True American sports cars were rare in the early 1950s. Just about the only way to own one was to build one. Lean, muscular bodywork was sought, but few choices were available. Two men made it their goal to help the custom American sports car lover. In 1951 or 1952, William “Doc” Boyce-Smith and Hugh Jorgenson collaborated to form the Victress Manufacturing Company. Their goal was to produce sports car bodies that could “out Jag the Jag.” The fiberglass Victress S1A body was their first offering.
Another set of gentlemen—brothers Guy and Joe Mabee, of Midland, Texas—was famous for fast cars and sponsorship of up-and-coming drivers like young Carroll Shelby. The Mabees wanted an American racecar that could compete both on the track and the salt flats, so they hired Denny Larson to create one. The project began by mating a 1952 S1A body to a custom chrome-moly chassis. Ray Brown built a 331 cubic-inch Chrysler Hemi with a Chet Herbert cam, Hilborn injection, and a Harmon-Collins magneto. Power was delivered through a top-loader three-speed into a Halibrand rear end. The “Mabee Special” was driven to a record 203.105 mph at Bonneville in 1953. Over time, it was an SAC/SCCA road racing contender, competitive in the quarter-mile drags and even at Pikes Peak.
Joe Mabee drove the Mabee Special to a 203.105 mph record at Bonneville in 1953. THE ROBINSON COLLECTION
The Mabees sold the Victress in 1955, and it was the first of many new owners for the Special. It was totaled during a 1960 road race on the Ascarate course in El Paso. The original S1A shell was destroyed, so that particular owner had the car rebuilt with a one-off aluminum body and then continued to race it in competition. Then the car disappeared in 1965.
When Bruce Gross rediscovered the car in 1983, a one-off aluminum body had replaced the ruined original S1A unit. THE ROBINSON COLLECTION
Almost 20 years later, in 1983, Bruce Gross found the car’s remains on a ranch in Mexico. He wasn’t exactly sure what it was, but he knew it was unique and needed to be rescued. It took Bruce 10 years to convince the current owner to sell, but eventually he was successful. He trailered it over the border and stored it behind his business in El Paso.
In 1998, Jim and Lea Ann Robinson were vacationing in southern Texas. They noticed the car behind a commercial building and were able to learn a bit about its colorful history. With their interest piqued, they were pleasantly surprised to be able to negotiate its purchase.
Now it was time to restore the Mabee Special. The five-year restoration began by locating a donor car with a restorable S1A body. The Robinsons befriended a man named Denny Larson, who helped verify their car’s authenticity. They met with Ray Brown and found another 1952 Hemi to rebuild the Special to its proper specifications. The car needed a transmission, and a Chevy T-10 was selected. The Halibrand rear end was converted to 4.10 gears to improve drivability. The four corners were outfitted with 6.50x16-inch Firestones installed on Halibrand knock-offs. Jim Robinson completed the bodywork and paint, and Ed Dickson recreated the lettering.
The restored Mabee Special has attended multiple Concours d’Elegance events nationwide and was displayed at Bonneville for the 50th anniversary of its speed record. The Robinsons are quick to acknowledge all those who played a role in its heritage. In particular, they hope that Guy and Joe Mabee are proud of the car’s continuing legacy.