History of Sports Specials

History of Sports Specials

Depending on the type of handcrafted car you are considering to buy, one or more of the articles below will help you learn what you need.  These are comprehensive articles about postwar American handcrafted sports cars as well as hand-built American Sport Customs, and were published in concours programs from two of the finest concours in the world:

The Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance (2010 and 2015)

The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance (2012)

In addition, we’ve included a selection of vintage articles about sports specials from 1954 to 1983.  These vintage articles give you some perspective on American Specials and handcrafted American sports cars as seen over the years.


The   Emergence  of  the  American  Postwar  Sports  Car
The Greatest American Car Story NEVER Told: 10 pages
Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance Program: March, 2015


Affordable  Style
The Short, Sweet Life of the American Sport Custom
Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance Program: August, 2012


Forgotten  Fiberglass
American Sports Car Specials
Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance Program: March, 2010


Sports  Specials
Old Cars Price Guide: Winter, 1983
One of the Earliest Publications That Discusses Value


“Specials”  Were  The  Rock  Stars  of  the  ’50s
Time after Time, Magazine and Book Covers Celebrated These Cars


Buying  A  “Sportscar  Special”
Modern Sports Car Series – 1957
It’s a nice “vintage” read from the era on one’s views of these cars


The  Postwar  “Do-It-Yourself”  Phenomenon
How & Why People Built Their Own Sports Cars
Time Magazine: August 2, 1954