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Fiberglass Sports Cars Byers
The Forgotten Era, 1950 - 1965

LaDawri Coachcraft
Long Beach, California 1957-1965

 

LaDawri Firestar

The Firestar was a Lotus 11-like body shell for the H-Modified racers or tiny street cars.  It was built from molds belonging to builder Ralph Starkweather, who leased them to LaDawri for a royalty on each one built.  It came with a built-in headrest (right-hand drive only) or for an extra $15 they would leave it off.  Initially available in several sections, the Mark II version was later offered as a simple, cheap one-piece shell. --Harold Pace--

I have enclosed a picture of what is believed to be a  and would like to know if it is indeed a Firestar. The car has been an SCCA H-Mod racer all its life. It is right hand drive, tube chassis, French Panhard 2 cylinder 850cc powered. The car appears to have been built in 1960 referencing a sales receipt that came with the car. The owner then was Gerald Ponder from Maryland, who sold it to Jared Ratcliff in Virginia in September 1961. The car is now currently owned by Robert Deull, Niagara Falls, NY and is being restored here in Geneseo, NY at my shop. Just thought you might like to know that one more is being brought back to life. The car is scheduled to run VSCCA events in Lime Rock, CT and Pittsburgh, PA next year.

 Thank you, William Barkley
panhard-usa@juno.com
Mon, 28 Jul 2003 10:46:04 -0400