I realize that this is an old thread, but I came across it while doing some research. I happen to have some familiarity with this car, having seen it raced at Sears Point. I was working in the pits that day on another car and went over and talked with the driver and crew. The car left a huge impression on me - not only astonishingly fast, but really beautiful, to boot. I am still kind of obsessed with it!
The car is a PBS Mk-2. It started out in H-modified, which became HSR (H Sports Racing) and then DSR (D Sports Racing) during an era of tumultuous change in SCCA classes and rules. It was also known as the PBS GT-2, which I think is the name they were using when I saw the car. It had a highly modified Fiat 850 engine, producing about 85-90 bhp, and, according to page 109 of "Vintage Road Racing Cars, 1950-1959" by Harold Pace,* it weighed about 740 pounds. (Yikes!) Two things to note in the photo: (1) it's in front of all the other cars and (2) that "huge" car behind it is a Triumph Spitfire. Man, this thing was TINY! And absolutely gorgeous. The picture just doesn't do the car justice. (Oh, and did I mention, it had gullwing doors!)
"PBS" stood for the owners, Paul and Bob Swenson. Bob died two years ago at the age of 81 in a dune buggy accident. PBS Engineering is still in business, making competition and off-road parts.
I'm not sure what article woodinsight sent to the questioner, but here's a little more info for anyone else who might be interested:
The body is indeed a LaDawri Formula Libre and was designed by Clark Adams. (I'm still not clear whether Adams was working for LaDawri or PBS at the time.) Two bodies were built for PBS. One of the cars was raced by Bob Swenson for many years, including the 1968 AARC, where it dnf'ed due to a broken suspension piece. It was sold and heavily modified. When PBS was later asked to restore it, it had been so heavily modified that they had to put a different body on it. The other car was raced and then sold to a collector in Japan and is still in recognizable condition. (I wish I knew where!)
There is an article on LaDawri at Wikipedia.* I quote: "in 1965, the last body introduced was the Formula Libre, with front or mid-engined layout. LaDawri offered to adapt it to take any running gear that the customer chose. At least two bodies were laid up for PBS racing. One of the cars is rumored to have been shipped to Japan. After the company closed, Les used the Formula Libre molds to build one prototype called the Vendetta. He built the car on a VW chassis for production in Canada. On a trip back from Canada the car was destroyed and Les was injured when a semi-truck driver fell asleep at the wheel and ran over the towed car." Apparently, the company was already struggling financially, and went out of business shortly thereafter.
Also, FWIW, from the crash photos,* the Vendetta appears to have had headlights. I'm not sure about the gullwing doors or even if it was still a coupe.
So yes, the car here is a PBS Mk-2/GT-2 DSR/HSR/H-modified with a LaDawri Formula Libre body that became the basis for the Vendetta prototype. From all anyone can seem to recall, the only two bodies FL bodies were made for PBS, and the only Vendetta body was destroyed in the crash. Such a shame - it was a really beautiful car!
* Links:
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