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Undiscovered Classics

Undiscovered Classics

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Category Archives: Renault Based Chassis

1968 SWM Gordini On Its Way To Valladolid, Spain

Posted on October 1, 2020 by Geoff HackerOctober 5, 2020
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Our SWM Gordini is off to new ownership in Valladolid, Spain

Hi Gang… As with many of our cars here at Undiscovered Classics, they find new homes so we can concentrate on other restorations.  We would have loved to restore this car and pursue the history more but alas….so little time … Continue reading →

Check Out This 1957 Devin-Renault – Now In Restoration In Valladolid, Spain

Posted on July 12, 2020 by Geoff HackerOctober 5, 2020
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Above: The Renault-Devin Special Owned By Luis Alarcos Has Such A Cool Look

Hi Gang… I love Renault based American Specials – and most of you know why. My first fiberglass sports car was the 1962 Shark Roadster – a Renault based American sports car that I’ve had nearly 40 years.  That car … Continue reading →

1957 Protea – South African Handcrafted Special

Posted on June 29, 2020 by Geoff HackerJuly 12, 2020
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1957 Protea – South African Handcrafted Special

Hi Gang… It’s fascinating to learn about a fiberglass bodied sports car with a “build” heritage exactly that of an American special but in South Africa.  It was the same timeframe too – the mid 1950s.  I first came across … Continue reading →

1954, March: Sebring Racing Program

Sebring  Racing  Program Sebring,  Florida:  March,  1954 … Continue reading →

Foreign Fiberglass: Raoul Thiébaut’s Syncoglas Zelensis

Posted on April 23, 2020 by Geoff HackerJuly 15, 2020
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Hi Gang… Today’s story is by one of our Undiscovered Classics aficionados – Kyle Feller.  Kyle has been working with us for over 5 years and has participated in some of our best adventures which include our Leo Lyons Custom … Continue reading →

Canadian ‘Glass: The 1970 Renault R8 Based Manic GT – Full Brochure

Posted on April 6, 2020 by Geoff HackerOctober 4, 2020
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Hi Gang… Today’s story is courtesy of one of our Undiscovered Classics fan in Europe – Luis Alarcos – of Spain.  Luis collects and restores Renault specials including those that were built (or found) in America.  Recently Luis has been … Continue reading →

The Moir Renault Special From Australia: Thanks Ted Godfrey!

Posted on November 3, 2014 by Geoff HackerMay 20, 2020
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Hi Gang… One of fiber-friends from Australia is Ted Godfrey and he recently sent in some information about a Australian sports car that was new to me – a Renault based sports car designed and built by Len Moir. With … Continue reading →

The SWM Gordini “Mannl” Sports Car – The Start of the End of the Line

Posted on September 23, 2014 by Geoff HackerJuly 15, 2020
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Hi Gang… There are so many interesting cars out there to find – and much to the continued surprise of both Rick D’Louhy and myself – these cars keep popping up.  Take today’s story about the SWM Gordini built by … Continue reading →

The 1953 Tanner Renault Special: Another Early Rear Engined Sports Car

Posted on September 20, 2014 by Geoff HackerMay 31, 2020
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Hi Gang… Renault Specials have a special place for me given that my first fiberglass sports car was Renault based – the 1962 Shark Roadster – a car I still have today.  So when I recently came across an article … Continue reading →

Shark Attack at the 2014 Carlisle Import & Kit Nationals: May 16-18, 2014

Posted on May 9, 2014 by Geoff HackerMay 20, 2020
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Hi Gang… As you’ve recently heard, we’re taking the Forgotten Fiberglass show on the road next week and are very much honored in participating at the 2014 Import & Kit Nationals held in Carlisle, Pennsylvania – click here for more … Continue reading →

Forgotten Fiberglass is Going to Carlisle May 17-19 2013 – Seminar 2 – Renault Based Fiberglass Specials

Posted on April 18, 2013 by Geoff HackerMay 20, 2020
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Hi Gang… Come one, Come all….The Forgotten Fiberglass Gang is heading north in May, 2013 to participate in theCarlisle Import & Kit Nationals.  Good friend Marvin McFalls, President of the Renault Owner’s Club of North America, put us in touch with Ed Buczeskie, Events … Continue reading →

Our 1962 Shark And The Road To Amelia – Part One

Posted on March 17, 2013 by Geoff HackerMay 20, 2020
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Hi Gang… Well….we did it.  We made it with the Shark to Amelia with a gaggle of glass guys in tow.  And it was nothing short of a miraculous effort by friends, family, supporting businesses, and probably mysterious unknown fiberglass … Continue reading →

The 1962 Shark Roadster – 168 Hours to the Amelia Island Concours And Counting…

Posted on March 3, 2013 by Geoff HackerMay 20, 2020
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Hi Gang… As I write this, we have 168 hours until our 1962 Shark Roadster is presented at the 2013 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance.  Wow!  Has time gone fast!  This will be the first major appearance of the Shark in … Continue reading →

Ready…Set…Go! Restoring a 1962 Shark in 90 Days or Less

Posted on January 30, 2013 by Geoff HackerJune 1, 2020
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Hi Gang… Many of you know my passion for vintage cars started with my grandfather, Morrie Hacker, my mother Ruth, and mentorship in my early teenage years from Paul Terhorst of Chicago, Illinois.  I was well-schooled in great old cars, … Continue reading →

Henry Covington – The Man & His “El Tiburon”

Posted on January 28, 2013 by Geoff HackerMay 20, 2020
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Hi Gang… The quest for information continues on all fronts.  Most recently, “press release photos” locked away in newspaper archives have become available and collections are being rapidly dispersed – precious photos scattered to the wind.  Each day I canvas … Continue reading →

Henry Covington’s El Tiburon – Streamlined Speed In St. Petersburg, Florida

Posted on February 2, 2012 by Geoff HackerMay 20, 2020
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Hi Gang… My first fiberglass car was a Shark – a convertible Shark at that.  Little did I know that the path I would embark on as a young man would be so adventurous in later life 🙂 Back about … Continue reading →

Devin Enterprises: Panhard And Sports Cars – All In One! Road & Track, January 1957

Posted on January 22, 2012 by Geoff HackerMay 20, 2020
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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 →

The 1953 Renault-Based Plasticar Rogue: Designed For Speed, Comfort, and Durability

Posted on January 14, 2012 by Geoff HackerMay 20, 2020
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Hi Gang… Recently we introduced Plasticar’s ’53 brochure which featured the Marquis that was in the process of being introduced to the world.  In that same brochure was their other car – a car that was first built in aluminum … Continue reading →

The 1953 Renault-Based Plasticar Marquis: Fashioned For Elegance, Economy and Speed – Part 2

Posted on January 9, 2012 by Geoff HackerJuly 15, 2020
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——————- Note:  This is the second part of a two part story concerning the history of Plasticar’s Marquis.  Click here for the other part of this story ——————- Hi Gang… In the previous article about this car, the Marquis by … Continue reading →

The 1953 Renault-Based Plasticar Marquis: Fashioned For Elegance, Economy and Speed – Part 1

Posted on January 6, 2012 by Geoff HackerJuly 15, 2020
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——————- Note:  This is the first part of a two part story concerning the history of Plasticar’s Marquis.  Click here for the other part of this story ——————- Editor’s Note:   In honor of my recent trip – and new friends made … Continue reading →

The Shark Roadster – Renault Based Sports Car From St. Petersburg, Florida

Posted on September 29, 2011 by Geoff HackerMay 20, 2020
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Hi Gang… All hail Bob Cunningham and Glenn Brummer. Two eagle-eyed scouts that surf the Internet constantly and found the beautiful 8×10 glossy press photo of the Shark roadster by Glenn Gumms – Henry Covington’s early partner on producing molds … Continue reading →

Meet the “Rogue.” America’s First Renault Based Fiberglass Sports Car (1954)

Posted on September 28, 2011 by Geoff HackerMay 20, 2020
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Hi Gang… Let’s talk Renault!  Did you know that rear engined Renault automobiles nearly outsold VW’s in the late ’50?  Believe it or not, Renault was on its way to beoming the next “big gun” foreign car in the market.  A 1958 … Continue reading →

Les Weber’s “Shark out of Water:” Hot Rod Magazine, June 1964

Posted on September 25, 2011 by Geoff HackerMay 20, 2020
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Hi Gang… I found my first “Shark” years and years and years ago.  Click here to read the story of a young man and his car (Shark….in this case). Back in 1984 we were traveling across country.  This was a … Continue reading →

My First Fiberglass Car – The 1962 Tiburon “Shark” Roadster

Posted on June 15, 2011 by Geoff HackerMay 20, 2020
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Hi Gang… I was born in 1962 – on the last day of May.  And I was born to love cars.  I don’t know why. Family lore tells me that when I was very young – before kindergarten – I was … Continue reading →

Discontinued Fiberglass Sports Cars: The Glasspar Ascot, G2, Vale, Wasp, and More…(Auto Craftsman, June-July 1958)

Posted on April 10, 2011 by Geoff HackerMay 25, 2020
Reply

Hi Gang… I wish all research into fiberglass sports cars of the 1950’s was so easy.  Today’s story is like shooting fish in a barrel!  I’m sure it won’t happen again, so I have to savor every minute of it … Continue reading →

Henry Covington’s Tiburon Coupe – “A Shark You Can Park” – September 1961 Road & Track

Posted on February 11, 2011 by Geoff HackerMay 20, 2020
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Hi Gang… Many of you know that my first fiberglass car was a “Shark” roadster.  The story about my finding the Shark and restoring it represents the beginning of everything we know today as “Forgotten Fiberglass.” The Shark was not … Continue reading →

Fabulous Foreign Fiberglass

Posted on December 3, 2009 by Geoff HackerMay 27, 2020
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Hi Gang.. We tend to think that fiberglass bodied sports cars originated in America – heck – the west cost of America at that.  But that’s just not the case.  As Harold Pace coached me years ago….besides America..fiberglass bodies and … Continue reading →

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Amelia  Island  Concours  d'Elegance:

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

Class 2: Weird and Wonderful
* 1 Car: 1954 Frazer Custom

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The  Latest  Comments

  • Marsha MacCormack on The 1952 Yankee Clipper Debuts in San Francisco – A Glasspar G2 Bodied Sports CarI have the last Yankee Clipper built. My father did mechanical work for Mr Strassberger
  • Juan on The Argentina Built Porsche Powered Fiberglass Bodied 1954 Justicialista Sports CarDear, I tell you that in 1954 the Justicialista car won the prize of elegance
  • Pete Montero on The Rise of the 1959 Lahti Special – By Robert Cunninghamhttps://www.motor1.com/news/64519/concept-we-forgot-1992-ford-ghia-focus/
  • Pete Montero on The Rise of the 1959 Lahti Special – By Robert CunninghamSo, this really can't pass without closing the loop on a Ford Ghia concept car
  • Matthew Kress on The 1970 Can Am 1 By Bolide Motors – An Extension of Borg-Warner and the CRVMust be of no interest to anyone, no responses or additional information on the site.
  • Jeff on Small Cars Are My “Thing” – Introducing The HMV Freeway By Kyle FellerAwesome arrival! I found one of these down in Florida were I live, the data
  • Michael Petti on Ask Merrill Powell – Victress Manufacturing Co-FounderDid Victress make the fiberglass front nose of the 1955 - 1957 Powell Sports Wagon
  • Christina Montoya on Lost Car Found – Meet The Super Safari Dune BuggyI suppose ably have a safari- it has a bump on the hood in front
  • Scott Morley on The Great New Devin Junior – Gas Engine Powered Miniature Sports CarWhen I was 10 or 12 years old we drove to San Gabriel, California in
  • Greg Smith on The Quarter Midgets Are Here! The Viking Craft Quarter Midgets Are Here! (1955)I raced out of Vegas 1956-59, Caruthers, Mantz, and Squalo Grand Prix, Showboat & later

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Eric Hausers Victress S1A Race Car called the Allstenhauser (Eric Hausers middle name was Allsten) appeared in the 1954 Pebble Beach Road Race with Eric driving his own car. His Victress may have also appeared in the Pebble Beach Concours dElegance in the same year.


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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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