Hi Gang… Over the years we’ve focused on handcrafted American postwar sports cars and we continue to both accumulate and share information about these cars in magazines, multimedia, tv, shows and more. Our interest stems from locating and researching the … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Late last year we found and acquired another interesting hand-built car. We bought it (actually traded for it) and took a risk like we always do. What was the car? Who built it? When was it built? What … Continue reading
Hi Gang… As you’ll see, we’ve been busy during the quarantine – all our teams have been quite busy. And everything came together nicely on May 23, 2021 at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. I think this may have been … Continue reading
Hi Gang… I love searching for lost cars and their histories but the best part of what we do is bringing it all together. Matching the car, the history and the families related to building it and putting it all … Continue reading
1951 Lysell Rally Classic & Sports Car: July, 2018 … Continue reading
Showcase 1955 Frazer Custom: Walter Omelenchuk Special Owner: Undiscovered Classics History This one-off custom show car was built by Walter Omelenchuk who started building it in 1954 and finished it in 1955. Starting with a 1947 Frazer, Walter designed … Continue reading
The Hollywood Influence As Seen in Custom Body Design By Jay Kaye Automotive Industries: January 1st, 1941 … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Creating a special body for a car was more the norm for the wealthy before World War II, but much less so in the postwar years. Custom work after the war was often done in fiberglass (even the … Continue reading
Hi Gang… I’ve spent quite a bit of time learning about American custom cars, and I’ve been fortunate to meet some of the “greats” that built them. From George Barris to Gene Winfield to Leo Lyons and more. Each of … Continue reading
Hi Gang… We hunt for cars but not all cars – we hunt for unusual cars, and have been doing this since 2006. and since that time, we’ve been on some amazing adventures. Today’s adventure started with a Hemmings post … Continue reading
Hi Gang… I love the early postwar years of sports cars. We tend to think of sports cars as being small and nimble – and most European sports cars are – but not all. In the early postwar years some … Continue reading
Hi Gang… In the early postwar period, Americans were building new sports cars out of old parts. Newly styled bodies were being built on modified old chassis’, unmodified old chassis’ and custom chassis. We did this time and time again … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Be careful what you wish for. That’s all I can say. I’ve been hunting down lost sports cars, race cars and sport customs in earnest for the last nearly twenty years – and much to my surprise, with … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Our thoughts and the use of imagery for our Undiscovered Classic cars has evolved over the years, and during this time we’ve walked step by step with our friend Dan Palatnik. Dan and I first started out with … Continue reading
Sport Customs Special Interest Autos: Nov-Dec, 1977 … Continue reading
Sportscar Specials Trend Book #196: 1960 Multiple Cars … Continue reading
Fashion Statement: LeSabre Show Car “Look-alikes” Collectible Automobile: June, 2007 … Continue reading
Hi Gang… The story of DM Nacional is one of the early postwar custom and coachbuilt cars in America – actually North America. Custom sports cars, custom cars and sport customs were being built across America. An entrepreneur and business … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Great news…..you can now create your own Undiscovered Classics collection and save some garage space while doing so. Thanks to the efforts of Alex Kotyar of Esval Models and some keen rendering work of artist extraordinaire Dan Palatnik, scale models of the 1952 Manta Ray … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Lost cars of fantastic design – how much better can a story be? And you might be the one to find this missing car. In the past many years, we’ve been fortunate to find cars hidden away for … Continue reading
Hi Gang… The story below was written by my good friend Rik Hoving who runs the Custom Car Chronicle. Rik and I share a great appreciation for both custom cars and sport customs. Those of you interested in these kinds … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Think of all the sports cars being designed and built in postwar Europe. It was a time of building and rebuilding. Coachbuilding companies that started before World War II like Spohn were doing their best to take orders … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Besides being a great friend, Pal Negyesi is a automotive historian who researches the history of all cars but especially those in – or close to – his native country – Hungary. Pal has shared several stories with … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Back in early 2014, good friend Arunas Racelis shared a story with me from his AllCarIndex about a Russian Sport Custom. That’s an amazing find since this type of car was rarely seen outside of the United States … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Several years ago we rescued and acquired a 1952 Singer AD SM Roadster that had been built and raced by Ralph Bush – and what a treat that story has been. Over the years, Ralph and I have … Continue reading
Hi Gang… There are a great many stories of lost cars and lost history out there – waiting for someone to begin the research where finding the family and/or car would be rewarding and worthwhile to all. Today’s story on … Continue reading
Hi Gang… I’ve been searching for the history of this car for 10+ years – and I’m still looking. Why you might ask? Well the more I find out, the more interesting it gets. I’ve traced the car back to … Continue reading
Note: The Lapin Agile is currently for sale. Click Here For More Information Hi Gang… We first wrote about a car owned by Toly Arutunoff back in 2012 – a mystery car that we hope to still identify. Click Here … Continue reading
Hi Gang… This car has been close to home for us since we started Undiscovered Classics in 2006. Robert Cohen’s 1953 Gussenbauer Special has been on display at the Sarasota Classic Car Museum for around 15 years. It’s a “one … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Back in 2014, we were honored to participate in the Boca Raton Concours d’Elegance with our 1955 Californian Sports Car (later identified as the LeGene Sports Car). The class was arranged by Paul Sable and it was called … Continue reading
Hi Gang… The first Jabro….so much different than the later Jabro sports cars that James P. Broadwell was best known for. But it all started in 1952 with a sport custom also called the “Jabro.” The wheelbase of this car … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Great news gang. One of my favorite postwar sports cars, the 1948 Timbs Streamliner, will begin the restoration and rebuilding process in the near future. Great friends Gary and Diane Cerveny, owners of the Timbs Streamliner lost this … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Great news…..you can now create your own Undiscovered Classics collection and save some garage space while doing so. Thanks to the efforts of Alex Kotyar of Esval Models and some keen rendering work of artist extraordinaire Dan Palatnik, scale models of the 1947 and 1948 … Continue reading
Hi Gang… And we’re off! On the heels of releasing our first poster of America’s Handcrafted Cars last week. Today, Dan Palatnik and I are releasing our second poster of these cool, handbuilt cars that appeared across America in the … Continue reading
Hi Gang… The Undiscovered Classics community is big – and it takes some big equipment and the right people to move our inventory. Time and time again we have called on Bob Sellers and the folks at Reliable Carriers to … Continue reading
Hi Gang… It’s significant to look back over time and consider changes we’ve seen in celebrating Undiscovered Classics cars. Recently we shared the increased appearances of handcrafted American sports cars at events across the country including the Amelia Island Concours … Continue reading
Hi Gang… There’s never a dull moment here at Undiscovered Classics. And although the 2020 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance ended mere hours ago, Dan Palatnik and I have been hard at work the last week to bring artwork on handcrafted … Continue reading
Hi Gang… One of our Undiscovered Classics aficionados alerted me to this article about “Sports Specials” that was published in the winter of 1983 – that’s 37 years ago folks. I had just turned 21 years old, and I already … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Early on, one of the individuals who coached me on the history of postwar American Specials was Fred Roth of Thousand Oaks, California. So much of the history of postwar handcrafted cars was undocumented and details were scarce … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Here’s a mystery with some history – that may be exactly right. Or not. That’s why we need your help. Recently, Ralph Thomas and his soon Brooks contacted me about a car they purchased recently via Craigslist. And … Continue reading
Hi Gang… I love Sport Customs – but it took me a long time to learn to call them by this name. If you think handcrafted fiberglass specials from the 50s are rare, just try to find a sport custom. … Continue reading
Hi Gang… We often think of all fiberglass car activity having occurred in California during the 50s, but that’s far from the case. We estimate that about 80% of the companies were in the Los Angeles, California area but others … Continue reading
Valuation: American Specials Hagerty Value Guides For American Specials The Valuation Guides maintained by Hagerty continue to show excellent results for nicely restored American Specials that have been brought back to beautiful condition. Overview Currently Hagerty value estimates exceed $100,000 … Continue reading
Leo Lyons Custom Mercury QuickSilver Magazine: Summer, 2016 … Continue reading
Hi Gang… I love sport customs. These are cars that preceded our fiberglass sports cars of the 50s when talented and creative individuals and companies were building sports cars out of steel and aluminum. If you think building a car … Continue reading
The Dan Post Archives: The History of Custom Car Literature – 1944 to 1954 When Did It Start, What Did They Publish, and Why It Was Researched In The Beginning… Dan Post was the first to document in great detail … Continue reading
Hi Gang… This past weekend we participated in our final concours d’elegance event of the year – the Cigar City Concours d’Elegance of Tampa, Florida – and we were honored to attend. For this event we did something a bit … Continue reading
Hi Gang… The challenge was on – two cars to show, two cars to tow and two trailers to go – 16 wheels on the ground in total – 30 tires to check and more before we left for the … Continue reading
Sarasota Classic Car Museum Undiscovered Classics Cars on Display Sarasota, Florida 2008 to Present Martin Godbey Owner and Curator: Sarasota Classic Car Museum Proprietor: Vintage Motors of Sarasota Cars In Museum (Scroll Down To See Photos of Cars) 1937 Long-Wheelbase … Continue reading
Jay Everett’s Astra Coupe: Part 2 Rod & Custom: July, 2009 … Continue reading
Jay Everett’s Astra Coupe: Part 1 Rod & Custom: June, 2009 … Continue reading
1952 Astra Coupe Entry-Level Price For A Trend Setter Ken Gross – American Car Collector: November/December, 2012 … Continue reading
Leo Lyons Custom Mercury – Pebble Beach Right at Home Graham Kozak: Autoweek Magazine September 14, 2015 … Continue reading
Hi Gang… November is going to be great fun this year – for us and those of you who are fans of Undiscovered Classics. The Cigar City Concours d’Elegance has officially accepted the 1949 Panache Sport Custom for presentation on their field next … Continue reading
Showcase 1949 Panache Sport Custom Owner: Undiscovered Classics Undiscovered Classics is working to restore this Sport Custom European styled sports car. History of This Car Sport Custom cars appeared as a postwar car movement where the design and build of … Continue reading
Showcase 1948 Kurtis Omohundro Comet Owners: Undiscovered Classics and Vintage Motors of Sarasota Undiscovered Classics is partnering with Martin Godbey owner of Vintage Motors of Sarasota and Sarasota Classic Car Museum in Sarasota, Florida to restore and show this car. Click … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Great news…..you can now create your own Undiscovered Classics collection and save some garage space while doing so. Thanks to the efforts of Alex Kotyar of Esval Models and some keen rendering work of artist extraordinaire Dan Palatnik, two versions of the 1952 Maverick Sportster … Continue reading
Hi Gang… From the start, we’ve always been focused on hand-built American cars. While mostly defined by the “sports car” genre, we’ve been intrigued by other hand-built cars, trucks, transporters and more. So when we came across a craigslist ad … Continue reading
Today we’re sharing a story we wrote for another website back in 2014. It’s about a coachbuilding company from Mexico called DM Nacional and it has been one of my favorite research projects over the past decade and more. We … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Great news…..you can now create your own Undiscovered Classics collection and save some garage space while doing so. And….you won’t have to go thru the effort that Rick D’Louhy and I did to get your own “Leo Lyons … Continue reading
Fifty Shades of Rust (Book) By Tom Cotter Foreword by Wayne Carini Introduction by Tom Cotter and Geoffrey Hacker Ten Stories of Handcrafted Cars Published 2014 … Continue reading
LOST CAR 1949 Rogue by Robert Monroe Help Us Find This Car! We’ve found plenty of interesting, cool, and lost famous cars over the past decade or so at Undiscovered Classics. It’s now your turn. As we’ve often said….. “The Cars … Continue reading
Hi Gang… If you want to understand the heritage of American fiberglass cars, you have to delve into the postwar history of Sport Customs – handcrafted sports cars made in metal or aluminum and built to create an American sports … Continue reading
Great Sectioning – Part 2 1955 Frazer Sport Custom Hemmings Classic Car: November, 2018 … Continue reading
Great Sectioning – Part 1 1955 Frazer Sport Custom Hemmings Classic Car: December, 2016 … Continue reading
Hi Gang… While the team down here in Tampa Florida is recovering from preparing, restoring, and showing our Leo Lyons Custom Mercury at the 2016 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, some of folks we met and interviews we gave during our … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Recently one of the steely-eyed researchers in our group – Bill Foss – noticed that the movie “Johnny Dark” had been digitized and released – but with a twist. It was a hi-def version on DVD but only … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Several weeks ago I brought you up to speed on the story of our Maverick Sportster – a car we’ve teamed up with Tom Chandler and Company of Elkader, Iowa to restore and show. Click here to review the … Continue reading
Hi Gang… There are some beautiful recreations of classic cars being built from steel, aluminum, and fiberglass too. Recently, I was struck by the beauty of one of these cars on display at Vintage Motors of Sarasota – a car … Continue reading
Hi Gang… I started out this morning wanting to write a short story that was just part of what you’ll read today – the adventure of getting a 1953 Cadillac body off its chassis for our Maverick restoration. But…so many … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Anything was possible in the 1950s concerning car design. It was early in 1958 when 17 year old Jim Webb showed his completed design – a custom sports car that debuted at the Oakland Roadster show, and won a top … Continue reading
Hi Gang… I often equate researching the history of lost American sports cars of the 50s as akin to trying to get a drink of water by running around the room with an empty glass and gathering as much water … Continue reading
It is interesting to note that there probably aren’t two identical Wildfires in existence today, simply because each builder customized his car the way he wanted to. Therefore, you’ll find Buick Wildfires, Chevrolet Wildfires, Ford Wildfires, and a host of … Continue reading
Hi Gang… We’re part of a movement gang – a “barnfinders” movement. More and more the cars we seek – the handcrafted cars of the 40s, 50s, 60s, and beyond – are coming out of the woodwork. That is, they … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Vintage literature is the key to finding the history of our cars. But it’s not just vintage automotive magazines – that’s easy. You have to “belly up to the bar” and seek out all the ancillary print materials … Continue reading
Hi Gang… We’re working hard here at Forgotten Fiberglass to compile and archive a copy of every postwar automotive magazine from 1947 to 1960. These are essential to documenting the era and the stories that abound on building your own … Continue reading
Hi Gang… How can you resist stories about the Fisher Body Craftsman’s Guild? This was the contest process put in place by General Motors where talented young men through about the age of 18 were challenged to design a new … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Everyone’s doing it and Kit Car Builder Magazine has now taken the digital plunge. Starting with the current issue – March/April 2014 – Kit Car Builder has moved from print media on newsstands to digital format for computers, … Continue reading
Hi Gang… What a great looking sports car! And I love the write up. As Rick D’Louhy and I continue to locate rare magazines, newspapers, race programs, show programs, and the like….we continue to uncover fiber-treasure inside – cars we’ve … Continue reading
Hi Gang… As a source of inspiration, one of the first books I read when we began our quest to find lost and forgotten cars of yore was Tom Cotter’s “Cobra in the Barn.” This is a book chocked full … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Let’s work backwards in time. Today, good friend Bill Hebal and his wife Kate own a cool special from the 1940s. That’s right….from 1946 to be exact. Wouldn’t you want to know more….and I did 🙂 In response, … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Small books were published throughout the 1950s by various automotive magazine publishers. The largest producer of these books was Petersen Publishing – the organization that brought us Motor Trend, Hot Rod, and other such luminary magazines. But Fawcett … Continue reading
Hi Gang… So far, I’ve found this custom car – the Ogle-Orbed Olds – in two Trend publications. It first appeared on the cover – in color – along with a one-page article in the August, 1953 issue of Motor … Continue reading
Hi Gang… This is a beautiful brochure from Sterling Gladwin, the designer, creator, and builder of the Maverick Sportster. Although the Maverick was first offered in late 1952, this brochure is dated as “received” on June 8th, 1955. We’re still … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Alden Jewell’s collection continues to astound us here at Forgotten Fiberglass. Recently he shared this flyer not from Maverick Motors but from Industrial Plastics Services. This was the organization that built the Vale bodies (we hope more than … Continue reading
Hi Gang… The fantastic – and sometimes overdone – customs built by Spohn in the postwar years have captivated my attention for many a moon. And I pine and wish that maybe…just maybe…someday I will find a neglected or forgotten … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Alden Jewell’s collection reveals yet another treasure – an original blueprint from Maverick Motors showing the parts used to complete the Maverick – or perhaps build your own. I’ve seen a blueprint like this before in the 1954 … Continue reading
Hi Gang… For those of you who have been a part of LaDawri.com and Forgotten Fiberglass these past many years you have witnessed an evolution. We started our focus on just one marque with Jon Greuel’s website on LaDawri sports … Continue reading
Hi Gang… This past year I was honored to present our 1947 Kurtis-Omohundro Comet at the 2012 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. The efforts to create a class of Sport Custom cars – the predecessors to our beloved forgotten fiberglass handcrafted … Continue reading
Hi Gang… I like to go the extra mile – confirm beyond a reasonable doubt what we’ve heard time after time and have long accepted as fact. Too long, sometimes. The story of postwar sports cars always starts with American … Continue reading
Hi Gang… We’ve come to a point at Forgotten Fiberglass where we need to step back and answer some larger more analytical questions. Recent contributions to the website by Joel Driskill and Rick Feibusch have provided excellent food for thought, … Continue reading
Hi Gang… I’ve heard about this car for years – “The Gardner Studebaker Special” – and have been waiting for it to be found and restored. My wait’s not been in vain – both have happened in just the past … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Guy Dirkin is leading the effort on challenging us at “Forgotten Fiberglass” to answer the following question: “Why has Forgotten Fiberglass…..been Forgotten?” Most recently, he posted his first salvo in the “comments” area at the bottom of the … Continue reading
——– Note: This is the second in a series of articles on Bill Miller’s Packard Special. Click here to review all articles in this series. ——– Hi Gang… It’s great when stories continue to expand – and the one on … Continue reading
——– Note: This is the first in a series of articles on Bill Miller’s Packard Special. Click here to review all articles in this series. ——– Hi Gang… Not many cars are going to be able to beat the size … Continue reading
——————————– Note: This is a multi-part story on the 1952 Tobin BMW 328 Special. Click here to review all articles in this series. ——————————– Hi Gang… In our never-ending search for this history of wonderful and interesting fiberglass sports cars, the … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Another missing Sport Custom from the early ‘50s – the ’51 Doray Sport Custom. I love cars that haven’t been seen in years – those are the ones that are most fun to find. And this one’s from … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Many of you know that I have long been fascinated with the cars that influenced the design of the later fiberglass sports cars of the 50’s. To know the subject you are studying – you have to know … Continue reading
Hi Gang… I’m honored to share an article with you today written by automotive historian and good friend Wayne Graefen. Wayne’s fascination with Spohn Customs has spanned nearly 50 years and culminated recently with the finding and acquiring the first … Continue reading
———– Motor Trend Magazine was so impressed by the success of fiberglass sports cars and the excitement over them that by late ’53 they featured a 6 page article featuring 7 different fiberglass cars you could purchase or build yourself. They … Continue reading
Hi Gang… What fun it is to share the fiberglass designs of the Midwest. Recently, I wrote about the fiberglass cars of the Northeast in a story about the Rockefeller Yankee. Today’s story focuses on the Detroit born and bred … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Today’s story is a result of an e-mail I received from Don Anderson (click here to learn more the Sportstar built by Don’s father) and a posting on “Bring A Trailer” as to a “mystery car” needing a … Continue reading
Hi Gang… The Multiplex lineage of cars starts back at the turn of the 20th century – takes a near 50 year hiatus – and then starts again in ’53. Today we’ll explore more about the cars and the brochures … 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… 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: This is a multi-part story on the 1952 Tobin BMW 328 Special. Click here to review all articles in this series. ———————– Hi Gang… In our never-ending search for this history of wonderful and interesting fiberglass sports cars, the … Continue reading
Hi Gang… In our last story on this Dutch-built, American-based special, we reviewed their 1947 brochure when the company was called “Gatford.” Click here to review this story on the 1947 Gatford / Gatso Sports Car: An American Based Special … Continue reading
Hi Gang… In Italian, “La Saetta” translates to “The Lightning” or “Lightning Bolt” and it was in late 1952 that Gino and Cesare Testaguzza debuted their “La Saetta” – a 110 to 116 inch wheelbase sports car / boulevard cruiser … Continue reading
Hi Gang… During my recent trip to the Northeast, I pulled back home a McCormack Sports / Custom car from its resting place for so many years. I’ll share the full story with you in the near future, but I … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Questions, Questions, Questions…..I love questions 🙂 What was the first postwar kit or “assembled sports car’ in America? Who made the first full-size “production” sports car in postwar America? Which postwar sports car could be ordered with a … Continue reading
Hi Gang… When’s the last time you visited a Smorgasbord? I grew up in the ‘60s and it became a word our family used quite a bit. These were the first “buffets” that I can remember and this is exactly … Continue reading
Hi Gang… This is another in an series of ongoing articles and designs from the talented hands of Keith Kaucher – fan of fiberglass and consummate sports and custom car designer. For years Keith shared his designs with the audience … Continue reading
Hi Gang… As we explore the history of early fiberglass sports cars, time and time again you’ll see me discuss the heritage from which they came, and that was Sport Custom Cars from postwar America. The Sport Custom genre was … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Egads! How many American specials with American motive power could have been built in the ‘40s? And outside this country? World War II had just ended in ’45, and here it was 2 years later and an American … Continue reading
Kaiser-Frazer Club Calendar: April, 2011 1955 Frazer Sport Custom … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Over a period of many years, I was fortunate to get to know Dick Jones, designer and builder of the Meteor SR-1, quite well. During our conversations which were across the automobile spectrum, we would talk quite a … Continue reading
————————————— Car Craft Magazine, February ’54, commenting on the Petersen Motorama held in November, ’53: “One of the most interesting bits in the show was the heavy sprinkling of Fiberglass creations. These cars came in all shapes, sizes and for any … Continue reading
Hi Gang… This is another in a series articles on the 1949 Edwards R26 sports car. You can review all stories about this and other Edwards sports cars here on Forgotten Fiberglass by clicking here. I’ve been focusing on the Sterling Edwards … Continue reading
Hi Gang… We’re burning up rubber here in the depths of Forgotten Fiberglass…..bringing to the surface lost and forgotten cars – mostly fiberglass – that deserve recognition and respect. Today’s story is another in a series of articles on a custom … Continue reading
Hi Gang… This is another in a series of articles on the 1949 Edwards R26 sports car. You can review all stories about this and other Edwards sports cars here on Forgotten Fiberglass by clicking here. I’ve been focusing on the Sterling … Continue reading
Hi Gang… We’re burning up rubber here in the depths of Forgotten Fiberglass…..bringing to the surface lost and forgotten cars – mostly fiberglass – that deserve recognition and respect. Today’s story is one in a series of articles on a … Continue reading
Hi gang.. “Consider….the Edwards R-26 Special wasn’t an obscure, little known sports car. In fact, it’s probably the most famous, best known, and most important pure bred American sports and race car built in the early postwar era.” Read on … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Spohn, Spohn, Spohn…why so much about this German coachbuilders Spohn??? Because very little has been shared about them in recent years, and Spohn would have built a car that Elton John or Liberace would have been proud of! … Continue reading
Hi Gang… This is the second in a series of articles on the 1949 Edwards R26 sports car. You can review all stories about this and other Edwards sports cars here on Forgotten Fiberglass by clicking here. I’ve been focusing on … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Alden Jewell’s eagle eyes recently spotted this short article on the Maverick Sports Car. This article offered bodies for $950 as one of the options available – not a bad price for such a striking car. These guys … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Sports cars and postwar America go hand-in-hand. Which is ironic because you can count the number of individual American sports cars from 1945-1950 on probably just two hands. These “babies” were rare back then, and are like “vapor” … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Wayne Graefen and I are on a mission – to find out “all things Spohn.” But as you’ll find out over time….. Wayne’s way ahead of me on this one, and he’s been interested in these fascinating coachbuilt … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Believe it not….there were fiberglass sports cars built outside of California. The Rockefeller from New York, the Gazelle/Navajo in New Jersey, the Chicagoan from….you know where from, and many others too. And we’ll cover them all, eventually, here … Continue reading
———————– Note: This is a multi-part story on the 1952 Tobin BMW 328 Special. Click here to review all articles in this series. ———————– Hi Gang… Research is a wonderful thing. Thru hard-work, determination, teamwork, collaboration, discussion, discovery, and sometimes sheer … Continue reading
Hi Gang… This is a question I’ve asked over and over. That is, when does a sports car become a custom. Or vice versa. Although the car in today’s article isn’t my first choice to have this debate, it certainly qualifies. … Continue reading
Hi Gang… I have the greatest respect for people who can create, build, style, design, and conceive of nearly anything in their head and put pencil to paper. These are a very special breed of people. I, on the other … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Who doesn’t love dramatic and sweeping curves on any type of sports car built? I know I’m a sucker for ‘em, and the more dramatic (and probably less practical in practice…) the more I like the car. That’s … Continue reading
Hi Gang… The earliest known replica of a Cord that I’m aware of was done by – who else – the legendary Glenn Pray of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Here’s a bit more about the man and his story from the website http://www.glennpray.com/: … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Ever hear the quote: “The Light At The End Of The Tunnel….Is A Train.” In my case it’s not a train – it’s a 1953 Maverick Sportster. And it’s coming at me quick! Ever since Rick and I … Continue reading
Hi Gang… I always remember a quote that helps me measure the strength of friendships I have. It goes like this: “Friends help you move…..Real friends help you move bodies.” Fiberglass bodies I mean – what did you think? The … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Sometimes I don’t know what to think. But as we started to move cars all around, I thought to myself “well…perhaps someone somewhere might get some good from all of this work we’re doing.” You see, when I … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Ah….the “smoking gun.” Isn’t that what we’re always looking for? For me, the “smoking gun” has always been getting Tony Curtis’ detailed thoughts on the movie Johnny Dark – at the time the movie was filmed. And that’s…..what I … Continue reading
———————– Note: This is a multi-part story on the 1952 Tobin BMW 328 Special. Click here to review all articles in this series. ———————– Hi Gang… A fiberglass bodied sports car – on a BMW 328 prewar chassis? Who could … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Holy Toledo! What made this city “ground zero” for the debut of the fantastic film that starred forgotten fiberglass sports cars of the fifties? I think we may have finally figured this out, but it took meeting automotive … Continue reading
Hi Gang… I love mysteries. You know that. And when someone sends in a mystery that looks like an interesting riddle to solve…..who could resist? I know I can’t. Enter Frank Cornell. Frank has owned specials for 30+ years. He … Continue reading
Hi Gang… I scream, you scream, we all scream for….fiberglass mysteries. Or at least newly discovered fiberglass sports cars and their history (I couldn’t find anything that would rhyme with “ice cream.”) You’ll be hearing more about my good friend … Continue reading
Note: This is the second installment of a 2 part series of articles on John Gunnell and his recent article on “Sport Custom Cars of the Postwar Era.” Here is the link to part 1 of the story: Click Here to … Continue reading
Hi Gang… In order to introduce you to the topic of the article that will be touched on today (and discussed in more detail in the second part of this story), I need to first introduce you to the author. … Continue reading
Hi Gang… So little time…..so much to do. Back in 2009, Rick and I were sending out e-mails as a companion to Jon Greuel’s website: http://www.ladawri.com/ These e-mails were a record of stories concerning vintage fiberglass cars as well as … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Who was the first author to critically review and research American postwar automobile manufacturers down to the tiniest detail? That might seem like an unusual question, but that’s what Rick D’Louhy and I started to ask early on … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Where O where is Jim Webb of Berkeley? I’ve been searching for him and his family for many years now, and I’ve found everything but Jim. Thanks to Hugh Nutting who was a friend of his, we have … Continue reading
Hi Gang… You gotta love the Maverick Sportster from 1952…. It’s a good looking, graceful, and sophisticated design that grabs you the moment you see it. If fact, it fits a definition of “good looking” that fiberglass friend Robert Cumberford wrote … Continue reading
Hi Gang… As most of you know, the movie “Johnny Dark” is an important piece of history for fiberglass cars of the 1950’s. After all, Universal Studios featured several fiberglass sports cars in the movie which included: Woodill Wildfire Victress … Continue reading
Hi Gang… “Treat yourself to the terrific pride, prestige and satisfaction of owning and driving a high-spirited, Custom El-Morocco sports car. You will experience a new concept of driving…a new way of life!” That’s the summary shown on the Almquist … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Just how old are kit cars or sports cars that you can build? The Glasspar G2 is one of the oldest starting in 1951 – right? Not in any way, shape, or form. In fact, it’s off by … Continue reading
Hi Gang… I know the automotive world is not all fiberglass. However, there are times when some of you…. or some of me…. will want to share something – not related to the fiberglass genre in any way. In this spirit, … Continue reading
Hi Gang… In honor of the HBO Miniseries honoring those who fought in WWII – “The Pacific” – which just came to a close, I thought this might be a good time to discuss my good friend Chuck Tatum – … Continue reading
Hi Gang… A few weeks ago, we discussed the first fiberglass car in Germany which was built by the coachbuilder “Spohn” in 1955. Spohn was well known before World War II, and has been credited with beautiful automotive designs – worthy of special recognition – for … Continue reading
Hi Gang… There’s so much information about vintage fiberglass cars – if you know where to look. One of my favorite pieces of information comes from the 1954 Trend Book Titled “Manual of Building Plastic Cars”. What a gem of … Continue reading
Hi Gang.. More “firsts” here in the world of fiberglass. We first covered the UK’s first fiberglass car called the Allard Clipper. In our last story we reviewed the first plastic car in America – Ford’s 1941 Plastic car. So let’s go back … Continue reading
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
Kaiser-Frazer Club Calendar: 1999 1955 Frazer Sport Custom … Continue reading
1954 Frazer Custom Walter Omelenchuk Special KKOA Trendsetter: January, 1994 By Lynn Yarger: Southeast Michigan Colonel … Continue reading
