I don’t do car shows very much, because of all the people. No, I’m not that misanthropic. It’s just that they’re always in the way for taking pictures. And its too hot; I’d rather be in the woods taking a dip. And they’re not at the curb. But we did drop in Sunday for a quick perusal of the Cottage Grove Concours (no, it ain’t Pebble Beach), and I’ll share a few finds, like this LaDawri Conquest. Yes, the fifties were the golden era of fiberglass dreams incarnated.
The Conquest isn’t exactly the most original design, but in some respects it comes off decently for an amateurish job.
Looks like this is a fair-weather California mobile, with no provision for a top of any sort.
Here’s the details. No mention of whether this was intended as a one-off, or there were hopes of some production. Given what a hard time the Corvette had in its early years making sales targets, I assume that must have blunted any hopes for production.
Wanna fill in some historical gaps? Try Geoff Hacker’s web site forgottenfiberglass.com.
Specifically, this blog post is pretty interesting: http://www.forgottenfiberglass.com/?p=11382
What car from 1957 wouldn’t have just had a standard single sealed beam headlight? What (period) car could these lights W/ a integrated turn signal have come from?
The car in the ad at Forgotten Fiberglass just has ordinary sealed beams, and no turn signals. Not required back then? Turn signals weren’t amber until the mid-60s anyway. Maybe these are modern lights to make the car legal today.
That’s what I was going to say too. In an open car like this, you would have just used hand signals, which folks still recognized back then.
The (no doubt appearing here soon) Elva at that show belongs to an acquaintance of mine here on the other side of the mountains. I was too busy bolting on my half-shaft with new U-joints to make that show.
I’d take that over any Corvette ever built. Absolutely beautiful lines, and that dash with the wraparound is an exquisite detail.
Anyone know what car the rear bumpers were from?