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StarLight Garage presents a classic gem who needs some attention in the world of forgotten cars. The LaDawri Conquest from 1957 a car with his roots in Canada.
With thanks for the research work done by CostasDrifter.
How the story of this car began?
After moving from Canada to the United States in 1957, the 24 year-old Lew Dawes and his wife Joan started their own car company, LaDawri Coachcraft. The LaDawri Conquest was designed in the Vancouver British Columbia area in 1956 by Les A. Dawes and first showed in the Pacific International Exhibition in 1956 as the Cavalier.
Within a year, the car, family and company moved to Long Beach, California, where production began and the car debuted on the front cover of Road and Track magazine in July of 1957. The Conquest was soon followed by other size models of the car as well as different models being offered such as the Daytona, Sebring, and Del Mar.
The body itself is fiberglass, designed to take a wheelbase of 100 to 104 inches and a tread of 56 to 58 inches, which covers Corvettes, Thunderbirds and the like of the day. LaDawri continued producing both cars and kits from 1957 through 1965 when operations ceased.
Les suggested purchases build their cars on 1950s Henry J chassis with the right 100-inch wheelbase, this 2,100 pound car features a 455 Olds V8 mounted far to the rear in its late 1970s shortened GM chassis giving it a true mid-front engine layout.
The LaDawri Company of Long Beach, California, was created be Les Dawes. The company is remembered for their work with fiberglass. They used the fiberglass to form elegant creations and bodies for sports and racing automobiles. The bodies were rigid, aerodynamic, and lightweight. There were 19 models available and popular with the kit car community.
The bodies were created to fit a wide range of vehicles. The wheelbase ranged from 76 to 120 inches and the length from 124 to 188 inches.
There were five sports car models available. There was a roll bar built into the frame and constructed to accept a windshield. Volkswagen, MG, and Austin-Healey's were the popular chassis to carry the bodies.
Business progressed rather well for a number of years. By the mid-1960s, the fortunes had changed as the kit car market was slowing down. Clark Adams, an aerospace engineer, steeped in to aid the struggling company. A universal body was created that could fit a wide variety of chassis.
By 1968, the company was forced to close their doors after suffering a major fire ... a sad end.
Specifications
Engine Location: Front
Engine Type : V8 7456 cc | 455.0 cu in. | 7.5 L.
Power: 360 BHP (264.96 KW)
Torque: 490 Ft-Lbs (664 NM)
Drive Type: Rear Wheel
Transmission: 4 Manual
Body / Chassis: Fiberglass
Weight: 952.544 kg (2100 lbs)
Maybe!
