Showcase: 1952 Victress S1A | Undiscovered Classics

Showcase
1952 Victress S1A – Motor Trend Victress
Owner: Guy Dirkin, Clermont, Florida

Trend Inc., Building: Circa 1954

History of This Car

When Fred Bodley started building his Victress in 1953, little did he know that it would ultimately represent the best of what American handcrafted cars were meant to be in the early postwar years. And this car and its history was nearly lost – save for a few lucky opportunities of chance.

Victress S1A roadsters were beautiful sports cars and with Trend Publishing headquarters located close to where the cars were manufactured, Bodley had easy access to learn more. In 1953 a Victress sports car set the world speed record at just over 200 mph at Bonneville, giving Victress the chance to advertise their car as “America’s fastest sports car body.” Perhaps it was for this reason that he chose this body for his sports car.

You had many engine choices in 1953, but the most popular engine for American sports cars at the time was a Ford V8 Flathead – a fact nearly lost to time.

Technical Specifications

Build Dates

Engine

Transmission

Wheelbase

Vintage Photos Showing Victress Inside Building / Showroom

Modern Photos

Articles To Read

Sports Cars Displayed In The First Building of Trend Inc.
Undiscovered Classics: Coming Soon

The Petersen Photo Archives
Rodder’s Journal: Winter, 2017

Corvette In The Barn
The Lost Motor Trend Victress Special
Story Author: Guy Dirkin
Tom Cotter: Published 2010

The “Rise” of the The Lost Motor Trend Victress
Undiscovered Classics: February 4, 2010

Saving the “Motor Trend Victress Special”
Undiscovered Classics: November 29, 2009

Victress: Fred Bodley, Memoriam
Motor Trend, 1955

Additional Information

Click Here To Learn More about Victress Sports Cars

Click Here To Read More Stories About the Motor Trend Victress

Victress Advertisements: 1955

Motor Trend Magazine: December, 1955

Motor Trend: April, 1955

Chuck Glover Remembers
Chuck Was….Worked for Motor Trend

Audio Interviews

Bob D’Olivio

Donovan Fell

Jim Sitz

Chuck Glover

Victress Brochure: 1955
Featuring Fred Bodley’s Victress S1A Roadster

Click Here To View 1955 Victress Brochure
Three Photos Of Car Shown Inside Brochure

Who Was Fred Bodley

Auto Speed and Sport: August, 1952

How Car Was Found And Research Came Together

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Restoration Videos

Robert Nord on The Quarter Midgets Are Here! The Viking Craft Quarter Midgets Are Here! (1955)Hi Butch, We raced together at the original Firestone track in Norwalk along with your
BigRedRivi on Chris Woodside’s 1955 Lincoln FuturaWell we know that sometimes life gets in the way and I guess it's been
Jim Montgomery on 1953 Maverick Sportster Nearing CompletionWhat is the blue "tank" sitting in the floorboard area? This is one beautiful automobile.
Francisco on The 1969 Gazelle / Amante GT (Hebina Plastics / Voegele Industries)It is very rare, it is a car, I have it in blue and I
Clyde on 1953 Grantham Stardust Restoration BeginsGreat too see another. What type power are you going with? Would love to see
Steven S. Lamb on The Lost 1937 Arrowhead Teardrop Car – Perhaps Not So Lost After AllWow. I am actually starting drawings to make a copy........And up pops this article
Rod Packwood on 1952 Glasspar G2 Restoration BeginsNice work! Appreciate the effort was made to keep the power train period correct! Always
Leon Dixon on “Second Star to the Right….And Straight On ‘Till Morning:” Introducing the 1957 Galileo SpecialMore of the usual fabulous automotive history and cars from Geoff! Two quick comments: 1.)
Marty Martino on 1953 Maverick Sportster Nearing CompletionI've been a long time fan of the Roth's green Maverick , but Wow ,this
Roger F Shanzer on 1953 Maverick Sportster Nearing CompletionCan't wait to see this fabulous Maverick finished. We had communicated several years ago about

Geoff Hacker on Questions To The Editor@ Jeffrey - Not all cars are mine and some stories I write are just
Geoff Hacker on Questions To The Editor@ Doug - love to do it. Hopefully in coming years. Most new models are
Geoff Hacker on Questions To The Editor@ Andrew - send me an e-mail about what you want to buy and I'll
andrew on Questions To The Editorhow do I purchase a scale model? could not find anything that links to a
Doug Ward on Questions To The EditorGeoff, How about a 1:24 scale model of Alton Johnson's LeMans coupe ? In red.
jeffrey gamble on Questions To The EditorGeoff,,, why no asking prices? Hate begging for for sale price.
Geoff Hacker on Questions To The EditorJames...send all photos to me at Geoffrey.Hacker@Gmail.com Then let's do a story and hit our
James de Reus on Questions To The EditorYES WHEN I WAS A CHILD, BORN IN 48 MY DAD AT THE TIME WAS
Geoff Hacker on Questions To The EditorHi Gang...post any questions you may have not related to a story in this area.