Not a Plane, Just the Wildest Car of the 1960s: The One-of-a-Kind DiDia 150

Rolling Fantasy - Indeed, in the 1950s to the late 1960s, automotive enthusiasts around the world—especially in America and Europe—were treated to a golden age of imagination. Car shows weren’t just exhibitions; they were playgrounds of futuristic fantasies. Walking through rows of concept vehicles, visitors often found themselves stunned, mumbling phrases like, "What is that?" or wondering aloud if these radical creations could actually run like normal cars. It was a time when car design knew no limits, and nothing embodied this spirit more than one of the rarest and most extravagant automotive creations of the era: the 1960 DiDia 150.

Currently, the 1960 DiDia 150 sat on display at the National Museum of Transportation in St. Louis, Minnesota after donated by its owner Bobby Darrin in 1970. (Picture from: Wikipedia)

This car wasn’t born in a corporate design studio or crafted by a legendary carmaker. Instead, it was the vision of Andy DiDia—a fashion designer, not an automotive engineer—who spent seven painstaking years bringing this dream machine to life. From 1953 to 1960, he invested not just effort, but also a jaw-dropping $93,647 into the project, an amount that would translate to a fortune today. But this was never about money—it was about building a car that looked like nothing else on the road.

The 1960 DiDia 150, a unique-shaped dream car built by Andrew 'Andy' Di Dia for seven years long time and cost of $93,647. (Picture from: ConceptCarz)

And DiDia absolutely succeeded. The DiDia 150 is more than just a car—it’s a moving sculpture. Clad in a deep, metallic red finish made from no fewer than 30 layers of paint mixed with real diamond dust for extra sparkle, it instantly draws attention. Its body, hand-formed from soft aluminum, flows with curves and angles that resemble something more airborne than land-based. Its oversized tail fin—more commonly found on boats or aircraft fuselages—stands as a bold signature, declaring this is not just a car, but a flight of fancy frozen in metal.

The 1960 DiDia 150 is originally powered by a 365 cubic-inch Cadillac engine, later replaced by a 427 cubic-inch high-performance Ford engine. (Picture from: ConceptCarz)

The innovations didn’t stop at the surface. The car featured hidden headlights and swiveling taillights that moved as the car turned, further enhancing its dramatic flair. Its interior was just as ambitious, if not more. There are four plush seats, each complete with its own ashtray, cigarette lighter, and built-in radio speakers—luxuries that felt borderline futuristic at the time. The dashboard was a spectacle on its own, equipped with large aircraft-style levers to control the heating, air conditioning, and defroster. It was less like sitting in a car and more like stepping into a private jet’s cockpit.😁

Inside the cabin of the DiDia 150 has squared steering wheel resembling a superellipse and there's a row of large levers like those of an airplane to control the air conditioning, heating and defroster on the dashboard. (Picture from: ConceptCarz)

The design quirks kept coming. A glass-covered rear cockpit and a squared-off steering wheel that mimicked the shape of a superellipse added to the feeling that the DiDia 150 was designed not just to transport, but to mesmerize. Built on a 125-inch wheelbase, it originally ran on a 365 cubic-inch Cadillac engine. However, in later years, it received a serious upgrade with a high-performance 427 cubic-inch Ford engine—giving this visual marvel the power to match its presence.

The 1960 DiDia 150 is featured in a metallic red color that is made of 30 layers of paint with real diamonds sparkled. (Picture from: ConceptCarz)

Only one DiDia 150 was ever made, making it as exclusive as it is eccentric. Its sole example eventually caught the eye of Bobby Darin, a popular singer and actor of the time. Darin didn’t just drive it—he showcased it in films and appearances, further fueling its mythos. Eventually, he gifted the car to the Museum of Transportation in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1970, where it remains preserved as a symbol of unrestrained creativity in automotive history.

The DiDia 150 was never meant to blend in—it was made to stand out, to challenge perceptions, and to celebrate what could happen when passion overrides practicality. In an age where cars are often shaped by wind tunnels and algorithms, it's refreshing to look back at something so wildly imaginative. The DiDia 150 isn’t just a car; it’s a dream on wheels—a reminder that sometimes the best ideas come from outside the garage. *** [EKA [17102020] | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | CONCEPTCARZ | WIKIPEDIA ]

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