TOPIC: Glasspar or what?

Got a call from a guy in Tennessee the other day looking for my opinion on a boat he was restoring? He suspects it to be a Glasspar and described it as his Rat Rod with fiberglass hull, wooden deck with fins, with a 55 Thunder Bird engine. Just got some pictures from him today and wanted to share.







He found this up the hull. What do you guys think, Glasspar or not?
Thanks,
Terry

What the heck? Maybe a homemade job!

yeah right! probably hand crafted as far as the upper deck and power but Im thinking that could be an early Glasspar hull

Weight Distribution - ?

Cockpit Heat - Yes

Rat Rod - Yes

Rat Fink Want to Be - Positively

Does anyone think it a plywood covered in a layer of fiberglass hull, like seabuddy does from the hull side photo shown?

Love the plumbing on the motor. Been a while since I've seen a Y-block Ford. I don't think it's a Glasspar though.

Upper half looks home-made to me. OK lets go for a ride!!!

That 55 T Bird engine must be worth quite a bit.

not really....all early y blocks were thunderbird specials in a t=bird or a station wagon....with a 3 bolt carb...not very big on horses either...john

Looks like packing material from the Glasspar plant. The builder probably worked there and built this there in his spare time. Yes, it looks like glass over wood to me too. I agree, let's go for a ride...lol...

The owner Freeman says the fiberglass hull appears to be a factory hand lay-up.





He has the motor out now and is rebuilding it with an Isky racing cam and Edelbrock manifold with 3-duece Holleys. Hopes to git er done for the Redneck Rumble in Lebanon TN in September.



I thought too maybe a Glasspar employee took an old hull lying around and built it on the side.


Freemans says he is going to take it outside and get some more pictures.

Thanks,
Terry

The lines look similar to this 55 Sea-Farer

Found these pictures in my archive.
I have it listed as a 1952 Glasspar Seafarer
If it is a 52 this may be one of the first Glasspar power boats.
Another beautiful example of the genius of Bill Tritt.
Terry

If it is an early model as you surmise, that would explain the "home made" look of it. I mean, how else do you learn how to make a fiberglass boat but by trial and error? Nice find!

Hello Dave in sunny Buffalo,

That homemade look is in the oak top deck and crazy fins on the Rat Rod. The hull itself to me looks beautiful and I think that rakish sheer line is awesome.

Glasspar’s founder Bill Tritt was a pioneer in fiberglass technology and in 1952 I believe the Sea-Farer would have been cutting edge hybrid boat construction. It’s a fact Bill Tritt taught Harley Earl how to build FG car bodies before GM sold the first Corvette in 53. Bills 52 Glasspar G2 sports car is on permanent display in the Smithsonian and he is named there “The Father of Fiberglass Cars”

I seem to recall this 52 Seafarer was in San Diego Harbor when those pictures were taken. Soon after that some SOB stole it out of the harbor. Sometime later it was found abandoned up the coast in another harbor. Maybe they ran out of gas.


Dave it was good talking with you the other day and the mail address I got from you is the same as the one I replied to. Check your spam.
Thanks,
Terry

Thank you Terry,

I have enjoyed following this thread.

Al

Hello Al,

So you think it looks like the Sea-Farer?
The 55 brochure mentions the optional Bow Flotation for $13.50.

Freeman told me the Bow was filled with this foam to a depth of about 6”. He said a number of the pieces had parts of the Glasspar name and address in Nashville as in this picture.

I’m thinking it was probably the shipping address to Glasspar stenciled on the skid of stacked foam.

The brochure also mentions a curved transom and Freeman says his boats transom is also curved as can be seen here.

He said he was going to roll it outside and get better pictures.
Thanks,
Terry