The Deora is a 1965 Dodge A100 pickup truck that was heavily customized by Mike and Larry Alexander in Detroit for the 1967 Detroit Autorama. Harry Bentley Bradley, known for his Bradley GT kit cars, also helped with the design and build process. After winning many awards, including the Ridler in 1967, it became the prototype for a Hot Wheels car, and plastic model kit. It was sold at auction in 2009 for US$324,500.
Dodge Deora
Overview
Manufacturer
Dodge (Chrysler) (modified by Alexander Brothers and Harry Bentley Bradley)[1]
The Alexander brothers commissioned the design from Harry Bentley Bradley in 1964. It was unveiled in their home town during the Detroit Autorama in 1967, where it won nine awards including the Ridler Award. The Deora is based on the compact Dodge A100 pickup.[2] The back hatch of a 1960 Ford station wagon served as the windshield. It was chopped, sectioned, and channelled to create the fully functional, futuristic-looking pickup. The slant six engine and 3-speed manual transmission were moved rearward 15 inches, out of the cab and into the bed and covered by the hard tonneau. Entry into the gold-painted custom is achieved by lifting up the windshield, swivelling the lower gate and entering through the front.
The name Deora came from a naming contest run by AMT model cars. Harry Bradley had proposed to call it XTAB (standing for eXperimental Truck Alexander Brothers).[3] The winning entry was from a 13-year-old boy. The idea for the name Deora came from taking the b out of Debora, his girlfriend at the time, although many people assume that it came from and is a technically incorrect version of the Spanish word for 'golden'.[4]
Chrysler liked the resulting truck so well that they leased it for two years to display with their other factory concept cars. It was then put into storage after being sold to Al Davis. His son took the Deora out of storage in 1998 and Harry Bradley was asked to help restore it. The finished restoration took part in the 50th-anniversary Detroit Autorama in 2002 as part of a special display of classic Alexander brothers customs.
In 2009 the Deora was put up for auction in California and was sold for $324,500 (equivalent to $443,000 in 2022). It was described as featuring a 101 bhp (75 kW; 102 PS) 6-cylinder 170 cu in (2,800 cc) engine.[5]
Hot WheelsEdit
The Deora is also a major player in Hot Wheels history. It was part of the very first Hot Wheels line in 1968. In 2000, Hot Wheels released the Deora II, an update of the original. The vehicle is also Vert Wheeler's signature car in Hot Wheels: World Race and the AcceleRacers series.
Three years later, in preparation for Hot Wheels' 35th anniversary, a full size Deora II was unveiled. It was built by Chip Foose and fiveaxis, and sports a Cadillac Northstar V8 engine.[6]
In 2021, Mattel released a Hot Wheels car called the Deora III. However, its more open design causes it to resemble its two predecessors less than they resemble each other. It still has a surfboard in the back, as well as a bicycle.
ReferencesEdit
^"Alexander Brothers". Kustomrama. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
^"Drive: Dodge Deora Gold Rush: The world's coolest skateboard". Motor Trend. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
^"1967 Dodge Deora". Car Tech Books. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
^. Archived from the original on 2009-02-14. Retrieved 2013-02-19.
^. RM Auctions. Archived from the original on 1 August 2013. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
^. Archived from the original on 2012-07-30. Retrieved 2013-02-19.
October 15, 2023
deora, custom, deora, 1965, dodge, a100, pickup, truck, that, heavily, customized, mike, larry, alexander, detroit, 1967, detroit, autorama, harry, bentley, bradley, known, bradley, cars, also, helped, with, design, build, process, after, winning, many, awards. The Deora is a 1965 Dodge A100 pickup truck that was heavily customized by Mike and Larry Alexander in Detroit for the 1967 Detroit Autorama Harry Bentley Bradley known for his Bradley GT kit cars also helped with the design and build process After winning many awards including the Ridler in 1967 it became the prototype for a Hot Wheels car and plastic model kit It was sold at auction in 2009 for US 324 500 Dodge DeoraOverviewManufacturerDodge Chrysler modified by Alexander Brothers and Harry Bentley Bradley 1 Production1965 7DesignerHarry Bentley BradleyBody and chassisClassCustom carLayoutFront mid engine rear wheel driveRelatedDodge A100PowertrainEngine170ci 2 8L Slant 6Transmission3 speed manualDesign EditThe Alexander brothers commissioned the design from Harry Bentley Bradley in 1964 It was unveiled in their home town during the Detroit Autorama in 1967 where it won nine awards including the Ridler Award The Deora is based on the compact Dodge A100 pickup 2 The back hatch of a 1960 Ford station wagon served as the windshield It was chopped sectioned and channelled to create the fully functional futuristic looking pickup The slant six engine and 3 speed manual transmission were moved rearward 15 inches out of the cab and into the bed and covered by the hard tonneau Entry into the gold painted custom is achieved by lifting up the windshield swivelling the lower gate and entering through the front The name Deora came from a naming contest run by AMT model cars Harry Bradley had proposed to call it XTAB standing for eXperimental Truck Alexander Brothers 3 The winning entry was from a 13 year old boy The idea for the name Deora came from taking the b out of Debora his girlfriend at the time although many people assume that it came from and is a technically incorrect version of the Spanish word for golden 4 Chrysler liked the resulting truck so well that they leased it for two years to display with their other factory concept cars It was then put into storage after being sold to Al Davis His son took the Deora out of storage in 1998 and Harry Bradley was asked to help restore it The finished restoration took part in the 50th anniversary Detroit Autorama in 2002 as part of a special display of classic Alexander brothers customs In 2009 the Deora was put up for auction in California and was sold for 324 500 equivalent to 443 000 in 2022 It was described as featuring a 101 bhp 75 kW 102 PS 6 cylinder 170 cu in 2 800 cc engine 5 Hot Wheels EditThe Deora is also a major player in Hot Wheels history It was part of the very first Hot Wheels line in 1968 In 2000 Hot Wheels released the Deora II an update of the original The vehicle is also Vert Wheeler s signature car in Hot Wheels World Race and the AcceleRacers series Three years later in preparation for Hot Wheels 35th anniversary a full size Deora II was unveiled It was built by Chip Foose and fiveaxis and sports a Cadillac Northstar V8 engine 6 In 2021 Mattel released a Hot Wheels car called the Deora III However its more open design causes it to resemble its two predecessors less than they resemble each other It still has a surfboard in the back as well as a bicycle References Edit Alexander Brothers Kustomrama Retrieved 5 September 2012 Drive Dodge Deora Gold Rush The world s coolest skateboard Motor Trend Retrieved 29 May 2012 1967 Dodge Deora Car Tech Books Retrieved 29 May 2012 Petersen Automotive Museum Archived from the original on 2009 02 14 Retrieved 2013 02 19 ICONS OF SPEED amp STYLE AUCTION RM Auctions Archived from the original on 1 August 2013 Retrieved 29 May 2012 PickupTruck com SEMA 2007 Hot Wheel Deora II Archived from the original on 2012 07 30 Retrieved 2013 02 19 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Deora custom car amp oldid 1175524814, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
