A clothing designer's creation became Bobby Darin's dream car. While Detroit native Andy Di Dia's Clothing designs were elegant and traditional, his single automobile design was unrestrained and unconventional. Construction of the hand-built Di Dia 150 lasted from 1953 to 1960 and cost over $150,000 to build. Today, it would approach $1.5 million. It has a V8 engine with a 125-inch wheelbase.
Di Dia friend, singer and actor Bobby Darin, was enchanted by the car and obtained it from Di Dia. Bobby drove it to the Academy Awards and in movies. It was donated in 1970, three years after his death.
The DiDia 150 is an exotic vehicle that is over-done in every detail and in every respect, an iconic dream car. Its metallic red paint was from 30 coats of paint with real ground diamonds for sparkle. In the back are large tail fins that would be better suited on the underside of a boat or on the wings of an airplane. The body is from hand-fashioned soft aluminum. There are hidden headlights and tail lights that swivel as the car turns. Inside, the seats each have their own ash tray, cigarette lighter, and radio speaker. On the dash are oversized levers that control the air conditioning, heater and defroster. The car rests on a 125-inch wheelbase and is powered by a V8 engine. This is a car that batman would buy.
The car was created by Andy DiDia and only one example was ever built. It was later sold to the singer and actor Bobby Darin. It currently resides in the Museum of Transportation in St. Louis, MO.
This was not a show car. Bobby and his wife, Sandra Dee often drove it to the Academy Awards. It also appeared in movies of the time.
The DiDia 150 is hand-fashioned from soft aluminum, has thermostatically controlled air conditioning, hidden headlights, tail lights that swivel as the car turns a corner, glass windows on hinges, and rust-colored seats, each with an ash tray, cigarette lighter, and radio speaker.It took seven years to complete, from 1953 to 1960.