Budd–Michelin rubber-tired rail cars which featured innovative and distinctive pneumatic tires. The company claimed that its application of tires on its rail cars afforded both a substantially more cushioned ride and increased the cars' traction by 35%. The design of Michelin's tired wheels included an aluminum safety ring and a flange that were only used in the event of a puncture or other type of tire failure; during normal operation, only the rubber tire made contact with the rail. Inspired by Michelin's success, the Budd Company set its sights on marrying the new rubber rail tires with its shot-welded, stainless-steel carbodies; it had developed
Shelby Gem Factory Hardy. Larry Paul Kelley and his wife Jo Kelly later retained full ownership making the Shelby Gem Factory a family business. The Shelby Gem Factory initially produced only synthetic ruby, with ruby lasers being the principal application, to firms primarily in California. However, the greater profit potential of transmuting ruby rods into gemstones led to a change in the enterprise's focus. A colorless variant crystal was developed by experimentation with different materials and proportions. This was the first simulated diamond variety. It became the first business anywhere to mass-produce cubic zirconia (CZ). In the 1970s the Shelby Gem Factory rode