Voodoo Magic: Jerry Gardner's Voodoo Special

65 In contrast, most of the designs Detroit threatens to ram down our throats in the next few years look like something by Captain Video out of Superman. Why an automobile should look like a jet plane is hard to fathom. Jet planes do not try to look like automobiles. Jet planes, being mature and sensible things, are satisfied to look like what they are. The American automobile is still in adolescence. ” Even General Motors capitalized on this trend, launching the Fisher Body Craftsman Guild design contests to harness talents and future trends of young Americans. Many winners would go on to careers in design at General Motors effecting the production designs for years to come. “ Fiberglass ” – The New Wonder Material In 1950 Fiberglass was new. BIG news. Forming either steel or aluminum required a high level of skill, time, and experience. When fiberglass bodies were introduced at the 1951 Petersen Motorama in Los Angeles, California, they were seen as the “ carbon fiber ” equivalent of their day. This latest technology was being used throughout architecture, boats, furniture and industrial manufacturing. So the material was plentiful and cost effective. It was also easy to use. Fiberglass bodied sports cars received immediate attention everywhere they appeared. Lightweight, strong, and moldable, fiberglass was the optimal choice for designers building race - cars, sports cars and concept cars alike. Composite materials remain the primary choice of sports and racing car bodies to this day for the very same reasons. Detroit saw the advantage of fiberglass – and capitalized on it by creating some of the best known concept cars of their day out of this new “ wonder material. ” From 1953 to 1956 nearly forty concept cars were built in Detroit out of this material – some of the most famous concept cars of the day. Fiberglass was the material of choice to build a one - off handcrafted concept car. These “ dream ” cars are some of the most valuable in the collector car hobby today, many in the million dollar price range. Shows, Exhibitions, and Fame Across The Land Throughout the country, handcrafted sports cars were featured in regional and national shows such as: • Hot Rod Exposition : Held in Los Angeles, California. America ’ s first postwar custom and hot rod show. Held in 1948 and 1949. • National Roadster Show: Also known as the Oakland Roadster Show, originally held in Oakland, California. Held from 1950 to the present. • Petersen Motorama : Held in Los Angeles, California and sponsored by Trend Inc., which published Motor Trend, Hot Rod, and other magazines. Held from 1950 to 1955 • World Motor Sports Show: Held in New York City 1953 to 1954 Article Continued on Next Page