Triumph Inside: 1963 LaDawri Del Mar

, , , , 3

This next piece of old fiberglass is a real oddity. A unicorn among pegasuses (pegasi?). It is a LaDawri coach built body sitting on top of a Triumph TR4 chassis and it exudes ’60s vibe like a Fender Stratocaster, floral print curtains, and Barbara Bouchet all mashed into a bakelite statue. We’ve featured one La Dwari before, but there aren’t many around. Find this 1963 LaDawri Del Mar offered for $3900 (with a new restored chassis) in Virginia Beach, VA via Triumphexp forums. Tip from Kester.

From the seller:

REVISED 07 July – 1963 LaDawri Del Mar (body only or body & chassis):

Body (only) New Price!, $1600 or best offer

OR Body & Restored Chassis, New Price! $3900 OBO.

From a 20-year slumber in a heated garage in Minnesota.

First plan is to sell the body, keep the chassis – but will consider selling as a package.
The Del Mar is the model for a small chassis (~88-92” wheelbase). Complete car only weighs about 1500-1600 lbs, depending on engine.

These bodies were produced in California from the mid-50s until 1965 by LaDawri-Coachcraft, started by Les Dawson; see:
https://www.undiscoveredclassics.com/forgotten-fiberglass/forgotten-fiberglass-generations-1-2-3/generation-2-1956-1970/1956-2/ladawri-coachcraft/

Body Details:
· New, primed TR floor pans included, but not installed ($450 new);
· TR3 fuel tank in good shape;
· Like-New windshield glass (hard to find Vauxhall item) and trim included, but not installed;
· Taillights are ’50 Pontiac;
· Needs doors mounted up, has TR3 hinges and the hinge posts are bonded on to the body;
· Hood and trunk are hinged/latched;
· Needs some flat chassis adapter plates to bolt to the chassis of your choice;
· Only major holes in TR3 pan at the back of seat area (see pics) – about 4” square;
· Trunk and firewall and door pillars are all solid;
· Upon sale of body only, I will create a wood cradle with casters to easily roll it on to your flatbed trailer.

This particular example comes bonded to a TR3 tub, which definitely needs some work.

Chassis Details:
1963 TR4, solid-axle chassis has been fully restored, painted, and comes with:

  • Rebuilt trans and driveshaft;
  • New wheel cylinders, pads, shoes and lines;
  • Rebuilt rack & pinion and front end; all new rubber bushings, tie rods and trunnions, king pins;
  • New TR4 floor pans included, but not installed.

It was purchased coincidentally in Virginia Beach by the PO about 20 years ago, and was kept in a heated garage all this time, having been off the road. The fiberglass is in pretty good shape because the engineer had a two-car garage addition built onto his existing two-car garage; in the back portion he had in-floor heat added when they laid the cement.

See a better way to drive a fibercorn? tips@dailyturismo.com