For Sale
1961 LaDawri Firestar
Rare Lotus 11 Clone
— Build Yourself a Sports or Race Car To Your Liking —
This Car
The LaDawri Firestar body was based on a Lotus 11 design
It’s one of the few fiberglass bodied Lotus 11 clones available worldwide – most are aluminum and much more expensive
Approximately 5 bodies were produced
The unbuilt body (perhaps the last unbuilt LaDawri Firestar body) sits on a race-modified Crosley chassis
Build yourself a race car or a sports car – or both!
The car is located in Tampa, Florida
Car is titled in Florida
Price: $4,900
Contact Geoff Hacker at (813) 888-8882 or Geoffrey.Hacker@gmail.com
Description
In the late 1950s, Ray Starkweather set out to build a sports car with a design inspired by the Lotus 11 and the rest purely American. His finished racecar, the Starkweather Special, became well-known in southern California racing circles. The story of how and why it was built was published in the March/April, 1960 issue of Sports Car Graphic shown below in the photos. Photos of the restored Starkweather car are also shown in this ad.
Les Dawes of LaDawri Coachcraft acquired by lease or purchase Ray Starkweather’s molds and offered the body to the public with a new name – the LaDawri Firestar Mark II. Approximately 5 bodies were produced from 1961 to 1965, and this is the last known unbuilt LaDawri Firestar body.
This Car
This unbuilt fiberglass LaDawri Firestar body sits on a vintage Crosley chassis that had been modified for racing.
Additional Detail
Condition: Unrestored
Concours Embraced: American handcrafted specials have been welcomed across the country, and in recent years this has expanded to rallys, special exhibitions and more. What drives interest in these cars is the unique design and history of the build – in every case a story that is a “one of one.” Since 2007, major concours such as Amelia and Pebble Beach have held classes of these cars on several occasions, and both the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance and the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance have featured classes of these cars in 2023 and 2024.
Auction Results / Comparable Sales: Click Here To View Auction Results For American Specials
Hagerty Valuation Guide: Click Here To View Hagerty Valuation Guide
Modern Photos
Vintage Brochure, Ads and Photos
Terms
Transportation costs and arrangements from Tampa, Florida to buyer’s location are the responsibility of the buyer. This car is being advertised locally and we reserve the right to end the auction at any time. Although every effort is made to present accurate and reliable information, use of this information is voluntary, and should only be deemed reliable after an independent review of its accuracy, completeness, and timeliness. It is the sole responsibility of the customer to verify the existence of options, accessories and the vehicle condition before time of sale. Any and all differences must be addressed prior to time of sale. No expressed or implied warranties, including the availability or condition of the equipment listed is made. Full payment via electronic/bank transfer is due no later than 7 days from the end of the auction.