Fantastic Plastic Prototypes Glass fibre

10 months ago

Fantastic Plastic Prototypes
Glass fibre was mainly the choice for specialist, low volume vehicle producers with the Irwin Lancer and Glasspar G2 being credited as the first to appear (early 50's) with the Chevrolet Corvette C1 entering mass production in 1953.
But some other auto makers were also considering glass fibre:

Plymouth Belmont
Is a two-seat sports prototype created in the mid 50’s for Chrysler designed by William Robinson and produced by Briggs with fibreglass bodywork, powered by a Dodge (Red Ram) 3949cc (150hp) V8 with a 3-speed semi-automatic

Dodge Granada
Is a two-door sports car also created in the mid 50’s for Chrysler by Creative Industries, based upon a Dodge chassis with fibreglass bodywork, powered by a Red Ram 4.0litre V8.

Packard Panther Daytona
Is two-seat sports prototype from the early 50’s, produced for Packard by Mitchell-Bentley Corp with fibreglass bodywork, built upon a Cavalier chassis and powered by a straight-eight 5882cc (200hp) engine. Four vehicles were produced, one with a supercharged 275hp engine.

None of these fibreglass prototypes were considered for production.

Chevy Vintage Custom “Traveller”
Is a custom creation by a builder in American during the early 50’s.
Described as being built upon a 1937 Chevy chassis utilising many parts from Buick, Lincoln,Ford, Chrysler, Oldsmobile and powered by a Chevy (Stovebolt) straight-six 3.2litre engine.

Never fully completed and stored away in the mid 50’s. In 2011 it was on show at the Jalopyrama Hot Rod Show (#8).

The styling is very reminiscent of the cars of the time, Glasspar, Victress, Grantham Stardust, Woodill Wildfire, Maverick Sporster, Kaiser-Darrin, Plymouth Belmont (prototype) although these had fibreglass bodywork and its not clear if the traveller has steel bodywork?