Rare barn find in Illinois accidentally revived a long-forgotten American car legacy
Published on Oct 14, 2025 at 10:35 AM (UTC+4)
by Molly Davidson
Last updated on Oct 14, 2025 at 12:55 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
Something amazing just rolled out of an old garage in Illinois, and it’s not your average rusty junker.
It’s bright red, covered in dust, and looks like something a superhero would’ve driven in the 1950s.
At first glance, you might think it’s an old Corvette. But it’s not.
This car is way rarer – built before most people even knew what a sports car was.
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The rare Victress S1A Roadster barn find
The mystery car turned out to be a 1954 Victress S1A Roadster, one of the earliest American sports cars made from fiberglass.
It was uncovered in Downers Grove, Illinois, by Vintage Cycle Garage Exclusive, who listed it online after decades in hiding.
Under the hood sits an Oldsmobile Rocket V8, the same powerhouse that once ruled the drag strip.
The chassis underneath is all custom tubing and clever engineering, complete with a De Dion rear setup and inboard brakes that were space-age tech for their time.
And the best part?
The car’s been left exactly as it was when it was abandoned, dust, dents, and all.
It’s now listed for $48,000, which feels almost unfair for something that looks like it just drove straight out of a mid-century dream.
The long-forgotten car story this fiberglass sports car brought back
Victress Manufacturing was born in early ’50s California, when two visionaries, Doc Boyce-Smith and Merrill Powell, decided to change the rules.
They built fiberglass bodies that anyone could buy, bolt to a chassis, and turn into their own sports car.
For a few years, Victress became the symbol of a new kind of American car culture.
One where innovation didn’t need a factory, just imagination and elbow grease.
But by the 1960s, the manufacturer had been absorbed by LaDawri Coachcraft, and the Victress name quietly disappeared.
Until now.
This forgotten fiberglass sports car has dragged that name back into the light.
A reminder that America’s car story didn’t start in factories, but in garages filled with fiberglass dust and big ideas.
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Molly Davidson is a Junior Content Writer at Supercar Blondie. Based in Melbourne, she holds a double Bachelor’s degree in Arts/Law from Swinburne University and a Master’s of Writing and Publishing from RMIT. Molly has contributed to a range of magazines and journals, developing a strong interest in lifestyle and car news content. When she’s not writing, she’s spending quality time with her rescue English staffy, Boof.
