Typically the submissions we receive lead us to a car that someone is looking to sell, but this recent submission from Richard B is the first ad I’ve seen that the seller is seeking something other than money. In the early days of fiberglass, many individuals discovered they could build their own car body out of the composite material. Most of these cars were incredibly crude and never finished, but there were a few that made it to the street. When these finds eventually resurface they tend to be a complete mysteries to the world. Well this car appears to be one of those mystery cars and the owner has reached out to the collective knowledge of the web for help identifying it. Seeing as we have some of the most knowledgeable car guys from across the globe, I thought we should take a crack at it. Find the owner’s listing here on craigslist, so if anyone knows what it is be sure to contact the owner. Special thanks to Richard for the tip!
The owner has already reached out to the web in the past, but so far no one has been able to identify it or provide any additional information. I know some mysteries will go unanswered, but with any luck we can get them a few more answers! I figure, at the very least we can identify where a few of the pieces were taken from. The trim work surrounding the grill opening looks to be a manufactured piece, so knowing what it came off of could help narrow down when it was produced. The body lines remind me of the Daimler Dart, but it clearly isn’t as well built as the Dart.
Initially I wrote this one off as being something someone built in their garage, but after a closer look, it appears to have had a considerable amount of thought and work put into it. Perhaps the builder was trained in the art of working with fiberglass or maybe it was some type of prototype that never saw daylight. It could end up being one mystery the goes forever unsolved, but let’s give it our best shot. If you have any more information or insights into what this could be, please share!
Woodill Wildfire?
That was my first guess to, but the lines aren’t right.
Maybe it’s a Daimler SP250.
Now this one intrigues me….. it almost looks as if someone started with the concept of an early MGA or Austin Healy body, took a hit to the front glass, and reformed it to some sort of 50’s Stude/Packard idea…… there’s a lot of different car concepts in this one… If it ever was produced and had a name I wouldn’t have a clue what it would be. I’ll be watching to see if someone comes up with any history on this one. Throw a late-model driveline in it and enjoy something really different.
I featured this car in June of this year here:
http://www.dailyturismo.com/2014/07/what-am-i-blowfish-edition.html
The best guess was a modified Daimler Dart. Even the guys at forgotten fiberglass couldn’t figure out what it is!! It looks like it might be a new seller, or he’s done some work and put new tires on it.
-Vince @ DailyTurismo
At first I thought it was a Glaspar but it isn’t. I think it’s a homemade body because I’m pretty sure that grille bar is from a 1949 Oldsmobile.
Sorry, but if Geoff Hacker (Forgotten Fiberglass) doesn’t know what this is then none of us do either.
The side profile looks almost like a Jupiter Jowett but they had doors and a different grille.
I version of the Glasspar G2-
Maybe a Glaspar G2
My gut feeling is a reworked Daimler Dart..the grill area def seems to have that feel. Given that at some point they were cheap (not any more !) and over engined they would be a prime candidate for a body rework esp as its good quality glass fibre. Be very interested to see how this thread goes
Obviously the result of a three-way involving a Daimler Dart, XK120, and a Panhard-Dyna.
The fact that it is symmetrical, and has survived, suggests an early-50s Southern California builder.
Any data on the frame and running gear, and why the wheels vary from photo to photo? Instrumentation and electrics would be clues.
Its a Catfish Special.
First glance impression was Daimler – but flat-head V8, late ’20s ’30s wire wheels, my take is a well crafted custom. Be most interesting to come up with some engine/transmission dates and some other forensics to clue us in.
~ Geoff [Hacker] has coined the name, ‘The Blowfish Special – Mysterion Extraordinaire’ in referring to this particular find. Here is everything that I know about it.
http://www.forgottenfiberglass.com/fiberglass-car-marques/mysterions/the-blowfish-special-mysterion-extraordinaire/
Oh darn
didnt read the craigslist advert
my first impression of first photo is a catfish but they had similar thought.
So they beat me to it.
This is a fishy find.
It is hard to get a good count for head studs; over the years block id is cast in various locations – should be easy to find; front distributor seems to be a single cap (???)
@sunbeamdon
.
The motor in the car is not original to the car, so that won’t help….the original flathead motor is long gone.
Austin Sprite but with a different windscreen
Looks like a modified bug-eye from the front with some sort of German war-machine windshield, on an altered Sprite/MG body. Don’t know what the originator had in mind, but like his ideas.
There were literally dozens of “one-size-fits-all” glassfiber bodies offered in the mid-1950s. You could find them advertized in almost every car magazine of the period.
My guess is that this is one from one of the lesser companies (not Woodill, Alken, Devin, etc.) and it has been modified from its original form along the way (not uncommon). It’s also possible some handy do-it-yourselfer built this. It definitely did come from one of the major companies, though there are some similarities, as others have pointed out.
It seems to built on an Ford chassis which i think was fairly common in the 50’s with the vets returning from Europe and having seen the sports car on the other side of the pond. Ford’s were plentiful and with the hot rod culture and a V8 offering plenty of cheap power it was a no brainer. Many small companies started such as listed in the above comments offered by RayT. That still doesn’t solve the question of what it is though.
As an aussie this is to me a very americana looking sports car of the time. Sure english undertones are seen but it has that american take on the concept. Definitely home grown for you guys.
I own a bunch of aussie fibreglas sportscars low builds and our specials of this nature have a decidedly different look and so does the English cars of the time. Each country running with similar themes but thier own design cues Thats what I like about this site featuring fibreglas oddities I wont ever see here. Of coarse our fibreglas cars would freak you out too as a what is it. Keep up the oddities as fibreglas is so organic in looks.
Alpha Foundry Alviso Ca. Ron Lawrence owner had the patent
I saw that Hacker didn’t know on Facebook so I gave up, but he does know and it Is a Mysterion Blowfish…ah ha…
It’s an Almquist.
Looks like a lump of a front Daimler SP250 and a rear XK120 Jaguar.
B
Thanks for your response……we believe she is a very early fiberglass project…..a one off, not from a mold….it’s all American a pre war Ford chassis with v8 flathead…..we have found her history back to the 1970s in the bay area just hoping we can find a relative or neighbor that may remember the builder……the styling and parts point to a late 40s early 50s build making it very special!! Craig
So, if the name is Mysterion Blowfish………………
which musical group would be cars favorite?
Hootie and the Blowfish
OR
Question Mark and the Mysterians
It’s a Bondo-matic 500. Five hundred pounds of Bondo, which ironically gets repaired with sheet metal.
The wire wheel looks like a Ford of the mid 30’s, so I vote for a Ford chassis. Slim evidence, not enough to convict.
I think the rear 3/4 is taken from a mold of an XK120 Jaguar. Right up to the top of the front fenders, it looks really close to the Jag. The headlights, hood and scoop, and the grille
opening look like one of several ’50s fiberglass cars.
With the body line’s and flathead engine,etc. I think it’s a somewhat modified Ford Glasspar Roadster,early 1950’s era.
The grille piece smacks of 1949-50 Olds. From the detail picture of 1949-50 Olds Grille Bars-01.jpg shown; it appears that the Mystery car builder has used the inner grill bar based upon the tell-tale raised inner edge shown in the picture.
I’m not overly sure about this one, I’m cirtan its a Euro classic and fairly sure its Brittish. I’m not a model for model expert on BLMC/BMC/Rover Group but I’d suspect its either a Daimler or a Austin-Healy, perhaps both (model sharing between companies was our Forte)
The rear bumper looks vaguely 39-40 Ford-ish, tho maybe not the bumper guard. Will be interesting to see the responses.