Even if you've never heard of Buckminster Fuller, you've probably seen his work -- his popular geodesic dome structure has been replicated in various guises worldwide.
But the polymathic designer and inventor's little-known 1933 Dymaxion car, a zeppelin-shaped vehicle prototype designed to run 30 miles per gallon on alcohol fuel, was just as revolutionary.
Fuller's visionary design philosophy behind the Dymaxion, that of sustainability, technology and human-centric design, is "completely central to architecture today," architect Norman Foster told CNN by email.
"Bucky's impact has been immense," said Foster, who worked with Fuller for over a decade before his death in 1983. The Dymaxion has garnered something of a cult following among an unlikely mix of people: car enthusiasts, architecture geeks and environmentalists. A 2011 documentary, "The Last Dymaxion: Buckminster Fuller's Dream Restored," features famous fans waxing rhapsodic about the car's aesthetic and legacy.
