During the 1940s, promotional vehicles flourished in America, riding the wave of smoking’s widespread popularity. Capitalizing on this trend, Zippo, a prominent lighter manufacturer, decided to create its unique promotional vehicle. They transformed a 1947 Chrysler New Yorker into a remarkable sight by replicating the center section of one of their iconic lighters. The scaled replica featured a flip top and flame, capturing the essence of Zippo’s brand and attracting attention wherever it went.

The height of the Zippo car meant its drivers had to be very careful when approaching bridges, but that didn’t stop them taking the car to all 48 contiguous states of the US. The original Zippo car disappeared without trace in the 1950s, but Zippo recreated it in 1998 based on another Chrysler New Yorker.