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Category Archives: LaDawri Coachcraft

1963 Victress S5 (LaDawri Cheetah) VW Special

Posted on July 16, 2020 by Geoff HackerJuly 16, 2020
5

Alex’s Father Built One Beautiful Victress S5 Roadster

Hi Gang… We’re still working on gathering the story of this Victress S5 VW Special to share with everyone here at Undiscovered Classics, but I thought we would start out with a bit of history on the car and the … Continue reading →

Victress Porsche 356 Special Surfaces – The Hunt Begins

Posted on July 16, 2020 by Geoff HackerJuly 16, 2020
5

What A Great Porsche Special This Would Be To Find. Go Get ‘Em Gang 🙂

Hi Gang… Just 3 photos – that’s all we get.  But what tantalizing clues there are to perhaps finding this car – and maybe it survives today.  I know our friend Gordon Maltby of the Porsche 356 Registry would be … Continue reading →

1960: Sportscar Specials Trend Book #196

Sportscar  Specials Trend  Book  #196:  1960 Multiple  Cars … Continue reading →

1958: Sportscar Specials, Trend Book #178

Sportscar  Specials Trend  Book  #178:  1958 Multiple  Cars … Continue reading →

For Sale in Europe: 1959 LaDawri Daytona “Brunning Special”

Posted on May 17, 2020 by Geoff HackerMay 17, 2020
Reply

Hi Gang… One of our good friends in Europe, Hans van Ingen Schenau, has decided to sell his LaDawri Daytona race car and I thought I would share the history of this beautifully restored car with you.  This may be … Continue reading →

“It’s A LaDawri!” Boyhood Dream Fulfilled After 50+ Year Wait

Posted on April 30, 2020 by Geoff HackerApril 30, 2020
13

Mike Machado Behind The Wheel and Ready To Begin The Restoration of His LaDawri Conquest

Hi Gang… It’s great to see restoration plans being put in place for another LaDawri Conquest – this one owned by Mike and Bobbie Machado of Gardnerville, Nevada.  Recently, Mike bought the LaDawri from good friend James Long of California, … Continue reading →

LaDawri / Victress Instruction Manual Now Available

Posted on April 21, 2020 by Geoff HackerMay 26, 2020
3

Hi Gang… Undiscovered Classics is not an individual effort.  It’s a collaborative, team effort that started before we got involved as folks like Fred Roth, Jean Poirier, Frank Cornell, Bill Hoover, John Gulow, Jon Greuel and others gathered information and … Continue reading →

Introducing LaDawri’s Lotus 11 Look-Alike – The Firestar Mark II

Posted on November 27, 2019 by Geoff HackerNovember 28, 2019
2

Hi Gang… Most people don’t know that LaDawri Coachcraft sold a body who’s design was inspired by the Lotus 11 sports/race car.  Les Dawes called it the “Firestar Mark II” – a very catchy name and evoked the space age … Continue reading →

Steve Miller’s 1960 LaDawri Sebring Featured in Reincarnation Magazine – October, 2019

Posted on November 22, 2019 by Geoff HackerNovember 22, 2019
3

Hi Gang… Great news!  The folks at Reincarnation Magazine did a superb job and featured some great photos and an excellent article on Steve Miller’s 1960 LaDawri Sebring.  The story and photos are by Joe Greeves and the finished product … Continue reading →

Fred Beraud’s LaDawri Conquest: Speed and Custom, September, 1961

Posted on January 5, 2015 by Geoff HackerMay 27, 2020
3

Hi Gang… Le’ts go Ladawri!  Conquest, that is… Here’s a great article about a car I’d love to find.  But Rick and I are finding too many out there gang.  Who wants to find this one? – it’s a beauty! … Continue reading →

1958 Savage Brochure – Sports/Custom Car by Jim Webb

Posted on October 19, 2014 by Geoff HackerMay 27, 2020
1

Hi Gang… Anything was possible in the 1950s concerning car design. It was early in 1958 when 17 year old Jim Webb showed his completed design – a custom sports car that debuted at the Oakland Roadster show, and won a top … Continue reading →

Jim Potter – The “Rock Star” Author of Fiberglass Specials: 1961 Trend Book “Restyle Your Car”

Posted on October 9, 2014 by Geoff HackerMay 31, 2020
4

It is interesting to note that there probably aren’t two identical Wildfires in existence today, simply because each builder customized his car the way he wanted to.  Therefore, you’ll find Buick Wildfires, Chevrolet Wildfires, Ford Wildfires, and a host of … Continue reading →

A Victress S1A Roadster (Mold) Is Born – Piece By Piece

Posted on September 5, 2014 by Geoff HackerMay 27, 2020
5

Hi Gang… One of the challenges we have here at Forgotten Fiberglass has to do with the very reason that the cars we study are so special – their rarity.  And because of this, the number of cars under restoration … Continue reading →

The Gilded Lily: Gene Koontz’ LaDawri Conquest Show Car

Posted on January 15, 2014 by Geoff HackerJune 3, 2020
4

Hi Gang… Today’s story is brought to us by good friend Chris Wolfe of Denver, Colorado.  Chris forwarded several magazine articles I’ve not seen before and it’s from his generosity that we owe our first story of his today.  Thank … Continue reading →

LaDawri Coachcraft’s First Catalog: The 1957 Conquest

Posted on March 31, 2013 by Geoff HackerMay 18, 2020
1

Hi Gang… Today is the latest installment of our series of stories on our quest to put all the ‘glass catalogs of the 50s and 60s online for everyone to enjoy. Les and Joan Dawes started their company in Canada … Continue reading →

Restored Victress C3 / LaDawri Castilian From Michigan – Where Are You???

Posted on March 31, 2013 by Geoff HackerMay 18, 2020
10

Hi Gang… Well…I’ve been looking for this car for 10 years and the trailer keeps getting colder and colder.   Back in 1954, Merrill Powell of Victess Manufacturing penned a beautiful design for a 94 inch wheelbase coupe and called it … Continue reading →

Denny’s Dream: The 1959 Corvette-LaDawri Special – A Head Turner in Every Way

Posted on March 29, 2013 by Geoff HackerMay 18, 2020
7

Hi Gang… Behind every unrestored fiberglass car lurks stories and possibilities – as creative and powerful as the mind can conceive.   You just have to have the courage to see what was and what can be again – and what … Continue reading →

Stan Mott And His “Cover Story” For The LaDawri Conquest: Road & Track, July 1957

Posted on March 31, 2012 by Geoff HackerMay 29, 2020
4

Hi Gang… Recently, we had the honor of presenting our 1957 LaDawri Conquest at the 2012 Amelia Island Concours d’ Elegance.  Click here to review the recent story about our experience with our car at the event.  But Amelia is … Continue reading →

La Dawri Coachcraft’s 1963 Catalog: A Feast For Your Fiberglass Eyes…

Posted on March 29, 2012 by Geoff HackerApril 28, 2020
17

Hi Gang… We think about Bill Devin offering the greatest amount of bodies for any fiberglass sports car manufacturer of its era.  They offered 27 different body sizes for various chassis, engine, and drivetrain combinations.  That’s quite a bit – isn’t … Continue reading →

The LaDawri Conquest Debuts in California: Road & Track Magazine, July 1957

Posted on March 27, 2012 by Geoff HackerMay 25, 2020
2

Hi Gang… Recently, we had the honor of presenting our 1957 LaDawri Conquest at the 2012 Amelia Island Concours d’ Elegance.  Click here to review the recent story about our experience with our car at the Concours.  It participated as … Continue reading →

The Glassmakers 1960: Part 3: La Dawri Coachcraft – (Sportscar Graphic: May-June 1960)

Posted on January 16, 2012 by Geoff HackerMay 25, 2020
5

————– Note:  This is the third in a series of articles here at Forgotten Fiberglass that showcase a story called “The Glassmakers 1960” published in Sportscar Graphic in May-June 1960.  In this 1960 article, Almquist, Devin, Kellison, LaDawri, and Victress were showcased.  We have … Continue reading →

LaDawri Logos Are Here!!! LaDawri Logos Are Here!!!

Posted on October 11, 2011 by Geoff HackerMay 26, 2020
2

Hi Gang… As I mentioned recently gang….we’ve not been idle here at Forgotten Fiberglass, of late.  In fact, today marks the next release of logos for each of the car marques within our vintage ‘glass entourage.  And today I’m pleased … Continue reading →

Meet The Conquest – The Second LaDawri Coachcraft Brochure of 1957

Posted on September 20, 2011 by Geoff HackerMay 25, 2020
Reply

Hi Gang… It’s 1957 and you’ve just turned 24 years old.  What do you want to do? Why not start a car company! That’s exactly what Les Dawes of Canada did, along with the support and participation with his new … Continue reading →

The Hillman LaDawri Daytona Special – A Car 50 Years In The Making

Posted on May 11, 2011 by Geoff HackerMay 26, 2020
4

Hi Gang… How many times do you get to talk to the original builder of one of our early specials?  Not very often, but with Jon Greuel’s help, I was able to locate Curtis Hillman and learn more about the … Continue reading →

LaDawri – Beauty That’s More Than Skin Deep! (Sportscar Graphic, June 1960)

Posted on April 3, 2011 by Geoff HackerMay 26, 2020
Reply

Hi Gang… Wow!  Full pages ads for fiberglass sports cars?  Simply amazing. By 1960, the second generation of fiberglass sports cars you could build yourself was beginning to take force in the industry.  Glasspar, Woodill, Allied, Venus, Grantham Stardust….these were … Continue reading →

Styled With Glass! – Jim Webb’s “Savage” Debuts in 1958

Posted on January 28, 2011 by Geoff HackerMay 27, 2020
2

Hi Gang… Where O where is Jim Webb of Berkeley? I’ve been searching for him and his family for many years now, and I’ve found everything but Jim.  Thanks to Hugh Nutting who was a friend of his, we have … Continue reading →

Let’s Design a LaDawri Castillian – and Maybe a Victress C3 Too! The Talented Designs of Keith Kaucher

Posted on January 18, 2011 by Geoff HackerMay 25, 2020
1

Hi Gang… Building a fiberglass sports car early in one’s life usually has long-term implications.  That’s what happened to Keith Kaucher when he first came across a LaDawri Castillian in shop class in the late 1970’s, and ultimately resulted in … Continue reading →

The LaDawri Conquest – Build a Conquest – Become a Conquestidor!

Posted on January 1, 2011 by Geoff HackerMay 26, 2020
Reply

Hi Gang… Happy New Year!  Let’s talk LaDawri ! And why not?  After all, finding the Dawes family in 2006 was what set Rick D’Louhy and me on the path of researching the early history of fiberglass cars.  And… we hope … Continue reading →

The Quest for Patents – LaDawri, Venus, Glasspar, Victress, and Others…

Posted on October 17, 2010 by Geoff HackerMay 22, 2020
Reply

Hi Gang… How many automobile designs do you know are patented / copyrighted?  Well….if you know at least “one” then you can add a few more to your list – some of our wonderful fiberglass cars of the 1950’s. Research … Continue reading →

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John Wayne brought his new Corvette to Victress for repair in 1953 – he could not find body shops that repaired fiberglass. Doc, Bill Powell, and I worked on it for about 2 weeks. Once done, Doc Boyce-Smith, founder of Victress Mfg, remarked Russ…if anyone calls about working on a Corvette…. tell em flat out no! The cars wont be around for long ..the way they construct their bodies. (note: early Corvettes had problems with consistency and quality fiberglass work).


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Geoff Hacker, Ph.D. has pursued rare and unusual cars for over 40 years. He is now the premier researcher, archivist and author of the history of handcrafted American sports cars. Hacker owns Undiscovered Classics which finds and restores these rare cars. Their work has led to multiple showings at prestigious concours events including Pebble Beach and Amelia Island. Undiscovered Classics work has been seen on television including Jay Leno’s Garage, AmeriCarna, and the “Barn Find Hunter.” Hacker’s work has been published extensively in both print and electronic media.

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