Victress S1A Scale Models Now Available – Featuring the Johnny Dark Victress


Two Models of the Victress S1A Roadster Are Now Available For Purchase

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 a 1953 and 1954 … Continue reading

Johnny Dark Movie – 1954

Johnny  Dark  Movie American  Specials  of  the  1950s  at  Their  Best Universal  International:  1954 Overview Review the stories below to learn more about this film Johnny Dark The Post World War II Sports Car Craze Played out on the Silver … Continue reading

Steve Cowdin’s Cars

Cars  of  Undiscovered  Classics Steve  Cowdin’s  Cars As of: 7/21/2024 Sports Cars Fiberglass 1953 Johnny Dark Woodill Wildfire Star Car For Movie 1953 Grantham Stardust 1 of 4 Known To Exist 1955 Meteor CR-90 (90 inch wheelbase) Only Race Car … Continue reading

Cars of Undiscovered Classics

Cars  of  Undiscovered  Classics Geoffrey  Hacker’s  Cars Tampa,  Florida Click  Here Mike  Puma’s  Cars Buffalo,  New  York Click  Here Joel  Driskill’s  Cars Richmond,  Virginia Click  Here Jack  Farr’s  Cars Cresson,  Texas Click  Here Steve  Cowdin’s  Cars Larkspur,  Colorado Click  Here … Continue reading

2025: Additional Cars For Amelia

Additional  Cars  Scheduled  For  Amelia  2025 Various  Classes For Review and Approval: Matt Orendec Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance March 6-9, 2025 Additional Cars Scheduled  For Amelia 2025 Car 1: 1959 Morgan Devin Special Class Assigned: Race Cars Post-War 1956-1965 Owner:  … Continue reading

For Sale: 1955 Woodill Wildfire

For  Sale 1955  Woodill  Wildfire Professional  Body-Off  Restoration  (2024) —   Cadillac  V8  Power  With  Three  Carburetors  — —   Automatic  Transmission  — Pricing  /  Availability The car is located in Phoenix, Arizona and is available for purchase at $79,900 Contact  Jess  … Continue reading

The Designers

The  Designers Who  They  Were  and  What  They  Accomplished Design Veterans Ralph Roberts and the 1951 Skorpion:  Roberts worked for Chrysler in the 1930s and 1940s and created cars and show cars such as the 1941 Chrysler Newport Dual-Cowl Phaeton … Continue reading

Before and After

“Before”  and  “After” 40  Cars  Are  Shown  Below The  Photos  Show  The  Starting  Point  and  the  Finished  Look Restorations  Completed  By  Undiscovered  Classics  Teams Restorations  Completed  By  Others … Continue reading

For Sale: 1953 Irwin Lancer

For  Sale 1952  Irwin  Lancer America’s  First  Fiberglass  Bodied  Sports  Car —   Fresh  Restoration – 2024  — —   Ford  Flathead  (59A)  V8  Power  With  Dual  Carburetors  — —   3-Speed  Manual  Transmission / Columbia  2-Speed  Differential  — Pricing  /  Availability The … Continue reading

1953 Grantham Stardust Restoration Begins


Twelve Grantham Stardust Sports Cars Were Built – Just Four Remain

Hi Gang… Exciting news for one of my favorite handcrafted cars of the 1950s – the Grantham Stardust.  While we have an unrestored example in our collection, Undiscovered Classics has partnered with David Deluca to restore and show his Stardust … Continue reading

Victress – Home

Victress  Manufacturing Home  Page 1952 – 1961 This section of our website is under construction as of 10/1/2019.  We will continue adding details and features over the next few months so check back and see our progress.  And….welcome to our … Continue reading

Proposed  Concours  Classes  and  Exhibitions

Confirmed  and  Proposed Concours  Classes,  Events  and  Exhibitions Confirmed  Classes  For  2024 Barnfinds  Class Hilton Head Concours d’Elegance Debut: 1949 Packard Monte Carlo by Richard Arbib October 31-November 3, 2024 American Sports Customs – America’s Boulevard Cruisers Postwar late 40s … Continue reading

2021

2021 Click on the Following Links To Review Each Article Concours  d’Elegance  Appearances Cigar City Concours d’Elegance 1962 Shark Roadster November 14, 2021 Chattanooga Concours d’Elegance Three Cars:  1962 Shark Roadster 1953 Maverick Sportster 1956 Woodill Wildfire (Woody’s Personal and … Continue reading

Movie Stills

Johnny  Dark  (1954) Starring  Tony  Curtis,  Piper  Laurie  &  Don  Taylor 100+  Movie  Stills The official movie stills from Johnny Dark are numbers on most of the photos – from 1751-1 to 1751-55.  Within these numbers are letter designations which … Continue reading

Silodrome: Stories on UC Cars

Silodrome – Gasoline  Culture  Magazine  Stories  on  Undiscovered  Classics  Automobiles On  The  Web Silodrome:  Gasoline  Culture  Magazine Home  Page Articles Project  Car:  A  Rare  Kellison  J6  Panther  V8 Silodrome: July  25th,  2022 American  Designed  and  Built:  The  Byers  SR-100 The  … Continue reading

Restorations: Customer

Customer  Cars  In  Restoration With  Undiscovered  Classics We are currently managing and restoring cars for many of our customers.  Here are some of these cars being restored.  We’ll be adding additional detail about their restorations soon. 1952  Voodoo  Gardner Designer: … Continue reading

Victress Advertisements 1953

Victress  Advertisements 1953 This is the earliest ad known for Victress.  It is to be co-sponsored by Hellings showing their close relationship at the time.  The Victress shown in the rendering below was built by Virgil Rice and appeared in … Continue reading

2016

2016 Click on the Following Links To Review Each Article Concours  d’Elegance   Appearances Concepts Beyond Detroit Class (Two Cars) Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance:  Official Press Release Two Cars Attending: 1961 Covington Tiburon; 1950 Leo Lyons Custom Mercury March 10-13, 2016: … Continue reading

2012

2012 Click on the Following Links To Review Each Article Concours  d’Elegance   Appearances Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance August, 2012 1947 Kurtis-Omohundro Comet Kirkland Concours d’Elegance September 9, 2012 1947 Kurtis-Omohundro Comet Salisbury Concours d’Elegance September 8-9, 2012 Salisbury House & … Continue reading

Research Approach For Undiscovered Classics

Undiscovered  Classics  Research  Approach First: We’ve combed thru (and are still working on) reviewing all articles on fiberglass cars in American 1950’s enthusiast magazines such as Hot Rod, Motor Trend, Road and track and other well known titles. Second:  We’ve identified thru … Continue reading

People Interviewed As Part of Research

People  Interviewed  As  Part  of  Research This shows (in process) a list of the people we interviewed to learn the details and history of these cars and their companies.  This list also includes first-person histories or research written by individuals … Continue reading

Our  Story – A  Historical  Perspective

Our  Story – A  Historical  Perspective Introduction From concept cars to teardrop streamliners… From vintage race car transporters to lakesters… From race cars to sports cars… From legendary custom cars to even concept dune buggies… Geoff Hacker and his team have … Continue reading

Glasspar Registry – Restored

Owner: Jerry Wood – Vista, California Hand-built by Jerry Wood with words of encouragement from Rodney Packwood Highlights:Year: 1953Body Number: 172 (3 digit stamp on latch-plate of door)Doors: Passenger onlyEngine: 331 Chrysler HemiTransmission: GM Muncie 4-speedChassis: Shorty Post frame #PC102013 Special … Continue reading

Forgotten  Fiberglass  Timeline:  Table  Form

Forgotten  Fiberglass  Timeline:  Table  Form Ok guys….this is a “work in progress” but will help establish specific beginning dates and significant events in the postwar history of American Fiberglass Sports Cars. Date Event Reference 1945, Fall End of World War … Continue reading

Other Glasspar Production

Cars – Home       Glasspar – Home     History Brochures & Advertising Models Available Bibliography Showcase Discussion Group Miscellaneous Contact / Registry Other Glasspar Production The Woodill Wildfire – As the Glasspar G2 took off, Robert “Woody” Woodill, a very … Continue reading

Bibliography

Cars – Home       Glasspar – Home     History Brochures & Advertising Models Available Bibliography Showcase Discussion Group Miscellaneous Contact / Registry The first person to attempt to compile Glasspar G2 articles, brochures, advertising, and other information was Jean Poirier in … Continue reading

Newsletter 6: May 25th, 2005

Glasspar – Home       Newsletters Newsletter 1 Newsletter 2 Newsletter 3 Newsletter 4 Newsletter 5 Newsletter 6 Newsletter 7 Newsletter No. 6        May 25, 2005 Dear Glasspar G-2 Club Members      I sent out quite a list of potential Glasspar … Continue reading

“Farr Out” – The Jack Farr Collection

The  Jack  Farr  Collection Undiscovered  Classics  Cars  on  Display Located  at  DriveXotic:  Cresson,  Texas Handcrafted  American  Specials Restored  (5  Cars) Click  Here In  Restoration  (5  Cars) Click  Here Being  Built  From  Scratch  (3  Cars) Click  Here Hot  Rods  and  Customs … Continue reading

Main Menu

Main  Menu Forgotten  Fiberglass Click  Here Sport  Customs Click  Here Streamlined  Dreams Click  Here Links  To  Explore Welcome  To  Undiscovered  Classics Click  Here View  Our  Undiscovered  Classics  Portfolio Click  Here Learn  More  About  Undiscovered  Classics Classic  Motorsports:  January,  2022 Click  … Continue reading

1950’s Handcrafted Cars (Restored)

Jack  Farr  Collection Restored  Handcrafted  Cars 1953  Woodill  Wildfire (1 of 2) Featured  in  the  1954  Film  “Johnny  Dark”  Starring  Tony  Curtis Click  Here 1953  Victress  S1A One  of  the  1st  Fiberglass  Sports  Cars  Built  in  the  1950s Click  Here … Continue reading

Historical Archives

Undiscovered  Classics Historical  Archives In-depth archives on Dan Post, Strother MacMinn, Bob Gurr, Sports Car Design (Road & Track), historic books and other materials related to Undiscovered Classics.  Also includes an extensive library of vintage articles focused on Undiscovered Classic … Continue reading

Victress in the Press: 1956 – 2005

Victress  In  The  Press  And  On  The  Field 1953 – 2005 Vintage Articles, On The Web, In Print, Podcasts, Videos and Events/Concours Attended In Print:  Oldest Articles at Bottom of Page 2000 Keith  Kaucher’s  Kit  Concepts  (Victress  C3  Coupe) Kit  … Continue reading

Showcase: Fiberglass – Production Bodies – Restored

Showcase Production  Fiberglass  Sports  Cars Restored 1959  Salvatore  Salerno  Devin A  Time  Capsule  –  Preserved  in  Original  Condition Amelia  Island  Concours  d’Elegance  2024  Award  Winner Owner: Geoffrey Hacker, Undiscovered Classics Click  Here 1958  LeMans  Coupe The  Most  Exciting  Sports  Car  … Continue reading

Geoffrey Hacker

Geoffrey  Hacker,  Ph.D. Founder  of  Undiscovered  Classics / Forgotten  Fiberglass Background Geoff Hacker has pursued rare and unusual cars since his teen years when he discovered an exotic, fiberglass-bodied, two-seater concept car in Clearwater, Florida – a car that he … Continue reading

2020

2020 Click on the Following Links To Review Each Article Concours  d’Elegance  Appearances Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance 1952 Voodoo Gardner March 8, 2020 Museum,  Event  and  Exhibition  Appearances   On  The  Web Johnny  Dark  Woodill  Wildfire  To  Debut  at  2021  … Continue reading

Books By Undiscovered Classics

Books  By  Undiscovered  Classics We’ve created books of some of our more special cars that we can share with you.  You can view the online version of each book at no cost.  Printed copies of books are available for cost … Continue reading

2017

2017 Click on the Following Links To Review Each Article Concours  d’Elegance   Appearances Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance 1956 Bangert Manta Ray March 9-11, 2017: Amelia Island, Florida Museum,  Event  and  Exhibition  Appearances DuPont Registry Show June, 2017 Exhibited: 1956 Bangert … Continue reading