Post #675646 by TikiTomD on Fri, Apr 26, 2013 3:48 PM

Really nice work, DC, fleshing out the Luau in living color!

I just happened to again run into our old friend, Trader Syd, in the Google news archives. Recall that in an earlier post, I inferred that the Luau may have gone out of business circa 1974 based on the lack of further archival references. This article lends credence to that, as even his Luau II restaurant, located in the Marco Polo Hotel, was no longer known by that name in early 1975; instead it had become the Gold Coin. And, it seems that Trader Syd’s life had taken a negative turn when his restaurant manager split with $15,000...

The Miami News February 28, 1975

This was not to be the inglorious end of the enterprising Sydney J. Mass, for he got into the green vehicle business way ahead of its time...

The Palm Beach Post October 26, 1984

Least you doubt that this Sydney Mass is the same as our Trader Syd, here is an eBay photo that clearly shows our man on the left (you can compare with photos posted earlier in this thread)...

Some more details on the up and coming Lectra-Matic Automobile Corporation of Miami, Florida...

Sarasota Herald-Tribune July 8, 1984

Poor Trader Syd; he was just too far ahead of his time, as the Lectra-Matic Automobile Corporation crashed and burned...

The Miami Herald January 5, 1987

-Tom