22 Museum Sign One of the most prominent manufacturers of glass-fiber kit cars was Fiberfab. Their Jamaican was inspired by Italian designers Bertone, Pininfarina, and Scaglietti, and some believe it is the prettiest vehicle Fiberfab offered. This car is the first body off of the mold. Designed to fit the VW pan and some British 2-seater sports cars, eventually, it was offered with a made-up frame for the series II which allowed the fitment of a common V-8 engine. Fiberfab employee Russell Beebe designed what became the Jamaican. His brother Chris helped shape the lifesize buck. Chris found a “rolled” Austin Healey 3000 and used its chassis and running gear as the car’s foundation. In 1968, over the Christmas holidays, Chris drove roundtrip to Wisconsin and back for the car’s inaugural shakedown run. Mostly out of curiosity, he was stopped by police 14 times who questioned the car’s origin. Specifications • Engine: 176 cubic inches (2.9L) 1959 Austin Healey 6 cylinder • Output: 150 horsepower @ 5,250 rpm • Transmission: 4-Speed Manual with Overdrive • Wheelbase: 91.75 inches • Overall Length: 175 inches • Weight: 2,560 lbs. • Top Speed: 130 MPH • Production: 150 to 200 • Original Price: $275 (body only) • Manufacturer: Fiberfab, Designed by Russell and Chris Beebe
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