The Zippo Car
1997 was the 50th anniversary of the Zippo Car, but the whereabouts of
this famous vehicle is a mystery that continues to intrigue Zippo officials.
The car, a Chrysler Saratoga, was custom built in
1947 at a cost of $25,000.00. Sporting two larger-than-life Zippo®
lighters with neon flames, the car was in parades and special events
across the U.S. during 1948 and 1949.
Sometime during the 1960's, the car was left at a Pittsburgh, PA area dealership
for reconstruction and was never seen again. Attempts to recover the car
in the early 1970's were unsuccessful, as the dealership had since
gone out of business.
In celebration of the car's 50th anniversary, Zippo commissioned
a replica of this unique one-of-a-kind automobile that will be displayed in
the new Zippo Museum, now open in Bradford, PA.
Zippo utilized this unique vehicle to create their 1998 Collectible of the Year,
a two-piece lighter/key ring gift set packaged in a keepsake tin decorated with a collage of
images from the car's colorful past.
