1958 Thor TH-1A Special

The Thor was a kit car maker formed in 1957 by Vilmar Gudmunds and Jerry Ball, and the company was named after Gudmund's father. It is believed that a total of two coupes and one roadster were eventually built, and the company holds the distinction of creating one of the earliest designs to fit a Volkswagen chassis.

The body design was created from balsa wood, and once its shape was completed, they received a U.S. patent for the design. The balsa wood model was transferred to a wooden buck where fiberglass bodies were made from the mold. Gudmunds kept one of the coupes, and Ball retained the second example. The roadster's body remained unfinished.

The car's existence was nearly lost to time but through the help of cyber sleuthing and a vast community of automotive enthusiasts, its history has been pieced together.

by Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2023