Midland oilmen Guy and Joe Mabee had a dream…...a dream of building their own sports car that would compete with and defeat the best the world had to offer. The dream that would transpire was a Bonneville World Record Holder, a Pike’s Peak entrant, SAC and SCCA Road Racer, a show car and even a dragster
They built their dream in 1953 to world class standards. The 1953 Bonneville Nationals were the car’s first steps of many into competition. Joe Mabee piloted the car on the salt flats of Bonneville to a 203.105 mph two-way average. After that success, the press named the car “The World’s Fastest Sports Car”.
1954 brought rule changes to Bonneville and the car was prepared to run road races. Alterations were made and that year in Bonneville, in the Open Sports Car Class, Joe Mabee averaged 187.66 mph with a top speed of 196.50. In 1955 Road and Track featured a picture of the Mabee Special, starting on the front row, racing with the best of them. As the European cars improved, Joe and Guy gave up on his dream and put the car up for sale. It was bought by Tommy Deal, an El Paso car dealer who entered it into a couple of road races as “The Deal Special”. Deal owned the car until 1958 and then ownership becomes hard to follow.
In 1983 Bruce Gross discovers amongst the cacti, weeds, trash and chickens on a ranch west of Juarez the deteriorated body of a car; no doors or hood, maroon paint and faded wording. But the real Halibrand mags, Englebert racing tires and Houdaille shocks held promise of priceless find...the Mabee Special. It was 1993 when the owner finally decided to sell it. He began the research, following trails in all directions. Gross tracked down George Brazil, a former drag racer and sure enough, he knew about the car. Another phone call, this one to the Mabees, and facts were confirmed—the car had a history indeed.
On a trip to El Paso, a friend of Jim and Lea Ann Robinson, also a “motorhead”, took them to see an old car he had found. Looking through the chain link fence, they knew she had been a very special car in her day. A deal was made and she was on her way to Indiana. Years of restoration lay ahead for the Robinsons. A new Victress body, a professionally rebuilt engine, and new paint lovingly applied by Jim Robinson and she was ready to roll.
Welcome back, Miss Mabee!
