Concept Car of the Week: The Dale (1974)
By Karl Smith2017-09-01T08:32:00
Grifts, murder, a transgender con-artist and a micro car – the story of The Dale concept car proves life is stranger than fiction
Dale Clifft was a machinist and small-time inventor who loved to modify speedboats and motorcycles. And when the oil crises of 1973 hit Southern California, Clifft was sure that he could design a commuter vehicle that would cut his petrol costs. So he cobbled together a three-wheeled car out of an old motorcycle engine on a home-built frame and fashioned a body out of red metalflake naugahyde.