History of Sports Specials
Depending on the type of handcrafted car you are considering to buy, one or more of the articles below will help you learn what you need. These are comprehensive articles about postwar American handcrafted sports cars as well as hand-built American Sport Customs, and were published in concours programs from two of the finest concours in the world:
The Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance (2010 and 2015)
The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance (2012)
In addition, we’ve included a selection of vintage articles about sports specials from 1954 to 1983. These vintage articles give you some perspective on American Specials and handcrafted American sports cars as seen over the years.
The Emergence of the American Postwar Sports Car
The Greatest American Car Story NEVER Told: 10 pages
Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance Program: March, 2015
Affordable Style
The Short, Sweet Life of the American Sport Custom
Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance Program: August, 2012
Forgotten Fiberglass
American Sports Car Specials
Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance Program: March, 2010
Sports Specials
Old Cars Price Guide: Winter, 1983
One of the Earliest Publications That Discusses Value
“Specials” Were The Rock Stars of the ’50s
Time after Time, Magazine and Book Covers Celebrated These Cars
Buying A “Sportscar Special”
Modern Sports Car Series – 1957
It’s a nice “vintage” read from the era on one’s views of these cars
The Postwar “Do-It-Yourself” Phenomenon
How & Why People Built Their Own Sports Cars
Time Magazine: August 2, 1954