One of the first — and one of the most beautiful — classic kit cars is the LaDawri Conquest, released way back in 1956. The red completed car below is nabbed off Fiberglass Sports Cars, a wonderful resource on kit cars of this era including the LaDawri. This example is one of the very last bodies made by LaDawri, shipped Feb 8, 1965. Since then it’s hung for over forty years in a garage — the doors are still held in place by the original shipping fasteners! It’s located in Oklahoma City, OK, and is on eBay (#190284540396) with an opening bid of $800. Could be a neat opportunity for someone willing to put in the work to restore this car that has a special place in American car history alongside other kits like the Devin.
In Issaquah, Washington on eBay (#140298518422) right now is a first-generation VW-based Manta Montage kit car that looks like a nice base for someone to build a gorgeous vehicle from. The pan is unfortunately missing the title, so you’ll need to source a new title or otherwise re-register it, and the engine is not currently running — but it’s largely a complete car other than the rear window, which a buyer will need to fabricate out of lexan (one poster on the auction mentioned they’d done this for their Montage at a cost of about $70). The interior and electrical also need work. Nonetheless, the Montage is one of the nicest kit cars out there, and there are lots of little touches that make it look more “real” than most kits — to give you an example, look at the second-last photo, of the rear deck. The fact that the car has inner fenders goes a long way to keep it from looking cheap.
The owner — a recycling facility (junk yard?) — wasn’t sure what they had, but readers here will instantly recognize it as an Invader GT body shell, ready for mounting on a VW Beetle pan. The body is solid (the Invaders tended to be well made), and you can either pick it up in Port Orchard, Washington, or they can arrange shipping. It’s a no-reserve auction with an opening bid of $49.99 on eBay (#370154428938), so I’m guessing someone will get this one for almost nothing.
I’ve owned a couple Vettes, and I’ve mentioned my affinity for the Mako Shark in the past, but it was a real treat to see this obscure Fiberfab kit up for sale — a Centurion SS on a ‘58 Corvette chassis. Perhaps a dozen of these were made, so it’s very rare. Most (or perhaps all but this one) were made without a full windshield and with only a single rear hump. This car sat for thirty years in the garage of the father-in-law of the current seller, and I suspect this is the only time you’ll see this car for sale. You can write to Will at thingpilot@sebastiancorp.net or bid on the eBay auction (#200304513497). The car is located in Foresthill, California.
There’s an interesting DIY trike project up for sale on eBay right now (just about to end; #190281499267) in Sanford, Florida.
It’s described as 80% complete, and is powered by a 36×12V Sevcon PowerPak mated to an 84 volt D&D Sepex electric motor, with a 10 HP Carroll Motor Company diesel motor for hybrid running — the two engines are connected by a chain drive. It needs a new fuel pump and a linkage between the gas pedal and electric speed regulator, but other than that the driveline is complete. It’s got independent air suspension all around, and has an adjustable ride that sites between two and seven inches off the ground. The builder estimates that the car should get 216mpg, and it’s been tested at 35mph with an estimated top speed of 70mph.
Build diaries are online at www.tshtrikes.com.
Dom picked up an MBC/Embeesa Charger kit recently for the VW pan, so now he’s turned around and put the shell — which looks very clean and the perfect start for someone who’s looking to build one of these distinctive cars from scratch — up on eBay (#280303408504). The car is located in Wakefield, UK. The glass required for this kit is the rear glass (you’ll need two) from a Vauxhall Victor — other than that you’ll just need a VW Beetle donor and a lot of hard work.
I’m the current high bidder on this one, so how ’bout everyone ignore this entry.
My old tube-chassis Manta Montage was one of the nicest around, but this one that just hit eBay (#330300653568) in Brooklyn, NY is quite likely the nicest Manta Montage I’ve seen. And it’s been posted with no reserve, so nine days from now, someone is going to be very happy. It’s built on the Manta tube chassis with a 500 HP 455 V8 mounted to an automatic transmission and a rear end out of a Vette. Disc brakes all around, leather interior, tons of upgrades on the bodywork to make it look like a real McLaren M6GT, tilt steering, custom 3″ exhaust, lighted engine compartment, and more… the works. Seriously, this is the Montage to bid on. Like I said, I am.
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