Dale (automobile)
Encyclopedia
The Twentieth Century Motor Car Corporation was an automobile company started by entrepreneur Geraldine Elizabeth Carmichael
in 1974. The company's flagship vehicle was the Dale, a prototype three-wheeled two-seater sports car
designed and built by Dale Clift. It was powered by an 850 cc air-cooled engine and featured a claimed 70 miles per US gallon fuel economy and a $2,000 (in 1974 U.S. dollars) price, which were popular specifications during the mid 1970's US fuel crisis
.
Carmichael, 37 in 1974, claimed to be the widow of a NASA
structural engineer
, a mother of five, and a farm girl from Indiana
. In reality, she had been wanted by the police since 1961 for alleged involvement in a counterfeit
ing operation. The company would ultimately prove to be a sham, when Carmichael went into hiding with investors' money.
in November 1974, Carmichael said she was on the way to taking on General Motors
or any other car manufacturer for that matter. She said she had millions of dollars in backing "from private parties", and also talked of a 150000 sq ft (13,935.5 m²) assembly plant in Burbank, California and over 100 employees on the rolls.
The Dale was also marketed as being high-tech, lightweight, yet safer than any existing car at the time. "By eliminating a wheel in the rear, we saved 300 pounds and knocked more than $300 from the car's price. The Dale is 190 inches long, 51 inches high, and weighs less than 1,000 pounds", said Carmichael. She maintained that the car's lightness did not affect its stability or safety. The low center of gravity always remained inside the triangle of the three wheels making it nearly impossible for it to tip over. She also went on record to say that she drove it into a wall at 30 mi/h and there was no structural damage to the car (or her). She said the Dale was powered by a thoroughly revamped BMW two-cylinder motorcycle engine, which turned out 40 hp and would hit 85 mi/h. She expected sales of 88,000 cars in the first year and 250,000 in the second year.
which detailed the fraud behind the Dale as well as the fact Carmichael was wanted. She was eventually found working under an alias in a flower shop and was arrested shortly after the episode's airing. Elizabeth Carmichael, as a result, went to prison. She died in 2004 of cancer.
Liz Carmichael
Geraldine Elizabeth "Liz" Carmichael was an American entrepreneur who marketed the three-wheel Dale sports car in 1975.The Dale car, a design of Dale Clift, was supposed to be produced by Twentieth Century Motor Car Corporation in California. According to Twentieth Century's 1975 brochure, it had...
in 1974. The company's flagship vehicle was the Dale, a prototype three-wheeled two-seater sports car
Sports car
A sports car is a small, usually two seat, two door automobile designed for high speed driving and maneuverability....
designed and built by Dale Clift. It was powered by an 850 cc air-cooled engine and featured a claimed 70 miles per US gallon fuel economy and a $2,000 (in 1974 U.S. dollars) price, which were popular specifications during the mid 1970's US fuel crisis
1973 oil crisis
The 1973 oil crisis started in October 1973, when the members of Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries or the OAPEC proclaimed an oil embargo. This was "in response to the U.S. decision to re-supply the Israeli military" during the Yom Kippur war. It lasted until March 1974. With the...
.
Carmichael, 37 in 1974, claimed to be the widow of a NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
structural engineer
Structural engineer
Structural engineers analyze, design, plan, and research structural components and structural systems to achieve design goals and ensure the safety and comfort of users or occupants...
, a mother of five, and a farm girl from Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
. In reality, she had been wanted by the police since 1961 for alleged involvement in a counterfeit
Counterfeit
To counterfeit means to illegally imitate something. Counterfeit products are often produced with the intent to take advantage of the superior value of the imitated product...
ing operation. The company would ultimately prove to be a sham, when Carmichael went into hiding with investors' money.
Dale
The Dale was originally envisioned by Carmichael. The prototype was designed and built by Clift, and the project was subsequently marketed by Carmichael. Much of the interest in the Dale was a result of the 1973 oil crisis: higher economy automobiles like the Dale were viewed as a solution to the oil crunch. Speaking to the Chicago Sun-TimesChicago Sun-Times
The Chicago Sun-Times is an American daily newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois. It is the flagship paper of the Sun-Times Media Group.-History:The Chicago Sun-Times is the oldest continuously published daily newspaper in the city...
in November 1974, Carmichael said she was on the way to taking on General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
or any other car manufacturer for that matter. She said she had millions of dollars in backing "from private parties", and also talked of a 150000 sq ft (13,935.5 m²) assembly plant in Burbank, California and over 100 employees on the rolls.
The Dale was also marketed as being high-tech, lightweight, yet safer than any existing car at the time. "By eliminating a wheel in the rear, we saved 300 pounds and knocked more than $300 from the car's price. The Dale is 190 inches long, 51 inches high, and weighs less than 1,000 pounds", said Carmichael. She maintained that the car's lightness did not affect its stability or safety. The low center of gravity always remained inside the triangle of the three wheels making it nearly impossible for it to tip over. She also went on record to say that she drove it into a wall at 30 mi/h and there was no structural damage to the car (or her). She said the Dale was powered by a thoroughly revamped BMW two-cylinder motorcycle engine, which turned out 40 hp and would hit 85 mi/h. She expected sales of 88,000 cars in the first year and 250,000 in the second year.
Other vehicles
Two additional vehicles were planned to complement the Dale: the Revelle and the Vanagen. Both of these would also feature a three-wheeled design and used the same 2-cylinder engine. None of the vehicles ever saw production and only two prototype vehicles of the Dale were made. Only one of those was able to run under its own power.Fraud
Rumors of fraud began to emerge and the California Securities Commission began an investigation. Although Clift said he still believed in the project and said that he was promised $3 million in royalties once the Dale went into production, he only received $1,001, plus a $2,000 check, which bounced. Carmichael went into hiding and was featured in an episode of Unsolved MysteriesUnsolved Mysteries
Unsolved Mysteries is an American television program, hosted by Robert Stack, from 1987 until 2002, and later by Dennis Farina, starting in 2008...
which detailed the fraud behind the Dale as well as the fact Carmichael was wanted. She was eventually found working under an alias in a flower shop and was arrested shortly after the episode's airing. Elizabeth Carmichael, as a result, went to prison. She died in 2004 of cancer.