Half Limo, Half Private Jet: The Wild Story of the 1968 Kershaw Kruise-Aire What happens when a wealthy railroad tycoon hates station wagons, loves private aviation, and decides to build his own dream machine? You get the 1968 Kershaw Kruise-Aire (also spelled Cruiseaire), a one-of-a-kind luxury limousine, mobile office, and motorhome rolled into one eccentric, fiberglass-bodied package. The Story Behind the Build In the late 1960s, Alabama railroad equipment inventor and businessman Royce Kershaw Sr. wanted an executive cruiser that offered the cabin comfort of a corporate jet with the speed and handling of a full-size American muscle car. To bring his vision to life, Kershaw purchased a brand-new Oldsmobile Toronado and hired renowned coachbuilder Glenn Pray (famous for his Cord 8/10 replicas) alongside legendary automotive designer Gordon Buehrig (the genius behind the Auburn 851 Speedster and Cord 810/812). The duo crafted a sleek, low-profile body out of two massive fiberglass shells joined at the beltline like a walnut shell. To complete the look, they raided the Detroit parts bin, borrowing a Corvette front bumper, Pontiac headlamp doors, Camaro taillights, and custom grille screens inspired by a 1934 Auburn. Meanwhile, San Antonio-based Howard Aero Aircraft Interiors outfitted the cabin like a first-class airliner. The project cost a staggering $65,000 in 1968 (over half a million dollars today). Although Kershaw had ambitions for limited production, he sadly passed away shortly after the prototype was finished, leaving the Kruise-Aire as a true one-off. After sitting in family storage for decades in its original blue paint, it resurfaced at auction in 2024 and was later given its eye-catching lime-green makeover. Technical Specifications and Features Platform: Modified Oldsmobile Toronado chassis with a 120-inch wheelbase. Engine: 7.0-liter (425 cu. in.) Oldsmobile Rocket V8 producing 385 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque. Drivetrain: 3-speed Turbo-Hydramatic automatic transmission with front-wheel drive, a crucial choice that eliminated the rear driveshaft and allowed for a completely flat, low-slung cabin floor. Top Speed: Approximately 90 to 101 mph (145 to 162 km/h). Body and Doors: Two-piece fiberglass construction featuring a single driver's door (as it was meant to be chauffeur-driven) and a single curb-side passenger entry door. Cabin Amenities: Seating for up to seven, a privacy partition with a chauffeur intercom telephone, couches, swiveling armchairs, a black-and-white TV, an 8-track stereo, and a compact galley with a sink, stove, cooler, and mini-bar. #classiccars #luxurycars #vintagecars #bus #truck - @machine_symphony