Hi Gang…

Look at how early the date of this magazine is gang…..February 18^th, 1952.  That’s less than 90 days from when fiberglass sports cars debuted at the November 1951 Petersen Motorama, and Glasspar was already making news in Time Magazine.

Very impressive!

You know it took Bill Tritt and Glasspar several months to get into the swing of things and it wasn’t until the Fall of ’52 that Glasspar started to offer more bodies and Shorty Post frames to boot.  Back when this article was published, there were probably less than five G2’s on the road – and maybe only two – The Brooks Boxer and the Alembic 1.

Research continues gang and in the meantime, let’s see what Time Magazine shared with their readers back on that cold February Wintry day in 1952…

Synthetic Body: Glasspar’s Plastic Car
No Rust, No Squeak, No Dent
Time Magazine, February 18^th, 1952

Last week, an auto with a plastic body was rolled out in Costa Mesa, California by the Glasspar Company, which has been making laminated glass boats.  Mounted on a Willys chassis, the 185 lbs body required no heat or pressure to mold, was made by laying successive layers of polyester resin, Owens-Corning Fiberglas matting and Fiberglas cloth on a form.

Glasspar, which plans to retail the bodies for about $625, sold the first one to U.S. Rubber, which manufactures the resin and hopes to get automakers interested in plastic bodies.  They are stronger than metal ones, said U.S. Rubber, and will not rust, squeak, or dent.

If fractured in an accident, they can be easily and cheaply repaired.  An 8-inch rip in a fender has been repaired in half an hour with 50 cents worth of materials.

Summary:

Hope you enjoyed the story, and until next time…

Glass on gang…

Geoff
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