The Charlotte Autofair Produced by the Hornet’s Nest Region, AACA features bi-annual events showcasing some of the most exquisite vintage cars in the nation. These vehicles range in age, make and model, and include some of the rarest cars with the most interesting history behind them.

Originally the creation of clothing designer Andrew Di Dia, the 1960 DiDia 150 would cost a little over $150,000 to build today. The iconic red paint contains crushed diamonds to give it an extra sparkle and the body is constructed of a soft aluminum alloy. The DiDia 150 is powered by a 427 cubic inch V8 engine.

The car reached the height of popularity when it was purchased by singer Bobby Darin in 1961. Darin apparently fell in love with the car upon first meeting Di Dia, saying he would purchase the vehicle if he ever “hit it big”. Over the course of seven years, from 1953 to 1960, the DiDia 150 was built by hand by four workers at a cost of $93,647 and sold to Darin for over $150,000.

At the time of its completion it was the most expensive ‘custom made’ car ever built. It now remains at the St. Louis Museum of Transportation as just one of the many unique and vintage cars of automobile history. You can check out other antique cars at the Charlotte AutoFair Produced by Hornet’s Nest Region, AACA.