Tomorrow Corp. contracted with Owosso Motor Car Company in Owosso, MI to manufacture the LiteStar and several prototypes were produced. These prototypes were used to promote the LiteStar throughout the Unites States. A company was started in San Diego, CA by Dan Willis and Henry Coppola to promote the LiteStar on the west coast and a few LiteStars were shipped to Calafornia. They were shown at car shows, motorcycle shows and at concept vehicle shows and alot of interest was generated in the LiteStar. Several movie stars and directors lined up to purchase a LiteStar for themselves. The LiteStar even appeared in the movie "Back to the Future II"

While promotion was going on testing of the prototype was going on at the same time. Jim Bede continued to improve the LiteStar based on this testing. Owosso Motor Car Company was producing the LiteStar and Jim Bede's improvements began to interfere with production. A squabble ensued and Owosso took the molds and began to make the LiteStar under their own name. They called it the Owosso Pulse. Jim Bede and Tomorrow Corp. sued. There was an attempt by Dan Willis and Henry Coppola to begin manufacture of the LiteStars on the West Coast but the legal suit prevented them from doing so. Eventually production ceased but not until about 300 Pulses and (as yet an undetermined number) of LiteStars were made.

So that is the story of the LiteStar/Pulse autocycle as I know it.

I have gotten most of my information from talking to Dan Willis. I have been in touch with Henry Coppola briefly to see if he still had his LiteStar. I intend, some day, to get in touch with Jim Bede to get his side of the story.

If you have further information regarding this fine machine, email me the details.

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Created: 07-02-1998