A year after starting the automobile company Kaiser-Frazer, Kaiser also formed Kaiser Aluminum and commissioned Rhys Miller and Frank Hershey (designer of the original 56-57 Ford Thunderbird two-seater) to produce a portfolio of all-aluminum car designs to feature in promotional literature.
The Miller and Hershey futuristic Kaiser prototypes never made it past the drawing board. But in the 90s, automotive restorer, Blake Larson of Minnesota pulled out his collected Kaiser Ads from the 60s and was taken by one singular design, the “Waimea”. Rhys Miller is solely credited to the Waimea design. Intrigued by its unusual middle driver’s seat position with center steering, Larson decided it was time to bring the design to life.Larson showed his newly-finished Futura Waimea around Minnesota in the 90s but then it disappeared. In 2013, it turned up on eBay and was purchased by Wayne Carini. Lane Motor Museum acquired this car in 2021.
Ah yes,pre-photoshop.Chopshop.It's fun to find were the Pontiac starts and the Corvair ends.Very interesting,thanks.
ReplyDeleteive been to the Lane museum in Nashville TN, they have a tremendous collection of mostly old european cars.
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