Liz Carmichael

Who was Liz Carmichael?

Geraldine Elizabeth "Liz" Carmichael was an American entrepreneur who marketed the three-wheel Dale sports car in 1975.

The Dale car, a design of Dale Clifft, was supposed to be produced by Twentieth Century Motor Car Corporation in California. According to Twentieth Century's 1975 brochure, it had a two-cylinder engine, would reach 70 miles per US gallon and would cost $2000. The body was to be constructed out of 'rocket structural resin' that would withstand damage well. There were only three prototype copies ever made and only one of them could move under its own power.

After having received money from investors, purportedly for the development and marketing of the Dale car, Carmichael disappeared and the funds were unaccounted for. She was charged with grand theft, fraud, and securities violations. During her trial, Clifft stated that he still believed in Carmichael and expected large royalties once the car would go into production. In fact, he received only $1001 and a bad check.

Following her arrest, it was discovered that Carmichael's given birth name was Jerry Dean Michael, which was still her legal name, and that she was initially identified as a male. He married the former Vivian Barrett while still living as a man and they were the parents of five children. Michael stated he had undergone hormone therapy and was in the process of completing sex reassignment. Michael had previously been charged by the FBI for alleged involvement in a counterfeiting operation; he had been released on bail and never appeared for trial.