Hi Gang…

Let’s celebrate the Ford Times Magazines of the 1950’s.

Why?  Their section in nearly each postwar issue called “Custom Conversions” is a treasure trove of lost customs and hot rods of the 40’s and 50’s.  And boy do they love the Ford-based Specials!  So much so, that I’ve created a category for Specials shown in the Ford Times magazines we feature here on Forgotten Fiberglass.

Click here to review some of the articles we’ve featured on Ford Times Specials.

Today’s article on Forgotten Fiberglass features an expertly built Glasspar G2 sports car built by John H. Finehout of Pacific Palisades, California.  As I’ve mentioned previously, I’ll feature the entire Ford Times article whenever we cover a special shown here in their magazine.

Off we go…

Custom Conversions (Ford Times, December 1953)
Restyling At Home and Abroad
By Burgess H. Scott   

John H. Finehout of Pacific Palisades, California, owns what he believes is the nearest to an all-Ford sports car, pictured above.  The only non-Ford parts are the fiberglas body and head and tail lights.  It is powered by a 1953 Mercury engine developing 145 horsepower, and providing a top speed of approximately 120 mph.   Parts from 1937 through 1953 Fords and Mercurys went into the car.  The 1953 Ford frame was altered to 101 inches wheelbase and widened for better seating.

The smart aluminum-bodied coupe pictured at the top of the next page was built by a Ford dealer in Sweden on an English Ford Prefect chassis and engine.  The chassis was lowered to make way for the low-slung styling.  The final over-all measurements are:

• Length: 13 feet 5 and one-half inches
• Width: four feet nine inches
• Height: four feet three quarters inches
• Ground Clearance: 5.9 inches
• Weight: 1631.3 pounds

The instrument panel contains a fuel gauge, oil pressure gauge, temperature gauge, ammeter, electric clock, tachometer, direction indicator, and main beam warning lights.  Twin carburetors and a special cylinder head give the car a top speed of 80 mph at 6,000 rpm.

Manual B. Albert of Manila, Philippine Islands, blended a Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury and parts from three other makes as well in building the roadster which is pictured above.  The chassis is ’39 Mercury shortened to 100 inches wheelbase.

The Mercury engine has been souped up for a street job and develops about 135 horsepower at 4,500 rmp.  The transmission and differential are Lincoln, and special heads give the Albert car a compression ratio of 8.5:1.  The car cruises easily at 100 mph with the standard 16 inch wheels.

Summary:

So….have we found the Finehout Glasspar G2 yet?  Rodney Packwood and I don’t know.  We’ve found 65 Glasspar G2’s so far, and the serial number list (from Bill Tritt’s and Bill Hoover’s estimates and Rodney Packwood’s work) show approximately 100 G2’s being produced.  So…if we’ve found it – we don’t know.

The Finehout Glasspar G2 could be hiding in a garage in Pacific Palisades, California – or somewhere close by with a family member.  It only takes a bit of time to do some research gang.  Anyone want to go research this one and let us know what you find?  Inquiring minds will want to know.

Hope you enjoyed the story, and until next time…

Glass on gang…

Geoff
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