TOPIC: 1960 Glaspar Citation Project?

Hi Everyone, I just picked up a 1960 Glaspar that needs lots of work, a motor, all electrical, instruments and everything in between. I fell in love with the look and plan on doing a restore within reason. I've pretty much decided it is a Citation but curiously my steering is on the Left side. I can't find any other pictures or reference to left hand steering other than there was a brief period where this was what manufactures sometimes did. Anyone have any idea what exact model I may have here? Thanks!

Gary

Hi Gary,
As my family never was a Glasspar dealership, I am somewhat weak on their models, but it may well be a Citation that the factory, dealer, or buyer mounted the steering to port for use with a Mercury six cylinder model current at that time (1957 to early 1961 models), as they had left-hand rotation propellers with the standard lower unit (a counter-rotation, or right-hand, lower unit was offered, but were far less seen).

Regards,
Joe
www.fergusonpoolemarine.com
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Thanks Joe, good information. I'm now in the process of getting the title and registration switched over to my name and the DMV wants the VIN of the trailer. I found a small placard riveted onto the back of the trailer that was painted over. I wire wheeled the paint off and found a logo that says "American" and it says American Trailer and Mfg. There is a number that is D-9013. It looks like a serial number more than a VIN so I'm hoping the DMV will accept it. No paperwork or info on the trailer other than that and an old license plate.

SBHarborlivin,

WELCOME ABOARD.

Fyi, many local/regional trailer-builders didn't assign VIN to their goods until the 1970s.

yours, satx

Thanks Satx! I'll explain that to the DMV for what it's worth!
-Gary

Late to the game but the boat is a Citation without a doubt and the trailer is an American....I happen to have both that were bought new by my grandfather in 1960. I'll look over the trailer frame for numbers in the next couple of days and let you know what I find.
In 1960 Glasspar did not install steering or lights at the factory (with the exception of the I/O models) so buyer or dealer decided where to put the steering and lights and what type to install.
American was pretty much right next door to the Glasspar plant in Santa Ana, CA so lots of American trailers ended up under Glasspar hulls.
If you have not been able to locate the serial number for the boat it would have been just about where your left forearm would be sitting in the seat and holding the steering wheel. Inside the gunwale on a hand stamped brass insert in a small chrome plated Glasspar insignia. A rough example of the likely serial number would be 16XA01234 if built at the Santa Ana, CA plant. 16 for length, X for model (no secondary Citation model in that year so an X was used), A for the Santa Ana, CA plant, and 0 for the last digit of the year produced. The remaining numbers indicated build order.
If not a Santa Ana built boat other plant designations could be N (Nashville, TN), P (Petersburg, VA), O (Olympia, WA) and I'm drawing a blank on the other plants at the time...sorry.

Thank you Rod this is great information! I'm in the process of removing the top so I can put in a new floor and other fiberglass work. It looks like the serial number is on the chrome plated Glaspar insignia on the center of the dash within the wooden instrument panel - the number isn't stamped though - it looks like printed numbers behind a small piece of glass. I haven't taken the time to read the numbers yet but I thought I saw Olympia or Oklahoma on the plate, I'll have to check it out. Thanks! -Gary