The Dymaxion, a revolutionary vehicle designed by the visionary American inventor and philosopher, Buckminster Fuller, showcased an innovative and futuristic concept. Combining Ford components with a Zeppelin-like fuselage, this three-wheeled wonder boasted a mid-engine and rear-steering configuration. Its debut at the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair captivated audiences, earning it the status of a star attraction. Today, only one of the three original Dymaxion vehicles remains, and it can be found on display at Reno’s National Automobile Museum.
Having worked with Fuller in the 1970s, the eminent architect Norman Foster decided in 2010 to celebrate his hero by building a fourth Dymaxion – and, fascinated by the ‘Silver Arrows’ as a child, he chose Crosthwaite and Gardiner to build the new car.
Fuller was a visionary, not an engineer, and the Dymaxion resembles no other car. The only option was to ship the sole survivor from the US to our workshops, in exchange for restoring its missing interior.
After meticulously dismantling and documenting the original, our team carried out a cosmetic restoration of the body and interior alongside the build of Lord Foster’s new Dymaxion, as an exact replica of car No.3
The project was so historically significant that it became the subject of both a book and a film, and the car continues to be exhibited worldwide.