Fiberglass Reverie - In the golden age of American car culture, Southern California stood as the epicenter of creativity, where garages became laboratories and builders turned into legends. This vibrant backdrop gave rise to many remarkable machines, but few capture the artistry and spirit of the era quite like the 1954 Sorrell-Manning Special. Born from the hands of a craftsman who saw car bodies as sculptures rather than shells, this one-of-a-kind roadster is more than a piece of metal and fiberglass — it's a rolling tribute to one man's vision and determination.
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| The 1954 Sorrell-Manning Special, one of seven SR-100 bodies but the only one that never left Bob Sorrell’s shop, remained a personal project with him for life. (Picture from: Hemmings) |
Bob Sorrell wasn't just a fabricator; he was an artist fluent in the language of curves and chrome. His early sketches came to life in aluminum and later fiberglass, culminating in designs that stunned the automotive world. When his sleek SR-100 sports racer first appeared at the 1953 Petersen Motorama, the reaction was electric. That moment sparked a new chapter in Sorrell’s career — he would offer a fiberglass version of the SR-100 to eager enthusiasts. Of the seven bodies made, one was different. One never left his shop. That car was the 1954 Sorrell-Manning Special — a personal project that would remain with Sorrell for the rest of his life.
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| The 1954 Sorrell-Manning Special, designed and built by Bob Sorrell, reflects the work of not just a fabricator but an artist fluent in the language of curves and chrome. (Picture from: Hemmings) |
Operating from a modest shop in Inglewood, California, Bob Sorrell quickly earned a reputation for fearless craftsmanship. No challenge was too daunting — not even turning a burned-out Lister Chevrolet wreck into a showstopping machine. That car, the Sorrell-Larkin Special, may not have been a track star, but its design was unforgettable. His skills also caught the attention of top racers. “TV” Tommy Ivo, a drag racing icon, entrusted Sorrell with building aluminum bodies for his top fuel dragsters. This mix of artistry and engineering became a hallmark of the Sorrell brand.
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| The 1954 Sorrell-Manning Special’s fiberglass body, hinged at the rear like a funny car, showcased both innovation and easy access to its minimalist cabin. (Picture from: Hemmings) |
In his early years, Sorrell leaned on the expertise of others, such as California Metal Shaping, which helped create his first aluminum roadster body in 1953. Placed on a Kurtis 500 KK chassis, the car was featured in period ads that promised more to come — and Sorrell delivered. Fiberglass or aluminum versions of the SR-100, available as a roadster or a dramatic gullwing coupe, were soon offered to adventurous builders. Racing legend Mickey Thompson is even rumored to have used one in the grueling 1956 Mexican Road Race.
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| The 1954 Sorrell-Manning Special, ordered by “Laster and Pollard” but never delivered, was built on a Chuck Manning-designed chrome-moly ladder-frame with a rear-hinged fiberglass body that showcased both innovation and ease of access. (Picture from: Hemmings) |
Among these early bodies, the
Sorrell-Manning Special stood apart. Ordered by
“Laster and Pollard” but never delivered,
it was built on a Chuck Manning-designed ladder-frame made from chrome-moly steel.
Its fiberglass body,
hinged at the rear like a funny car,
hinted at both innovation and ease of access. Despite multiple offers over the years,
Sorrell kept the car close, unfinished and untouched,
until his passing in 2003.
Found years later in a shipping container,
the car’s journey took it through several hands before finally landing with owners determined to finish what Sorrell started.
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| The 1954 Sorrell-Manning Special powered by a Chrysler Marine Hemi V8, fed by four Zenith carburetors mounted on a genuine Cunningham intake. (Picture from: Hemmings) |
Restoration wasn’t quick, nor was it easy. It took three different shops and nearly two years to bring the Sorrell-Manning Special to life. The finished product gleams in metallic blue, with a Chrysler Marine Hemi V8 under the hood, fed by four Zenith carburetors mounted on a genuine Cunningham intake. The dash is a period-perfect engine-turned panel fitted with Stewart Warner gauges, while modern Halibrand-style wheels replace the rusted originals. It’s a faithful tribute to a car that never had the chance to shine — until now.
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| The 1954 Sorrell-Manning Special, restored over nearly two years by three different shops, now gleams in striking metallic blue. (Picture from: Hemmings) |
Since its completion, the
Sorrell-Manning Special has taken its rightful place in the spotlight.
It’s been part of the Petersen Museum’s celebrated “Fantasies in Fiberglass” exhibit and
has won top honors at prestigious concours events like Amelia Island and Keels and Wheels. Though it lacks a racing pedigree or celebrity past, the car’s value lies in its soul — in the story of a builder who poured his passion into every curve and contour.
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| The 1954 Sorrell-Manning Special has been featured in the Petersen Museum’s celebrated “Fantasies in Fiberglass” exhibit and has earned top honors at prestigious concours events such as Amelia Island and Keels and Wheels. (Picture from: Hemmings) |
The
1954 Sorrell-Manning Special isn’t just a car — it’s a time capsule of a moment when creativity reigned supreme in Southern California garages. It reflects a vision that didn’t seek fame or fortune but simply aimed to create something beautiful and bold. And in that mission,
Bob Sorrell succeeded spectacularly.
*** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | HEMMINGS | CARBUZZ ]Note: This blog can be accessed via your smart phone.
