Makers Of Epic 'Rally Fighter' Run Out Of Money

America is home to some of the largest auto manufacturers in the world and leads the way in numerous sectors of the automotive industry, but unbeknownst to many, there are aton of smaller manufacturersthat build all the cool stuff larger brands would never touch. One such company is Local Motors. Based in Phoenix, Arizona, this specialist vehicle builder is best known for creating the awesome-lookingRally Fighter, a retro-inspired lifted muscle car that is set up to take jumps and hit the dirt. The company, which recently made the shift to autonomous vehicle design, has now sadly announced that it will be closing shop on 14 January.

The unofficial announcement was made by various employees on social media, with senior management later confirming the news. Local Motors was founded in 2007 and started delivering the Rally Fighter after 18 months of development. The Rally Fighter was powered by the GM-sourced 450-horsepower 6.2-liter V8 engine found in cars such as theChevrolet Camaro, andclean examples can still be foundfor a decent price. Local Motors shifted its focus from fire-breathing rally cars to a more subdued field: autonomous shuttles. The "Olli," as it was known, was deployed across the globe, but interest has clearly waned in recent months.