Richard Arbib was a popular designer from the 50's into the 80's and 90's. His work was heavily influenced by science fiction - making it perfect for the products of the 1950's.
Despite successful design work for GM (working with Harley Earl), Republic Aviation, and the Hamilton Watch Company (Arbib designed the legendary Hamilton Ventura I), Arbib went bankrupt in 1994, shortly before his death in February of 1995.
His Cyclar design was commissioned by a New York-based vending machine company. A new company, Convenient Machines, was established to develop a one-passenger vehicle. The Cyclar was never produced, but a subsequent design -- a three-wheeled car called the Cub was produced in limited quantities in 1982.
This, and many other design studies, appears in the book, Richard H. Arbib 1917-1995: Visionary American Designer, written by Frederic A. Sharf.
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