|
Auto Hoax from 1970s
|
Posted By:
John
Nov 17, 2004
|
I remember an incident from 25 to 30 years ago during the Energy Crisis of the 1970's. Sixty Minutes aired a report about a feisty single mother who had designed a three wheeled automobile that could perform as well as a regular car but get 70-80 miles per gallon. The big three automakers where not interested in her design so she was starting her own company to make and sell this vehicle. I think she had given the car a goofy name such as "The Melvin" or something like that. Sixty Minutes was airing the report to showcase the self-destructive complacency of American automakers compared to the initiative of individual Americans.
A year later, I read in a magazine (I think it was "Parade") about how this woman was actually a ############ con-man who had just been busted for fraud, having pocketed considerable sums from private investors who did not realize that there was no car, only a mockup used to scam gullible investors and Sixty Minutes investigators.
Repeated internet searches have yielded nothing on this. Does anyone recall this incident, its details, or where information on it can be found?
|
Comments
|
Page 2 of 3 pages < 1 2 3 > |
Lani
in Louisiana
|
Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2008 | 02:28 PM
To Guy Cornyay: Do you know where she died, and if she ever had the SexChange surgery? I saw the "Unsolved Mysteries" episode where they caught up with her near Austin, Texas and she was still pre-op (still a male). It made me wonder what happened to all of that money she took. |
fjp
in Georgia
|
Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 | 08:37 PM
The sales literature for the Dale gave the address for the company as 16055 Ventura Boulevard in Encino, California. Thanks to the wonders of Google Street View, you can see that at that precise address is now the California Center for Plastic Surgery. Appropriate in an ironic sort of way . . . . |
ROBERT HAMMER
in Palo Alto,Ca
|
Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2008 | 03:49 PM
Not only do I remember the whole story,I actually
own the "original" sales/marketing brochure on the "Dale" ,but also 2 more vehicles Carmichael
promised to market!!The "Vanagen"&the;"Revelle"
+the original solicitation/marketing letter from
"Twentieth Century Motor Car Corp" G.Elizabeth Carmichael's company! |
MissC
in austin, texas
|
Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2009 | 11:27 AM
Carmichael did not die in 2004. She is still alive and living with her daughter in Austin, Texas. |
Lani
in Louisiana
|
Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2009 | 09:23 PM
MissC in Austin: Did Elizabeth ever have the surgery? Galveston=EXPENSIVE! But elsewhere?? |
Greg
in BC
|
Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2009 | 11:16 AM
how about the phrase "history repeats itself" . . . you all heard of that? check out the link here 'n see if you think it is genuine or another soon-to-be hoax :
http://www.fuelvaporcar.com/
This is to Guy Cornyay from New Juersy his post above
*************************************************
It's people like you who start ugly roomers, If you had dome your home work before opening your big mouth you would find this is a legitimate company. they have several prototypes not like the "Dale" were there was no cars at all, the other thing is, they had the yellow car at the NY Auto show in 08 were over 1.5 million people saw and many sat in the car, just recently they obtained third party verification on there mileage with a high of over 300 mpg and as low as 122 mpg........Guy Cornyay you should go crawl back under your rock |
Jerry
Member
|
Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2009 | 01:54 PM
MissC in Austin: can you contact me about Elizabeth? |
B
in ar
|
Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 | 03:46 PM
Miss C-
You have your facts wrong. She did die in Feb. of 2004 of cancer. Her body was donated to science. This was my "mema"... of course, this is how I knew her before I moved here. She (he) was my mother's father. My paternal grandmother was the one who showed me the Unsolved Mystries episode, until then I had no clue. |
MissC
in Austin, TX
|
Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 | 09:01 PM
B in AR: My facts are absolutely correct. If you are Liz' granddaughter, prove it. What is your father's name? |
B
in ar
|
Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2009 | 11:47 AM
MissC-
She is gone and has been for five years now. I don't know where you think you are getting your facts from but they are wrong. Believe what you want though. I am sure I won't deter you. This was my MATERNAL grandfather (my mom's dad) and my mom's name is Shawn. She is the youngest daughter. Jerry Dean ("Carmichael" as you called her) had 2 boys and 3 girls. The middle girl died in '93 and left behind one son in which my mema raised...satisfied? |
Ron
in CO
|
Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2009 | 01:31 PM
I would vouch for B in Ar... as I mentioned above, I knew Shawn, her two sisters, her oldest brother, and the baby at the time, when we were all children.
Sorry to hear about the passing of the middle sister... |
B
in Ar
|
Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2009 | 01:41 PM
Thanks Ron, I don't know if you remember but my mom and my Aunt Wendi (the one who passed) were a couple of years a part but looked like twins. I remember sometimes mixing them up when I was really little. The oldest daughter looked a lot like my Mema (Vivian, my mom's mother) |
Ron
in CO
|
Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2009 | 02:31 PM
B, I do remember; although since it's been so many years and I'd forgotten all the names, there was definitely a strong resemblance between Wendi and Shawn... and as I recall, they were similar in size for being two years apart... since I was a bit older, I probably related more to the oldest sister (I'm sorry I can't recall her name), who did have a resemblance to your grandmother, and occasionally (when he was around) your uncle...and I do remember Vivian (she was called Aunt Viv by the kids, at least around those of us in the neighborhood)... she was always nice to me...
I'm glad to hear life went on for the kids, even with what must have been quite the tumultuous lifestyle for a number of years... good luck to you and your family...
Ron |
B
in ar
|
Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 | 10:48 AM
Ron
The Aunt you are referring to is Candi. |
Ron
in CO
|
Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 | 12:50 AM
Thank you, B... Yes, it was Candi. And she did look a lot like Vivian. And as I recall, the older brother facially had a strong resemblance to Jerry Dean... |
Lani
in Louisiana
|
Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 | 09:25 AM
To B in Ar: You might want to correct and update "Liz Carmichael's" Wikipedia page. Apparently, many people still remember 'the Dale' car incident, and your grandfather's role in it. I know I do. |
George Morales
in winchester,Ca
|
Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 | 05:06 PM
B from Arkansas,are you Bridgett, James daughter? |
B
in Ar
|
Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 | 05:47 PM
George- Yes I am. You knew my dad? |
George Morales
in Winchester,CA
|
Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 | 06:14 PM
I Didn't know just your dad, I knew you too.Don't you remember the rose seller who used to buy you kid gifts and take you to play with your Dad. I lived at Green Pastures and was a route driver when you moved to Arkansas. How'w your brothers danny and scotty doing? Send me an e-mail to let me know how you guys are doing? My e-mail is .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) |
Laura F.
Member
|
Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 | 11:58 AM
She's not dead...but apparently she wants everyone to think she is. Once a scammer, always a scammer. |
|
Page 2 of 3 pages < 1 2 3 > |
In order to post comments you have to register as a member of the site. We were forced to restrict commenting because spammers were flooding the comment form with spam and crashing the server.
|
Note: This thread is located in the Old Forum of the Museum of Hoaxes.
|
