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Undiscovered Classics

Undiscovered Classics

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Category Archives: Vintage Accessories

Converting Column Shift to Floor Shift – Vintage Style!

Posted on February 26, 2015 by Geoff HackerMay 18, 2020
8

Hi Gang… It’s interesting to look back and think about what was “old” and what was “modern” in the 50s.  If you were building a car in the mid 1950s, the current “state of the art” was a column shifter.  … Continue reading →

Tony St. Clair and “Deadly Curves:” The 1920s – Embossed Gauge Panels

Posted on April 19, 2013 by Geoff HackerMay 11, 2020
8

Hi Gang… From time to time, you’ve heard me share many thanks for the help of Tony St. Clair on different articles here at Forgotten Fiberglass.  His expertise and interests lie in so many areas beyond the car hobby – but it’s his focus … Continue reading →

Introducing Tony St. Clair and His Blog “Deadly Curves” – Car Gauges & The Shift To Modernarity

Posted on April 4, 2013 by Geoff HackerMay 11, 2020
1

Hi Gang… From time to time, you’ve heard me share many thanks for the help of Tony St. Clair on different articles here at Forgotten Fiberglass.  His expertise and interests lie in so many areas beyond the car hobby – but it’s his … Continue reading →

The Promise Of Plastic: “Auto Bubbles” Clear ‘Glass Top In 1948

Posted on February 12, 2012 by Geoff HackerMay 23, 2020
3

Hi Gang… I love the “promise of plastic” in postwar America – and clear tops seemed to be the rage.  I think one of these tops might look great on the convertible Shark from the early ‘60s I’m working on … Continue reading →

The Continental Kit – “That Tire On The Back:” By Rick Feibusch

Posted on February 4, 2012 by Geoff HackerMay 23, 2020
8

Hi Gang… Today I have the honor of introducing you to another author, friend of fiberglass, automotive historian and all-around great car guy – Rick Feibusch. Time and time again, Rick sends the coolest cars and the neatest slices of … Continue reading →

Dashboard Fingerprints: The History of Gauges For Your Hot Rod / Sports Car

Posted on November 28, 2011 by Geoff HackerMay 11, 2020
2

Hi Gang… Do any of you watch “History Detectives” out there? This is a PBS TV program which focuses on discovering the true history and provenance of items brought forth to their show each week.  It’s like a cross between … Continue reading →

Plexiglas is Tops! – Automotive Style, That is…

Posted on October 9, 2011 by Geoff HackerMay 25, 2020
9

Hi Gang… Fiberglass, plastic, Plexiglas, Lucite, plastic….let me count the non-metal ways….. Starting in the 1930’s, “plastic” was becoming the new wonder material, and car manufacturers were looking for innovative ways to incorporate this new material in all ways possible. … Continue reading →

Tom McCahill Introduces The 175 HP Ardun Ford Flathead

Posted on September 23, 2011 by Geoff HackerMay 25, 2020
5

Hi Gang… This article’s for you “Forgotten Fiberglass Ford Flathead Fanatics” out there…(I kind of like the ring of that…it’s a record….5 “F’s” in a row….I don’t even do that when I’m grading papers for my students..)   You’ve heard of … Continue reading →

Hardtops For Everyone – Eight is Enough for Bill Tritt and Glasspar

Posted on June 23, 2011 by Geoff HackerMay 22, 2020
12

Hi Gang… Glasspar made hardtops for sports cars – in a greater quantity and variety than most enthusiasts recognize.  They made hardtops for the following sports cars: Glasspar G2 Woodill Wildfire Jaguar MG Porsche Austin-Healey Singer Corvette And maybe more … Continue reading →

The Badges Are Coming….The Badges Are Coming (And Are Now Here!)

Posted on June 21, 2011 by Geoff HackerMay 22, 2020

Hi Gang… Thanks to the courage of Geordie Prodis, Byers SR100 owner, and the confidence he bestowed upon me in completing firewall badges for vintage fiberglass cars of the 1950’s, we now have badges for many of the cars that … Continue reading →

Installing a Small Dynamo on the California Sports Special: A Tom Chandler Design Variation

Posted on January 17, 2011 by Geoff HackerMay 3, 2020
Reply

Hi Gang… In the summer of 2010, I wrote an article about how my good friend Tom Chandler installed a generator when space was at a minimum in the restoration of his Glasspar G2 special.  For those of you wanting … Continue reading →

Who’s Got an Ax(le) to Grind? You Do If You Have a Ford-Based 1950’s Special

Posted on January 7, 2011 by Geoff HackerMay 11, 2020
1

Hi Gang… The opening picture shows Bill Burke in his 1946 Belly Tank Streamliner.  Make no mistake about this picture – the relevance for our fiberglass sports cars is all in the axles, and what better picture to show than … Continue reading →

Let’s Design A Car – The Long Lost Buell Custom Coach Sketchbook

Posted on October 12, 2010 by Geoff HackerMay 23, 2020
Reply

Hi Gang… Where did ideas come from when designing sports cars and custom cars back in the 1950’s?  Car shows, magazine articles, even TV shows in some cases I’m sure (California TV stations like KTLA featured both the Petersen Motorama … Continue reading →

The (Tom) Chandler Ford Flathead V8 Generator Solution

Posted on May 17, 2010 by Geoff HackerApril 19, 2020
Reply

————————————– 1/16/2011: Note:  A related story is posted in our website at the following location: https://www.undiscoveredclassics.com/?p=9135 ————————————– Hi Gang… The gift that keeps on giving…. That’s how I describe my friendship with Tom Chandler.   First, Tom found Pat Hoover and … Continue reading →

For The Victress Owner Who Has (Almost) Everything…. The Stylish Boyce-Smith Terminal Box

Posted on May 14, 2010 by Geoff HackerApril 19, 2020
Reply

Hi Gang.. And you Victress owners out there thought you had everything… Fiberglass body builders back in the day were first and foremost businessmen.  So it shouldn’t surprise you that many of the firms producing beautiful fiberglass bodies in the … Continue reading →

Vintage Accessories: Get Those Hubcaps Guys and Gals!!!

Posted on May 1, 2010 by Geoff HackerJune 1, 2020
1

Hi Gang… So the interior is restored, the body is painted, the engine is rebuilt, and what little chrome might be on your vintage fiberglass special is replated, repainted, or renewed.  Wha ‘cha gonna to do about your wheels?   Isn’t … Continue reading →

Vintage Accessories: Voltage Drop and The Educated (Spindle) Nut

Posted on April 25, 2010 by Geoff HackerMay 18, 2020
2

Hi Gang… Welcome to the new category of stories you’ll find on our Forgotten Fiberglass website…’Vintage Accessories” for your car.  This is our first story in this area. Vintage accessories are the bomb!  Alright…forgive the modern day slang – which … Continue reading →

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Class 1: Sports Cars of the 50s
* 3 Cars: 1953 Maverick Sportster, 1953 Woodill Wildfire (Johnny Dark), 1952 Glasspar G2

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* 1 Car: 1954 Frazer Custom

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The  Latest  Comments

  • Gene Simon on Questions To The EditorLarry, Have you seen this article by Geoff? https://www.undiscoveredclassics.com/forgotten-fiberglass/the-1953-donald-jones-special-1953-pebble-beach-road-race-participant/
  • John Jorgensen on One Of My Favorite Things…The Stylish 1954 Victress S4Very good. The taillights were from a Willys. The rear license plate on at least
  • Irvin Brightman on New Features Roll Out To Undiscovered Classics WebsiteWhat a fantastic site. I have always wondered what happened to all the early fiberglass
  • JAMES SIMPSON on La Dawri Coachcraft’s 1963 Catalog: A Feast For Your Fiberglass Eyes…I am glad to find this web site through referral from Barn Finds". As an
  • Geoff Hacker on Questions To The EditorHi Jon...."Hurricane" by Sports Car Engineering. I own one as well. Geoff
  • Jon Mclawhon on Questions To The EditorI was curious if anyone might know what body this was on this Modified Sports
  • Gregg on The Ultimate Vintage Literature: Let’s Build a Nash Dealership – Or Maybe Not!The PDF link does not work, if anyone has copies of this paper model kit
  • Karl Ludvigsen on The Vale Sports Car and the 1954 Pacific International Motor Sports ShowHello Geoff and other readers, Anent this info, I have found an image of Vale
  • Gary J. Hamilton on Motor Sports Club of America – Early Postwar Sports Car History EmergesHello all: Great to find some info on MSCCA. I have been the rally master
  • Larry E James on Questions To The EditorHi !! Would anyone have any latest word on the Don James "Special" out of

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Questions  To  The  Editor

  • Gene Simon on Questions To The EditorLarry, Have you seen this article by Geoff? https://www.undiscoveredclassics.com/forgotten-fiberglass/the-1953-donald-jones-special-1953-pebble-beach-road-race-participant/
  • Geoff Hacker on Questions To The EditorHi Jon...."Hurricane" by Sports Car Engineering. I own one as well. Geoff
  • Jon Mclawhon on Questions To The EditorI was curious if anyone might know what body this was on this Modified Sports
  • Larry E James on Questions To The EditorHi !! Would anyone have any latest word on the Don James "Special" out of
  • Paul W Rosenfield on Questions To The EditorHi, I am in so cal and I just am getting started on Wildfire 9945.
  • BigRedRivi on Questions To The EditorHi Geoff, Hope all is well with you, haven't seen anything posted in a whilst.
  • Bob Pierson on Questions To The EditorJust bought this car, coming out from WA. Please help me identify the year and
  • Richard Langworth on Questions To The EditorStan Mott: Can you supply a current email? I seek permission to run a drawing
  • paul gibbs on Questions To The EditorHave you heard anything from anyone about my Paul E. Gibbs 1960 Almquist Special? Looks
  • Geoff Hacker on Questions To The Editor@ Jeffrey - Not all cars are mine and some stories I write are just
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Did  You  Know...

Bill Tritt\’s Ardun Powered Ford V8 Flathead Glasspar (Mameco) Race car appeared in the 1953 Pebble Beach Road Race driven by Warren Gerdes – automobile production manager for Glasspar at the time. It may have been shown at the Pebble Beach Concours in the same year too.


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Geoff  Hacker  and  Team

Geoff Hacker has pursued rare and unusual automobiles for over 40 years. He's recognized as the premier researcher, archivist, author and authoritarian for the history of American handcrafted sports cars. Hacker owns Undiscovered Classics which finds and restores these rare cars for collectors and museums across the world.
Geoff's stewardship of Undiscovered Classics has led to museum exhibitions, special appearances and multiple showings at prestigious concours including Pebble Beach and Amelia Island. His Undiscovered Classics Team and their cars have been seen on television and are published extensively in print and electronic media.

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