1953 Glasspar G2

Roadster

In 1946, William Tritt was approached by his friend John Green, who asked him to build a boat from a still novel new material called Fiberglas, first invented in 1938. Tritt quickly embraced the glass fiber material for boat construction, and by 1950, along with two partners, he established Glasspar of Santa Anna, California. He built his first car in 1951, patterning it after the Jaguar XK120. Known as the Brooks Boxer, it was shown at the Los Angeles Motorama that year. Amid strong publicity, Tritt launched the Glasspar G-2 in 1952. According to the Smithsonian Institute, the Glasspar G-2 paved the way for today's kit car industry while pioneering the use of fiberglass in automobile construction.

Many cars were built by Glasspar, including the Kaiser-Darrin and Woodill Wildfire.

This 1953 Glasspar G-2 Roadster is the only one of the factory-assembled cars powered by a Cadillac engine and is the only factory-assembled car known to exist today. The car rides on Cadillac wire wheels. It underwent a ground-up restoration with Bill Tritt, founder of Glasspar, serving as a consultant. It features the original Stewart-Warner gauges and an engine-turned instrument panel signed by Bill Tritt.

Glasspar was the first company to produce fiberglass cars in quantity. Bill Tritt was a true pioneer in this industry and, in addition to the Glasspar, also built Kaiser Darrins, Woodills, and the Volvo P1900.

Although the majority of Glasspars were sold as kits, a number were sold as finished cars from the factory. Only one was powered by a large Cadillac V8. All-in-all, only 29 Glasspars are known to exist. Only 10 examples (such as this example) were factory-built by Glasspar.

Interestingly, in 1953 Glaspar also manufactured fiberglass bodies for the Kaiser-built Darrin convertible. The Glaspar Company also built bodies marketed under the Ascot brand name.

Roadster

This unique roadster participated in the Cypress Point Handicap during the 1953 Pebble Beach Road Races. Driven by Warren Gerdes it was in the lead on the last lap when its engine caught fire and it retired. The car was the brainchild of Bill Tritt and was built by Ed Martindale and Ted Mangles of Southern California. Powered by a flathead Ford V8 with the Zora Arkus-Duntov-designed overhead valve head, the C.T. Special was known as the 'Mameco-Ardun.' Its best race was with Bill Pollack, who drove it to sixth place at March Field in 1953.

The 2012 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance was the first time the car had been seen in public for over five decades.

Roadster
Chassis number: G253155

The Chevy Corvette was the first American sports car to be constructed from fiberglass. However, during this era, there were several mid-century sports cars clothed in modern material. The Glasspar G2 roadster, designed by Southern California marine architect Bill Tritt, was offered in both kit and turnkey form, with a total production of approximately 150 examples, all on a chassis that accepted a variety of American V-8 engines.

This particular example was completed in 1953 by Emilio Pistoresi, the owner of the Chrysler dealer in Madera, California. Mr. Pistoresi equipped the car with a 291-cu. in. DeSoto Hemi engine and a transmission and rear axle procured from a 1940 Ford, which remain in the car to this day. After use by the Pistoresi family during the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, the car was disassembled in the early 1980s for a restoration. The project was never completed, and the car remained in storage until 2010 when it was purchased from Mr. Pistoresi's son by Gary Hatfield, a noted restorer based in Texas.

Mr. Hatfield completed the restoration and treated it to a true body-off restoration. The work was awarded in 2016 when it received a 1st place award at the Santa Fe Concours. Since the restoration, it has seen limited mileage, with around 122 miles being added to the odometer.

It is believed that no more than 30 Glasspar G2s remain.

by Dan Vaughan

William (Bill) Tritt founded Glasspar in 1947 with the purpose of building fiberglass boats. His background included training as a marine architect and he had worked for Douglass Aircraft during the Second World War. In 1947, he received a commission to design a racing sailboat for a friend named John Green, which he decided to construct from fiberglass.

Tritt designed what became the G-2 in 1949 as the body of a hot rod a friend was building. Fully embracing the new plastic material, by 1950, joined by two partners, he established Glasspar of Santa Anna, California. Their first car was completed in 1951, patterning it after the Jaguar XK120. Known as the Brooks Boxer, it was shown at the Los Angeles Motorama that year. A fiberglass resin manufacturer purchased one to use as a sales tool in the automotive industry.

Glasspar built approximately 100 G-2 cars through 1953 of which only 29 are known to remain in modern times. Most of the cars were sold as kits, although the factory assembled ten as complete vehicles. Glasspar became the first company to produce fiberglass cars in production quantities.

Other work completed by Glasspar included the manufacturing of Kaiser Darrins, Volvo P1900s, Woodill Wildfires, and others. The Glasspar was such a significant step in automotive history that the Smithsonian has added one to its permanent collection.