If I could take on this project, I’d be incredibly tempted to buy this rare oddity! The Glasspar G2 might just be one of the most unique-looking designs ever, but this one is especially unique, as it is one of six with the same grille as the Nash Healey. Now, some of you might be picturing the inbound headlight Nash Healey grille, but this grille was used on just the first year of Nash Healeys, which was designed by Donald Healey himself. This Glasspar is also wearing a hardtop, which is a feature I’ve never seen on one of these before, and definitely makes it more interesting. If you’d love to get this special find back on the road, you can find it here on craigslist in Scottsdale, Arizona with a $40,000 asking price. Special thanks to TJ for this tip!
Glasspar’s origin story is as interesting as their cars were. Bill Tritt, who happened to be a boat builder, offered to create a fiberglass body for a friend’s hot rod. It turned out so nice, that he decided to display the car at Los Angeles Motorama show. People were so impressed with it, that he modified the design and got to manufacturing it right away, making the G2 the first fiberglass production car. He would go on to build several different models of cars, plus the bodies for Disney’s Autopia ride, but that’s a whole other story. Looking this G2 over, its fit and finish is quite impressive, especially for something built out of fiberglass in the early 1950s. As you can see, the interior is well appointed for a roadster and is competitive with the best Britain had to offer at the time.
We don’t get a look at the engine, but it’s said to be powered by a Buick V6 paired to a TH350 automatic transmission. Originally, this G2 would have likely been equipped with a V8 from a ’50s Cadillac paired to a 3-speed manual. The seller notes that the car was previously owned by John Knebel, who was a record-setting test pilot, and that he rebuilt the car sometime in the ’80s. Chances are that’s when the car received the V6 and automatic swap. While this setup is probably more powerful and easier to drive, I’d prefer to have it period correct.
The standard G2s are great-looking machines, but I really prefer the look of the single large grille featured on this one. It would really be great to have more information about the history of this car, as it could be a significant example, but there’s no way to know for sure without documentation. What is for sure is that this is a cool find that really deserves to be properly restored and back on the road. So, what do you think of this Glasspar? Would you take it on?
In the mid 60s my family owned a Glasspar 15 footer with a 40 HP Johnson motor. Even had a Chrysler inspired rectangular shaped steering wheel.
No tires though.
its quite likable, that brit door, the side lines, etc.
As a design I’d like more – a taller windshield to the top would sit (sight line from side)more parallel w/ground (view this shape upside down – L).
“The 1st” – I’d like to see how many made to understand small company ‘doins’, the glass car ‘industry’ @ that time’n more. Gee – I think I need nother whole article here, thnx for the write up/post Joshua~
Is that a removable hard top ? It seems to sit at an odd angle.
How do you even get into that thing?
It is a removable top. It looks like it might be from another car. Taking it off would make getting in and out easier, but it doesn’t look like it would be any more difficult than getting out of an MGA or Triumph TR3 with a hardtop. With the hardtop installed on our TR3A, you back in, lean back once seat, and swing your legs in. Getting back out is a bit more difficult, as your feet tend to catch on the door jamb. Once they are out, you just sort of “roll” out. It’s not exactly graceful, but not that bad. I imagine it’s the same procedure with this Glasspar.
singer offered a fiberglass body
on the chassis of their 9 roadster as early as 1951 .
@chrlsful@aol.com-okay we get it. Just kidding I have made multiple posts by accident many times. Roof line on this just looks freaky to me like in the design process the roof measurements were either too high or the windshield frame measurements too low.
Awkward-looking roof, appears ill-fitting as does the passenger door, $40K would buy a lot of better IMHO.
You need parts for a what?
This is the best looking Glaspar I have seen. It would be fun with any lighter ’54 motor . The hardtop is very nice . This would be an easy restoration of a very unique collectable. The market for solid “kit cars” is solid now.
Using trailer hitch balls as a decoration item is a new one.
Stunning!
Glasspar did make removalable hardtops for these cars. Not sure that the one on this car is Glasspar original. I’ve never seen one with portholes. Tritt also made a second generation car based on the G2. It was called the Woodill Wildfire. For more information on these cars, check out Forgotten Fiberglass at undicoveredclassics.com.
The insurance co has to auction it -It will be issued a certificate of destruction. As a dealer who spends hours a day searching Copart ,I can tell you this is not uncommon. There is even an entire search category for “Burn”. My advice -if you a have a classic invest $40.00 in a fire extinguisher, no matter how good you think your car is -it might be your best investment yet
Hello there! Apologies, but I am not understanding your post ref this car. Are you saying this is an insurance sale after some sort of accident, or are you just (quite rightly!) warning of the potential issues with an early fibreglass car? Many thanks indeed. Ref the burning issue, I have seen a Lotus Elan burn nearly to the ground after a simple electrical fire under the bonnet…they go up quite quickly!
Bill Trit layed up the fiberglass for the first two or three years of the Corvette. I have a 1960 Glasspar G3 Ski Boat, called the Corvette of the Sea. It even looks like a Vette.