Fiberfab History Video

[propayne]

I've always found Fiberfab fascinating.

Can't speak to the accuracy of this video, but worth a watch, as this centers around their GT40 inspired offerings.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBA8gIIUI_8

- Phillip

[propayne]

Interesting that founder/owner Bud Goodwin named one of Fiberfab's most attractive offerings, the Jamaican after his wife.

In this vintage pic of a Jamaican, you'll notice that it has the notorious Rader wheels. Seems Rader made a four lug version specifically for the Austin-Healey, which the Jamaican body was designed to fit on.

- Phillip

[WT6066-2600]

In the mid-1970s, someone that I worked with bought one of the GT40 Fiberfab Avenger bodies that was set up for the VW pan and drivetrain.  I remember going to junkyards for parts and particularly removing a Mustang fastback rear glass for him.  As the video states, instructions were essentially nonexistent that required DIY fabrication and made progress very slow.  He left for another job, and I never knew if he finished the car.

While I thought he was crazy for trying to build the car, I later bought a fiberglass dune buggy body which also came without assembly instructions but was much less complicated.  Buggy was built on a shortened 1959 VW bug pan. Thanks for video and memories it brought back.

[tesgt350]

Back in the early 90,s, I took a Avenger 95% completed in on Trade.  It was Tagged and Registered so it was driven.  It had a 180HP Turbo Corvair Motor in it, I never heard it run though.  I sold the Motor out of it for about 5 Times what I had in it then sold the rest for about 3 times what I had in it so I made out like a Bandit on it.

[98SVT - was 06GT]

I had a GT12 (learned that from the video). It was built on a VW pan. They used 2 long pieces of 3" channel bolted to the pan. The nose and tail were mounted to those with gate hinges. Bought it for $800 got it running (battery - clean carb) and sold it for $1,200 a few months later.

When I heard Goodwin I thought of this guy: LOS ANGELES, Jan 4 (Reuters Life!) - More than 18 years after car racing legend Mickey Thompson and his wife were shot to death outside their Los Angeles area home, a former business partner was convicted on Thursday of their murders.
Michael Goodwin, who had long been suspected of orchestrating the March, 1988 killings of Mickey and Trudy Thompson over a business dispute, was found guilty of two counts of murder after a six-week trial.

[FL SAAC]

I've always found Fiberfab fascinating.

Can't speak to the accuracy of this video, but worth a watch, as this centers around their GT40 inspired offerings.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBA8gIIUI_8

- Phillip

Great story, thanks for sharing

[csxsfm]

At one point Fiberfab briefly rented warehouse space in Sacramento - late 60's or early 70's. It was next door to my father's business. The smell of fiberglass resin was horrendous. He and his business neighbors were happy when Fiberfab moved out.

[propayne]

[98SVT - was 06GT]

Yep - mine was silver, door and back glass was plexi. I didn't have the headlight covers either. Those VW bolt pattern 5 spokes are probably worth a small fortune today.

[tesgt350]

Mine looked just like the GT-12 but the Body was one piece except for a Hinged Panel on the Rear to access the Engine.

[crossboss]

In the early 1980s, there was an Avenger GT-12 near my house. It was sitting there for years. One day I stopped, and knocked on the door. I asked if it was for sale. We looked at the car. The guy said $4,000 dollars. I almost choked. Said, 'thank you' and left. Around 1985/6 it was gone...Heard rumors the guy passed away, the car and house was sold. Thats my adventure with one...

[98SVT - was 06GT]

In the early 1980s, there was an Avenger GT-12 near my house. It was sitting there for years. One day I stopped, and knocked on the door. I asked if it was for sale. We looked at the car. The guy said $4,000 dollars. I almost choked. Said, 'thank you' and left. Around 1985/6 it was gone...Heard rumors the guy passed away, the car and house was sold. Thats my adventure with one...

There was a Renault powered Lotus Europa near me. Same story the guy wanted 5 grand. One day I was driving past and saw a Uhaul so I stopped and asked about the Lotus. The guy had died and the kids were cleaning the place out. $750 got me the Lotus.

[J_Speegle]

Thanks for posting. Knew the story well guess it made sense to focus on their most successful models as there were many different models and parts made.

[propayne]

Here is a cool photo the "honker" sent me of a Valkyrie sitting at a VW dealer.

- Phillip

[JD]

'59 Pontiac tail lights