for a paint store? :biggrin
 

Empty Pockets

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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
 

Kayvan

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Jul 13, 2006
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He co-owned a 300 SL Gullwing too
 

GT38

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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

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.)

Arrow Plane 16.jpg

Arrow Plane 17.jpg

Arrow Plane 25.jpg

Arrow Plane 26.jpg
 

djs

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Is that the nose cone of a B25 Mitchell "J" variation?
 

GT38

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Is that the nose cone of a B25 Mitchell "J" variation?

I believe so.
 

ChipBeck

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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!

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