Hi Gang… Bill Fester of Houston, Texas wanted an Allied Swallow Coupe. The Allied looked just like the car he saw – a Multiplex Sports Car – shown in John Gunnell’s book “Standard Catalog of American Cars: 1946-1975.” Bill had noticed … Continue reading
Monthly Archives: January 2012
Hi Gang… Today’s article is from intrepid Singer Motor Car Historian, author, and writer Peter McKercher from Ontario, Canada. Peter was kind enough to put together a history of Vern Gardner’s BMC Singer sports car and extend what we know … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Here it was in ’55 and Victress Manufacturing was doing great. The new coupe models had been released (C2 and C3) and they were heading to the Petersen Motorama for their biggest appearance yet showing an example – … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Where have all the streamliners gone??? Good friend and automobile historian Glenn Brummer is tracking down interesting rarified stories about cars, vehicles and auto ephemera, near and far – and today’s story from Glenn is from far, far … Continue reading
Hi Gang… The Commons Crusader, built by William G. Commons, appeared in several magazines in ’53, and had some really neat features that you’ll read about today and in future stories here at Forgotten Fiberglass. It was conceived, designed, and … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Here’s another great article about a beautifully built Spohn custom car. There has been some discussion about where the styling came from in terms of “timing.” Who did what – when, where, and first? So far, we have … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Imagine how excited the automotive world was with the introduction of fiberglass sports cars at the November ’51 Petersen Motorama. And by the Fall of ’52 – nearly one year later – enthusiasts and entrepreneurs across the country … Continue reading
————— Note: This is a multi-part story on the advertising, flyers, and brochures put out by Hellings in support of Victress sales. These primarily occurred when Hellings was the exclusive distributor for Victress in ’53 and early to mid ’54. … Continue reading
Hi Gang… This is one of the earliest references to the debut of Clearfield Plastics we’ve found yet, and was sent in by good friend and automotive historian Paul Sable (Thanks Paul!). But what’s that you say? Clearfield Plastics is … Continue reading
————– Note: This is the fifth and final article in a series of articles here at Forgotten Fiberglass that showcase a story called “The Glassmakers 1960” published in Sportscar Graphic in May-June 1960. In this 1960 article, Almquist, Devin, Kellison, LaDawri, and Victress were … Continue reading
Hi Gang… The saga of a nearly 60 year old unfinished fiberglass body continues. You just can’t stop the potential in this car body! Here’s what has happened so far in our story: Produced in the mid ‘50s in the … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Actually, Doc and Ted were going to show you how to build any fiberglass body of your design – and the molds to make more than just one of them! Talk about giving away the house! (trade secrets, … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Until recently, I thought that a significant gap existed between Bill Devin’s debut of his Panhard bodied race car bodies and his later sports car bodies. And I was right – for a time. The more I researched … Continue reading
——————– “Some of the facts pertinently revealed here may shock the reader….” Automobile Design: The Complete Styling Book (1955) That’s what’s written on the back cover of Bob Gurr’s ’55 book on car design, and it gives the book a … Continue reading
Hi Gang… We’ve established in previous stories what happened to Victress and Byers in the ‘60s: Victress sold their company…lock, stock, and barrel….to Les and Joan Dawes of La Dawri Coachcraft in 1961 Byers bodies first appeared in Kellison sales … Continue reading
————– Note: This is the fourth in a series of articles here at Forgotten Fiberglass that showcase a story called “The Glassmakers 1960” published in Sportscar Graphic in May-June 1960. In this 1960 article, Almquist, Devin, Kellison, LaDawri, and Victress were showcased. We have … Continue reading
Hi Gang… I’ve taken U.S. Mark II research as far as I can go. With the help of good friends Alden Jewell, Scott Odell, and Pat Amedolia, we’ve shared what we can and now turn the reins over to U.S. … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Have I got a gem of a book to share with you – and a new “friend of fiberglass” to introduce too 🙂 The book is called “Made in Iowa: Iowa’s Automobiles – An Entertaining and Enlightening History” … Continue reading
————————— Note: The next series of stories here on Forgotten Fiberglass are going to focus on the brochures and associated customer communication of the Atlas / Allied Fiber Glass Company. We’re lucky here at Forgotten Fiberglass to have become friends … Continue reading
Hi Gang… I have the honor of introducing you to another new contributor here on Forgotten Fiberglass: Joel Driskill. Recently, Joel and I crossed paths on our mutual interest in the sports car built by Chuck Manning in the early … Continue reading