Topic: Solved - NEH 4529: Phoenix Shrike VW-powered kit-car

[Paul Jaray]

That is the Phoenix Shrike then! I've never seen it but I know its story...I'll post it soon (I wasn't that far with my Sandpiper guess...same guys that built this, later built a VW-powered buggy!)

[Carnut]

Two bird names in one car!
Look forward to the story.

[Paul Jaray]

Don Haskin and Max Becker established Phoenix Automotive and in 1966-1967 developed the Shrike, a kit car based on the full size VW 1600 Squareback/Fastbach chassis. Only four were made. They later sold VW glassfiber parts with their Intac Inc., (The Bug House, Studio City, California) in 1967-1968 and finally with KDM (North Hollywood), Don Haskin designed the Bushwhacker buggy, that was immediately copied by Sand Chariots and became the famous Ocelot SS.

[Carnut]

A bigger version of one of the images posted by Wendax, courtesy of Getty Images:

[BushWhackDave]

YES the Shrike GT designed by my father Don Haskin in 1966 before the other kit car made by North American Fiberglass used the name. Eddie Sachs had an Indy car called Shrike in 64' originally. My dad's Shrike GT kitcar was styled after the 65' Ferrari 250 LM and used a square-back VW for its running gear which came with a flat dual carb 1600 motor stock. Unfortunately only 4 were made before partners in the company fought and the project went south. I have been searching for them for decades and there was a rumour all four examples were destroyed out of anger over a soured business deal and jealousy because it was better looking than 90% of kit cars trying to be a Ford GT with bad proportions. The front of the Shrike GT looks like a modern day Porsche 911 and the Shrike GT windshield was in fact from the early 911. My Dad went on to design the Bushwhacker Dune Buggy becoming the 7th largest carmaker in the US in 1968 after producing over 500 buggies used in resort areas as rental cars. If anyone has any information on a surviving example of a Shrike GT- PLEASE contact me! Thanks car people - Dave Haskin bluuwav@aol.com