Automotive History trivia part III

[blewistx]

The Woodill Wildfire was the first production fiberglass car in 1952 manufactured in Downey Cal. by Woody Woodill with body by Glasspar (Bill Tritt) on a Willy's running gear and a willys Fhead inline six. The picture is my 1954 Wildfire this was a kit with Ford chassis and Mercury flathead V8. Found in a barn in upstate NY and rebuilt and restored in 1976.

[Chris]

I would have to say that you are a member with perhaps the most exclusive car here

Thanks, I wanted to know what it actually looked like.


PS Hudson, could you please tell us the correct answer?

[Hudson]

Thunda got it right..it was the Lancia.

[woodman]

You might be interested in knowing that the prototype Wildfire has been restored in California. It even has the original tires. At the Santa Barbara Concours, a judge said that he could see that they even had the Orginal air in them.

Car belongs to a guy named Fred Roth. who I think lives near Westlake. My two sons were singularly unimpressed at what their grandfather had been up to in the 50's.

Mike Woodill
Santa Barbara CA

[tigermiata]

"The fastest potato on the table" :smoker2:

[dchadwickinetone]

We have questions about fiberglass cars before the Corvette? Let's clear this one up. Yes there were way more than 300 Glaspar G2's built before 1953 according to the man in charge so the Corvette did not catch up for a while after that. Yes, they were what we would consider "kit-cars" but they were available built up and the "Post frame", that's Shorty Post not Wiley Post, was a Glaspar item not just a Woody Woodill innovation. There was competition history too, west coast races and believe it or not, the Mexican Road Race in 1953. Various degrees of low-key involvement, yes, but they were right there so all you Glaspar owners can feel you have one up one the C-Type Jag guys on the Carrera, your car is real.

[2strokebloke]

Well this thread looks like it died... So, here's a real easy double question for you American car nuts...

After Ransom Olds left Oldsombile, what car company did he form? And what was name of the "best" car he designed for this company?

[tigermiata]

Originally posted by 2strokebloke
Well this thread looks like it died... So, here's a real easy double question for you American car nuts...

After Ransom Olds left Oldsombile, what car company did he form? And what was name of the "best" car he designed for this company?

"Best"? I dunno. Flying Cloud? Royale? I'm probably missing the 'intended' answer on this one.

[Hudson]

Originally posted by tigermiata


"Best"? I dunno. Flying Cloud? Royale? I'm probably missing the 'intended' answer on this one.

I think you're on the right track...but you missed the first part of the question. Ransom Olds formed REO.

[2strokebloke]

REO is the company, I guess I should rephrase the second part: What was his "Farewell" model for REO?

[2strokebloke]

Originally Posted by 2strokebloke

REO is the company, I guess I should rephrase the second part: What was his "Farewell" model for REO?

For the love of Walter P. Chrysler the answer is "REO the Fifth" Rason said that this model marked the limit of his engineering expertise, and that he couldn't design anything better if he tried, and therefore was leaving the company.
New EASY question:

What Chevrolet model, meant to compete with the Ford model T, was named after it's price?

[Hudson]

Originally Posted by 2strokebloke

For the love of Walter P. Chrysler the answer is "REO the Fifth" Rason said that this model marked the limit of his engineering expertise, and that he couldn't design anything better if he tried, and therefore was leaving the company.
New EASY question:

What Chevrolet model, meant to compete with the Ford model T, was named after it's price?

Chevrolet 390

[2strokebloke]

Originally Posted by Hudson

Chevrolet 390

Almost - try something a little more expensive though.

[Mr. Chevelle]

Chevrolet Four-Ninety (490).

[2strokebloke]

Originally Posted by Mr. Chevelle

Chevrolet Four-Ninety (490).

You're correct - your turn to ask a question.