1957 LaDawri Conquest

The LaDawri Company of Long Beach, California, was created by Les Dawes. The company is remembered for its work with fiberglass. They used 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 were the popular chassis to carry the bodies.

In the sports car body department, the bodies were called the Conquest and the Conquest GT. By the early 1960s, Dawes expanded his offerings by purchasing Victress race cars. Body molds were created, and the Victress S-1A became known as the LaDawri Vixen. The Victress S-5 became known as the LaDawri Cheetah. In 1963, Dawes worked a deal with Ralph Starkweather to produce the LaDawri Firestar MKII.

The business progressed rather well for several years. By the mid-1960s, the fortunes had changed as the kit car market was slowing down. Clark Adams, an aerospace engineer, stepped in to aid the struggling company. A universal body was created that could fit a wide variety of chassis. The resulting product was dubbed the LaDawri Formula Libre.

By 1968, the company was forced to close its doors after suffering a major fire.

by Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2007