Fred M. Zeder Junior raced at Watkins Glen for Allard-Chrysler but was beaten by Briggs Cunningham in a car built by himself.  Zeder determined that whatever Briggs could do, he could do better and had drawn designs for a car within a few weeks.

The Zeder took three years to build but was based on a superb chassis with a Dodge V-8 engine that delivered 260 bhp.  The aluminium body was made in Italy by Bertone.  The car was ready to be shown at the annual motor show in Turin, where it took first prize for "style and design".