Although commercially available radio-controlled (RC) cars have been documented as far back as the middle 1960s, tinkerers in major corporations, and home garages as well, were building RC cars in the 1950s. A very early documented example comes from the creative minds working at the Ford Motor Company’s Advanced Design Studio. The amazing, sometimes humorous, story was documented in the 1999 book “Ford Design Department Concept & Show Cars” by Jim and Cheryl Farrell. The story was summarized in 2014 by Motor City Garage:

Dreams in Miniature

Here it is, documented evidence that working in the Motor City used to be more fun: Ford designers circa 1955 playing with radio-controlled models of the latest dream cars. 

Alex Tremulis (1914-1991) had a long and colorful career in automotive design, starting in 1933 at Auburn when he was only 19. During WWII, he worked on advanced aircraft aerodynamics at Wright Field, and in 1947 he styled the distinctive Tucker 48. In 1952 he arrived at the Ford Motor Company, where he served as head of the advanced design studio.

Then as now, the studios used scale models to shrink lead times and save money. Among the Tremulis designs executed in 3/8 scale form were the LaTosca, a futuristic bubble-top dream car, and the Mexico, an aerodynamic reskin of the 1955 Thunderbird that was designed to top 200 mph.

Now here’s the fun part: For these two models, Tremulis and a studio staffer, Romeyn Hammond, constructed radio control systems, adapting six-volt car batteries, convertible top motors, and other full-size components from the Ford parts bins. Hammond’s clever gadgetry is visible in the lead photo above, around the miniature driver. Along with power, braking, and turning, the radio control system also reportedly operated the headlights, brake lamps, and turn signals.

Below are additional photos of the La Tosca and Mexico, and finally, a short video where the La Tosca  is shown in action. Toward the end of the film, a woman and a dog appear in the frame to provide visual scale.

In Ford lore, the design crew had a good time with the RC gear, terrorizing Village Road and Oakwood Boulevard with their dinky dream cars. Security guards saluted when the models passed by. However, the project generated excess heat for the staff when one of the miniatures got in the way of a Ford executive’s life-sized sedan. That brought an end to the radio control experiments—or so the story goes.
Editors note: The Farrell book states that it was Tremulis’ career that may have suffered from his “fun with the RC car”. 
Sad note:
Don Keefe  Daniel Strohl3 years ago
“I spent an afternoon with Alex Tremulis’ wife about 20 years ago and I specifically asked her about the LaTosca, the Mexico and the other 3/8-scale models. She said that they were lost in the Rotunda fire in 1962.”

The LaTosca and Mexico both were radio-controlled 3/8 size concepts. The Mexico was “an aerodynamic Thunderbird” on a longer wheelbase chassis.