The Deora, based on a Harry Bradley design, was built by the famed Alexander Brothers, of Detroit. It made its world debut at the 1967 Autorama where it won nine awards, including the coveted Ridler trophy.
The Deora started life as a 1965 Dodge A100 forward-control pickup that was then chopped, sectioned, and channeled, to create a futuristic custom look. In spite of the radical appearance, the Deora retains the standard Dodge A100 ‘slant six’ engine, although it has been moved rearward, into the pickup bed. The front opening ‘door’, and swing-away steering wheel is reminiscent of a BMW Isetta, albeit on a much larger scale!The ‘Deora’ name was the result of a contest held by the AMT model kit company. It comes from an incorrect version of the Spanish word for ‘golden.’ The Deora was so popular that it became part of the original 1968 line-up of Hot Wheels toy cars.In 1998, the Deora emerged from storage and was fully restored under the guidance of original designer Harry Bradley. It was part of a special display of Alexander Brothers customs at the 50th anniversary Autorama in 2002.