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The
Byers body is generally recognized as one of the most attractive
small production fiberglass bodies from the 1950’s. The medium of
fiberglass allowed creative individuals the opportunity to fulfill
their design interests, relatively inexpensively when compared to
previous production methods. The creativity and enthusiasm of the
small fiberglass car manufacturer had a ripple effect in the
automotive industry. New shapes and lines could be toyed with at
will.
The
Byers body did not set design precedents in a way that Kellison did,
for example, with his J4 and J5 coupes. The Byers, however, did
bring credibility to what could be achieved from the small
manufacture. The February 1957 edition of Road and Track featured a
Byers bodied car on the cover and a two page article inside. Road
and Track asked: is this the “world’s most beautiful sports car?”
There is no need to debate this point with many other contenders for
the title, but, to be even suggested to be in such elite company is
a tremendous tribute.
The
classic status of the Byers is strong. However, the rarity of
finished, high quality, examples, has failed to bring consistent
recognition. As high quality examples emerge and gain they have the
potential to increase significantly in value. |
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Wrong! |
According to the founders of
Victress, (Merrill Powell and the wife of Doc Boyce-Smith, Pat
Boyce-Smith) and Joan Dawes, (wife of Les Dawes, LaDawri founder), the Byers SR-100 molds were never sold to nor manufactured by
Victress or LaDawri. They were, however, in the later Kellison
catalogs.
--Jon Greuel / Geoff Hacker--Jan '07 |
 
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