scarab153

Great car, I owned one back in 84 to 86 when I was stationed at Kadena. Let's see some pics. Welcome to the site.

I finally have a moment to post this, I am currently in the process of starting a new job and moving across the state. I have been talking with Craig Sparkes over the last few days and he agreed to me posting a copy of his email about the blue Scarab #153 for sale on ebay. I removed personal and contact information from the email, but left the rest of it intact. "Brian Morrow, the owner of Scarab Industries who built these cars was NOT a very good business man. That is how his company went bust. During 1979, he was in the midst of fighting the EPA lawsuit and somewhat distracted by building two cars for the track. So please understand that when Scarab Industries went bankrupt in mid-late 1981, everything left was sold off and Brian disappeared. So there are NO records from the company. However, over the past 13 years, I've been able to piece together a fairly accurate picture of events and cars. The "blue # 153 car has a build date in February of 1979 and your "red" # 153 has a date in June. I have not been able to find any Scarab with a build date in between those. The other "clue" is that your car has a build date just a few days earlier than car # 154 (one of the track cars). My conclusion is that Brian lost track of his numbers either on your car or on the blue car and duplicated the serial #. A close inspection of the blue # 153 car has revealed things only factory Scarabs have. And the photos I've seen of your car tend to show some of those. So I would welcome the chance to register your car and keep your contact information. As a side note. Your car and # 157 are the only two Scarabs I've seen that have the optional wide body kit. Also, your car is remarkably intact. Please don't "modernize it" ... And I would welcome more photos." Thru the course of several phone conversations, I have found Craig to be very knowledgeable about Scarabs. I feel that he has a true passion for the cars and their history. Personally, I believe what he has to say, and plan on using him as a resource when I begin restoring my own Scarab #153. Thanks, Larry

I am the owner of the red #153 Scarab. It was quite a shock to find another Scarab #153 for sale on ebay. I was thankful the first owner had given me the original purchase order signed by Brian Morrow when I bought the car. My first reaction was that the other #153 had to be a fake. However, after talking with the original owner of my car, the seller on ebay, and reading an email from Craig Sparkes, I now believe that the blue Scarab #153 for sale on ebay is authentic as well. It seems that Brian Morrow was not very careful in maintaining his paperwork. When the original owner of my car picked it up from the factory, it was supposed to be painted a dark metallic blue, instead it was painted a light blue. There had been a mix-up in the paperwork between his car and another car at the factory. When I talked to the seller of the ebay Scarab #153 (not the owner, the car is on consignment) and asked him what the original color had been, he told me it was also light blue. I had not told him about the mistake made with my car's original paint job. With the mix-up in the factory's paperwork, and both cars receiving the same paint, it is no longer hard for me to believe that two ID plates could have been stamped with #153. I will be talking to Craig Sparkes tomorrow or in the next few days. When I talk to him, I will ask him to post his research, or if he would mind if I posted a copy of his email. Then you can decide on the authenticity of the ebay #153 for yourselves. Personally, I now believe that Scarab Automobiles did produce two #153 Scarabs. Thanks, Larry

Hi guys, I have been out of town for a few days. I am going to have to agree with nwa240z. The seller of the Scarab on ebay (not the owner, it is on consignment), replied to my email. He put me in contact with Craig Sparkes. I was also able to reach the original owner of my Scarab. There was a mix-up at the factory. My car was originally supposed to be a dark blue metallic. When the first owner went to pick it up it was painted a light blue. The same color that was originally on the Scarab for sale on ebay. It appears that Brian Morrow was not particularly careful with his paperwork. Between the discussions I've had with the original owner of my car, and the research done by Craig Sparkes, I am convinced of the authenticity of the Scarab for sale on ebay.

Hi everyone, sorry it took so long for me to post again. I am starting a new job and I had to drive to Grand Junction to look for a place to live. It appears that nwa240z is correct. I spoke with the original owner of my Scarab, there was a mix-up at the factory when he picked up the car. The paint job was the wrong color, it matched the original color of the Scarab for sale on ebay. It appears that Brian Morrow was not particularly careful with keeping up with his paperwork. I also received an email from Craig Sparkes with his research showing that there were two Scarab #153 cars built. There were no Scarabs built between the one on ebay and mine. At the time these two were built, Brian Morrow was also trying to build two track cars. Personally, I have been convinced of the authenticity of the Scarab for sale on ebay.

I just found out about the Scarab on ebay after my first post.

hey guys, I'm back. I posted a question to the #153 seller listed on ebay. I'll let you know what his response is. My original paperwork includes a purchase agreement signed by Brian Morrow, dated 12-18-78.

I don't know about the authenticity of the Scarab for sale on ebay. I am the second owner of an original 1979 factory Scarab. Number 153 to be exact. The manufacturing plate on the Scarab for sale on ebay does look authentic. However, unless Scarab Automobiles produced two #153 Scarabs, then someone either pulled or is trying to pull a fast one. There are a few pictures of my Scarab posted on cardomain.com. They can be found listed as a 1975 Datsun 280Z (the original donor car) under my user name scarab153. I have all of the original paperwork from the first owner, including the purchase agreement signed by Brian Morrow and dated 12-18-78. I am waiting to hear a response from the seller on ebay. I'll post again after I hear from him. Thanks, Larry

Hey fellow Z lovers, I was researching Scarabs online and found several postings from this site. I thought you might like to know there is another original factory Scarab out there. I am the second owner and have all the original paperwork. I have a few pictures posted on cardomain.com under the same user name. It is listed as a 1975 280Z (the original donor car). I am trying to find and contact as many Scarab owners as I can. If you are one, know one, or just love old 'Z's reply to my post. Thanks, Larry