1956 Almquist Sabre

While mainstream automobile manufacturers concentrated their efforts on meeting the pent-up demand as America emerged from World War II, a steady stream of creative hot rodders offered performance equipment. One such company was Almquist Engineering, founded by Ed Almquist in 1946. Its catalog offered a variety of performance parts and custom accessories, allowing motor enthusiasts to enhance the performance of their vehicle or build something unique.

Harry Heim, a friend of Ed Almquist, had designed and built a fiberglass sports car through his company Clearfield Plastics, of Clearfield, Pennsylvania. In 1955, it made its debut at a Watkins Glen show. Impressed with the design, Ed Almquist agreed to market these bodies nationally.

The Speedster design was intended for vehicles with a 100-inch wheelbase, while the Sabre rested atop a 94-inch wheelbase platform. Additional bodies followed in the late 1950s and early 1960s called the Thunderbolt and El Morocco. The small footprint made them suitable for Fiat or Crosley chassis, among others.

Design features included deep side coves, and a smooth body devoid of edges, door handles, or obstructions. Buyers had the option of selecting fender-mounted headlights.

Production of these fiberglass bodies continued into the mid-1960s, ending as the fiberglass body popularity faded.

by Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2023