Contributors

THE  FORGOTTEN  FIBERGLASS  FAMILY
— OUR  CONTRIBUTORS —


“We’re Honored To Have So Many Passionate Contributors to the Cause – People We Consider to be Part of the Forgotten Fiberglass Family”

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At The 2011 Milwaukee Masterpiece. From Left to Right: Steve Steers, Tom Chandler, Linda Steers, Clark Mitchell, Barbara Chandler, Jim Robinson, Lea Ann Robinson, Ann Fowler, Stan Fowler, Merrill Powell.

The  Forgotten  Fiberglass  Family:

Forgotten Fiberglass is much larger than just two car guys.  Many people have been key in providing on-going support and help with research, strategy, and historical documentation in every way.  

We would like to thank all the folks who made this possible over the years in getting us to the point we are today.  This is not a short list.  This represents the efforts of folks going back over 30+ years or more.  The names in each section of the list have been alphabetized.

Here we go..


First… The  Trailer  Blazers:

These are the people who helped document these cars and their history – long before others caught on and appreciated them in the way they are today.

Mark Brinker Author, writer, historian, car owner, and all around enthusiast
Frank Cornell Woodill Wildfire historian
Bill Craddock Published first attempt at Vintage Kit & Custom Club newletter in 1993
Bob Curtis Historian and enthusiast who interviewed many of the founders back in the 1980’s and 1990’s – when research was damn near impossible
Kit Foster Author, historian, and enthusiast who embraced these cars long before nearly anyone else
Jon Greuel LaDawri.com founder and historian
John Gulow LaDawri Historian
Tim and Tom Hutchins Created Sport Custom Registry published in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s
Pat Hoover Son of original Glasspar builder and whose father (Bill Hoover) worked with Jean Poirer and Glasspar history
Raffi Minasian Car designer, author, historian, and enthusiast who has been on the cutting edge of creating and capturing history since his entry into the hobby with a Pegaso approximately 20 years ago
Dave Perry Restorer and owner of many of these fiberglass cars – runs the best damn fiberglass special garage in the country
Jean Poirer Glasspar Historian
Harold Pace Author extraordinaire and historian of kit cars, Porsches, and more
Fred Roth The founder of interest and focus on these cars starting with his support of an article in Special Interest Autos in 1971 about Woodill Wildfire

The  Honored  Enthusiasts,  Owners,  and  Contributors:

These are the folks who are owners of these cars, may have been owners in the past, knew the company founders and/or the cars back in the day, and those who have a ferocious appetite for the history and importance of vintage fiberglass cars in every way:

Greg and Debbie Alderdice Woodill Wildfire owners and enthusiasts (of LaDawris too)
Philip Avis Singer Historian
Tom Bambard Builder, racer, and enthusiast
Peter Boyd Historian and owners of many specials since the 1980’s – one of the best!
Wolfgang Buchta Historian (Austria)
Terry Buffin Atlas and Allied historian
Rick Cannon Owner of an Allied and Cannon Engineering historian
Chris Cassidy Builder and restorer of vintage fiberglass sports cars
George Chartier Fisher Body Guild Historian
Tom Cotter Noted author and historian
Steve Cowdin Woodill, Skorpion, Grantham Stardust, and researcher / literature collector
Darren Crispin Allied Swallow owner and enthusiast
Dudley Cunningham Meteor and Bocar owner and enthusiast
Guy Dirkin Byers and Victress owner
Bill Fester Allied owner and historian
Mike and Dawn Fisher Glasspar G2 and Bocar owners and enthusiasts
Phil Fleming Byers and Devin owner and historian
Dick Foster (Michigan) Owner and original builder of Woodill Wildfire
Dick Foster (California) Original builder of Victress S1 Special
Stan Fowler Builder and restorer extraordinaire – Woodill Wildfire
Jim Fox Berkeley owner and fiberglass enthusiast
Marshall Foxworthy Car designer, researcher, and historian – and great friend too!
Bob and Catherine Frumkin Mechanix Illustrated owner and builder
John Furlow Byers historian and owner
Jim Giles Historian and researcher / Woodill, Glasspar, Allied, others
Bruce and Nancy Glascock Previous owners of the famous Garner Special (Blowfish Special) and Grantham Stardust, and current owners of one hot fast Almquist Sabre.  Super historians too.
Norman Gocke Historian (Germany)
Mary Ellen Goddard Costa Mesa Historical Society
Ted and Greg Griffin Woodill Wildfire historians and original owner/builder (Ted)
Vilmar Nik Gudmunds Designer and builder of Thor
Bill Hair Historian and enthusiast
Jules Heumann Builder of a Singer Special in 1955-1958
Tom Householder Fantastic researcher and sports car enthusiast
John Jacobus Fisher Body Guild Historian
Ted Kempgens Builder extraordinaire
John Knebel Original owner and builder of Glasspar G2
Jeremy Krock Debonaire researcher, historian, and friend of Peter Egan
Mike and Jim Larkin Historians and original builders of the Sorrell and other cool racecars from back in the day
Denny Larsen Builder of Guy Mabee Victress Special and Sorrell Streetliner
Richard Lewis Original owner and builder of an Allied Swallow
Arthur Maimborg Collector, builder, and enthusiast from the 1950’s forward
Tim Masters Builder, historian, and guitarist
Alan and Cathy Maxcy Byers owner and historian
Peter McKercher Singer Historian
Bert McNomee Naugatuck Vice-President of Public Relations in 1950’s and person responsible for February 1952 Life Magazine article on Glasspar
Scott Miller Historian and restorer extraordinaire in every way (thanks Scott!)
Tony Miller Historian, enthusiast, and designer
Jack Molleur Fiberglass enthusiast and designer/builder
Javier Munoz Alken owner and historian
Hugh Nutting Enthusiast, historian, Glasspar and LaDawri owner
Rodney and Bill Packwood Victress C3 Builder and historians
Dan Palatnik Artist and enthusiast extraordinaire
Bob Peterson Kellison J2 owner, collector, restorer, artist, and author
Jon Phillips Builder and hot rod enthusiast
Frank Powell Brother of Bob Powell and builder of Bob Powell Victress. 
Rory Reinbold Owner and enthusiast of Allied / Atlas Sports Cars
David Rex Glasspar G2 Comet owner and enthusiast
Steve Ribeau Friend of Shorty Post family (Glasspar) and friend to Hank McCormack from McCormack, too
Tim Ritter Historian and enthusiast
Jim and Lea Anne Robinson Owners of the Guy Maybee Victress and historians of Victress
Rick Ruth Historian for the Chicagoan Sports Car
Paul Sable Owner, enthusiast, historian, and Concours judge of these cars
Erich Schultz Researcher, historian, Glasspar, Victress, LaDawri, Chattanooga Boiler Tank Chassis, and other owner
Bill Sigworth Chemtura / Naugatuck employee and historian
Jim Simpson Designer and enthusiast who shares passion for the early era of these cars – and continues this enthusiasm with both designing and building exotic specials as of today.
Jimmy Smith Artist, enthusiast, and builder (cool truck in the garage…)
Tony St. Clair Researcher extraordinaire and Glasspar / LaDawri owner
Steve Steers Victress owner and Glasspar enthusiast
Jerry Sutton Builder of Victress C3 coupe
Mick Walsh Classic and Sportscar Editor, historian (UK)
Bill Warner Chairman of Amelia Island Concours d’ Elegance, and constant supporter of these unusual cars
Mike Wittman Meteor owner, car build guru, and fantastic enthusiast (and great all-around guy too!)
Jim Valentine Art Center Student from the 1950’s and car designer
Dick Van Laanan Driver of Buchanan and Siegfried’s Singer Special
Myron Vernis Enthusiast, Glasspar Ascot owner, and fantastic researcher and historian
Doug Ward Friend and co-builder of Alton Johnson’s LeMans Coupe

Historians  and  Noted  Authors:

We’ve been fortunate here at Forgotten Fiberglass to have significant contributors, authors, writers, and lecturers who have made their mark – and continue to have an impact – in the automotive industry and its history. 

Terry Boyce Historian, author, and enthusiast
Tom Brierly Historian and magazine / literature collector
Glenn Brummer Historian extraordinaire
Robert Cumberford Author, writer, lecturer
Ron Cummings Historian and enthusiast
Bob Cunningham Historian and author
Bob D’Olivio Photographer and historian from the 1950’s forward
Bob Falcon Historian
Allan Girdler Historian, Road & Track Editor, author
Ken Gross Historian, author, writer, lecturer, and former curator of Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, California
John Gunnell Historian and author of my favorite book “Weird Cars”on these cars back in the 1970’s with his publication Special Interest Autos
Alden Jewel Historian
Rik Hoving Artist, historian, and enthusiast
Ron Kellogg Historian and enthusiast
Leslie Kendall Historian, author, and curator of Petersen Automotive Museum
Allen Kuhn Historian, photographer, and enthusiast
Michael Lamm Historian and writer
Leslie Long Historian
Karl Ludvigdsen Historian and author
Sharon and Rob McClellan Historians and literature enthusiasts
Jim Miller Chairman of the American Hot Rod Foundation and historian
Walter Miller Historian and literature enthusiast
Stan Mott Writer and creative artist
Jim North Son of Jim Potter author from the 1950’s
Bill Pollack Historian and race car driver
Jim Sitz Historian
Jonathan Stein Historian and enthusiast
Angelo Van Bogart Editor Old Cars Weekly, and enthusiast
Nick Whitlow CRV / Piranha / Gene Winfield Historian
Walt Woron First editor of Motor Trend from volume 1, number 1

Company  Founders,  Employees,  and  Families:

In addition, many founders, their families, associates, employees, and friends of the fiberglass companies from the 1950’s have been supportive and have inspired us to continue forward in our project with full steam.  These include, but are not limited the list below.

Ed Almquist Almquist – founder
Pat Amendolia Rockefeller, US Mark II – best friend of founder (Rockefeller) and bought out US Mark II
Noel Bangert Marshall Bangert – founder
Richard Bosley  Bosley – founder
Pat Boyce Smith Victress  – wife of founder Doc Boyce-Smith
Bill Burke Allied / Atlas – founder
John Buzby Gazelle and Navajo – employee and builder / vice-president
Jeri Clark Grantham Stardust / Gene Schneider Plastics – employee
John and Olga Covington Covington Tiburon – founding family.  Henry Covington was husband to Olga and father to John and Henry designed and built the Covington Tiburons.
Joan, Patrick, and Michael Dawes LaDawri – founding family.  Leslie (Les) Dawes, husband to Joan and father to Patrick and Michael designed and built the LaDawri Conquest and other LaDawri models.
Don Edmunds Wasp / Skorpion / Viking Craft employee (and the Cheetah too…)
Dean Frazen Lewis Frazen was designer and builder of Frazen (Gopher) sports cars.  Dean is his son.
Dennis Gerdes Glasspar (father was Warren Gerdes, Glasspar G2 Foreman)
Bruce Gladwin Son of Stirling Gladwin who produced the Maverick and helped build cars
Fred and Hirome Grantham Son of Bill Grantham of Grantham Stardust
Ray Green Ray’s father – Ray Green Sr – was builder of Frazen (Gopher) sports cars
Monroe Gretsky Founder of Vaughan-Singer Motors in Los Angeles, California in 1950
Frank Hecox Glasspar G2 employee
Steve and Sharon Hinger Steve is son of Chicagoan/Triplex/Lightning founder
Brian Jennings Eric Irwin’s (Lancer) nephew
Alton Johnson Jr Son of Alton Johnson builder of the LeMans Coupe
Dick Jones Meteor founder
Mel Keys Victress employee and friend
Ed Martindale and his son Marty Ed was Mameco co-founder with Ted Mangels.  Marty is Ed’s son.  Ed Martindale and Ted Mangels built and campaigned the Glasspar G2 Mameco Ardun Racecar owned by Bill Tritt
Rich McCormack McCormack
Patrick McLoad Son of Venus founder
Bruce Meyers Manx
Howard Miller Woodill Wildfire Production Manager – thru interviews conducted in the 1990’s by Frank Cornell
Clark Mitchell Friend of Harry Heim who designed body for Clearfield Plastics.  Clark and Harry co-designed and built original body which became first body offered by Clearfield Plastics and later Almquist.
Ed Monegan LeMans Coupe
Merrill Powell Victress
Bill Quirk Victress
Fred Ricketts Vanguard Warrior I
Jim Rockefeller Rockefeller
Richard Russell Victress
Elaine Shiber Rockefeller
Maria Testaguzza LaSaetta
Frank Tift Byers
Bill Tritt and sons Matt and Greg Glasspar
Phil Turgasen Shorty Post employee
John Wills Jr Wasp / Skorpion
Michael Woodill Woodill Wildfire

We  Would  Also  Like  To  Thank:

Ryan Cochran of the Jalopy Journal for his help, support, and encouragement on making this site happen.  Ryan blazed the trail with a format for his Jalopy Journal website that allowed both publication of stories and participation via a comprehensive discussion board too.  Outstanding for all his enthusiasts alike…

Daniel Strohl of Hemmings who loves the same oddball and fiberglass cars that most of us do as well.  His interest and support of these cars shows in the Hemmings Blog he maintains and the Hemmings Publications he writes for each month.


Last  And  Not  Least:  The  Fiberglass  Brain  Trust

But…not last or least…my thanks to my good friends who without their constant support, advice, thoughts, challenges, inquiries, patience with me, and outright enthusiasm – this would not be possible:

Rick D’Louhy My best bud with research and conversation concerning each of these cars, and the publication of our upcoming book.
Guy Dirkin Strategist, researcher, and historian whose constant challenges focus our research and make what we do better each day
Phil Fleming Phil’s marketing savvy and knowledge of strategy in terms of research and writing is bar none.  Phil continues to guide us along the way in terms of what’s important during the founding years of the 1950’s and why it’s important to car enthusiasts today.  He may have found one or two Kurtis Omohundro Comets for me too…*wink*
Geoff Hacker Me
Rollie Langston Rollie built his own Byers SR100 in the late 1950’s – and we just found it.  His understanding of the era and its place in history – both then and now – helps guide us on understanding the importance and excitement of the era of building your own sports car
Raffi Minasian Noted author, researcher, historian, and restorer
Harold Pace Noted author, researcher, historian, and restorer
Rodney Packwood Rodney and his brother Bill Packwood built one of the greatest specials in the early 1960’s and have shared their memories in every way (we’ve even found the car!).  Rodney has become a great friend and strategist with us particularly around the Glasspar, Woodill Wildfire, and Victress marques.
Dave Perry Historian, author, restorer, advisor, and friend.
Merrill Powell
“Honorary Chairman”
Victress Co-Owner 1953-1961
Erich Schultz Great friend and consummate car guy whose knowledge and memory of sports cars, classics, and specials from the 1950’s and 1960’s makes what we do the best it can be.
Mike Wittman I call Mike the “Guru of Glass”  – because he’s an expert on how the ‘glass specials of the 1950’s were built in every way.  Hot rods, classic cars, exotics…..Mike has been our “go to” guy for build and run questions in every way.

Summary:

As best we’ve tried, we’re sure we left some people out and our apologizes for doing so – know that we appreciate the support and enthusiasm of each of the friends we’ve made over the past few years and look forward to your participation and enjoyment of our site as well.

Glass on gang!

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Geoff Hacker: Forgotten Fiberglass

Rick D'Louhy:  Forgotten Fiberglass

Rick D’Louhy: Forgotten Fiberglass