1954 Cramer Comet (United States) - AllCarIndex

The Cramer Comet is a unique, high-performance custom car built in the 1950s by self-taught engineer Tom Cramer of Omaha, Nebraska. Inspired by post-WWII ingenuity, Cramer crafted the car with an ambitious vision: to create a supercar powered by a 12-cylinder Allison aircraft engine that produced a staggering 1,350 horsepower and 1,500 foot-pounds of torque.

Built using parts from trucks and various cars, the Comet featured a custom chassis, dual cooling blowers, and a manual four-speed transmission. Its body design was inspired by the GM LeSabre dream car, embodying the dramatic, futuristic styling of 1950s American automotive culture. The interior included aircraft-style instrumentation, emphasizing its high-tech, performance-driven focus.

First featured in Hot Rod Magazine in 1954 and Popular Science in 1955, the Comet was a true spectacle of engineering. After undergoing an update in 1960, it was later registered for the road in 1980. In 1991, the car entered a private collection, and in 2008, it was offered at auction with an estimated value of $250,000-$350,000, though it remained unsold. Today, the Cramer Comet remains a rare example of mid-century automotive creativity, still wearing its original 1954 paint.