Registry: 1960 Triumph TR3

This is a 1960’s LaDawri Del Mar fiberglass bodied car on a Triumph TR3 chassis with a Triumph TR3 engine, transmission, and running gear. It has a TR3 1,991cc inline four cylinder engine with dual SU carburetors, and a four speed manual gearbox. The TR3 is fitted with 15” painted wire wheels. The car has front disc bakes and rear drum brakes. The odometer shows 3446 miles, however actual mileage is unknown. All lights, horn, and gauges are operational except for the gas gauge which is not connected. A 10 gallon fuel cell is located in the trunk.
La Dawri Coachcraft was founded by Leslie Albert Dawes in British Columbia, Canada in 1956 and is credited with making Canada's first fiberglass car, the La Dawri Cavalier. The company moved to the United States in 1957 where it became one of the largest fiberglass sports car body companies during the rebody/specials craze of the 1950s and 1960s. The company ceased operations in 1965. Its name came from a combination of Les A Dawes and his friend Don Wright. In 1957 the company moved to Long Beach and later Los Alamitos, California. The Cavalier, renamed Conquest, was featured on the cover of Road & Track magazine in July 1957. Soon, Dawes expanded both the number of designs available and the sizes of each design as well. New models included Q.T. Quest, Daytona, Sebring, and this car, the Del Mar. Around 1960, Dawes again expanded the lineup of available designs by acquiring a competing car company called Victress, and the models in its inventory. These cars became known as the Cheetah, Vixen, Castilian, Sicilian, and Cavalier. LaDawri continued with car production producing both cars and kits from 1957 through 1965 when operations ceased. For more information on LaDawri Coachcraft cars and history, Gnd eoffrey Hacker has an awesome web site about LaDawris and other 50’s-60’s fiberglass cars and more on his website. (undiscoveredclassics.com)
LaDawri designed the Del Mar model to accommodate smaller British car chassis such as the Triumph TR3, MG, and Austin Healey. The Del Mar appears to be one of the rarest La Dawri models since design and production didn’t start until the 1960-61 years.
Recent work includes tearing down the front end and replacing the upper control arm bushings and ball joints, removed the steering link assembly and replaced the idler arm and pitman bushing pin set with racing-type nylon bushings, built and replaced the right front caliper and piston seals on both front brakes, and a front end alignment. A fluids change and lube were also performed.
This LaDawri Del Mar starts, runs, drives, and stops great. It’s definitely not a perfect concourse car, however, always get thumbs up and interest at car shows and gatherings. No doubt you will be the only one to own a LaDawri Del Mar on your block. The LaDawri has a clear California title and is registered as a ’74. I am available to provide additional photos and am open to reasonable offers.