1959 Tojeiro California Spyder
An engineer and race car designer, John Tojerio was hugely influential in the '50s and '60s, with designs like the mid-engined Tojerio EE and his work with the Le Mans-winning Ecurie Ecosse racing team earning his place in history. One of Tojerio's designs, the Tojeiro California Spyder, never made it to a race track. The California would be one of Tojerio's last front-engine designs before the mid-engine layout became dominant. Building on the tube frame Jaguar D-Type's that he worked with during Ecurie Ecosse's Le Mans runs, Tojerio designed the frame and had it built — and then it sat in the back of his shop. Enter John Muller, who brought the chassis to the US from England and spent years completing the car. The body was built by Coachsmithing of Blair, Wisconsin, using the original wire bucks. A 292 cubic-inch GM inline-six making 300 horsepower was installed as originally intended. The car has run in vintage competitions, where it's been a success despite the decades between its design and construction.
