To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION WITHOUT RESERVE at RM Sothebys' Amelia
Island event, 8 - 9 March 2019.
Estimate:
$65,000 - $90,000
- Two-owner example of this rare early sports car
- Original DeSoto Hemi and Ford running gear
- Beautifully restored; just 122 miles since
Without hesitation, many enthusiasts would argue that Chevrolet's
Corvette was the first American sports car to be constructed from
fiberglass. However, the world of mid-century sports cars was awash
in automotive marvels bodied in this thoroughly modern material.
The Glasspar G2 roadster, designed by Southern California marine
architect Bill Tritt, was a notable addition to this group. Tritt's
experience with fiberglass led him to choose the material for his
radical sports car.
The Glasspar G2 was offered in both kit and turnkey form, with a
total production of approximately 150 examples, all on a chassis
which accepted a variety of American V-8 engines. The example
offered here began life as the former and was completed in 1953 by
Emilio Pistoresi, the owner of the Chrysler dealer in Madera,
California. Mr. Pistoresi equipped the car with a 291-cu. in.
DeSoto Hemi engine and a transmission and rear axle procured from a
1940 Ford, which remain in the car to this day. The G2 saw service
in the Pistoresi family throughout the 1950s, '60s, and '70s before
being disassembled in the early 1980s for a restoration. The
project was never completed, and the car remained in storage until
2010, when it was purchased from Mr. Pistoresi's son by Gary
Hatfield, a noted restorer based in Texas.
Mr. Hatfield completed the restoration that Emilio Pistoresi
started and brought the car to an impressive standard. A true
body-off restoration, every inch of the car received attention,
from the freshly powder-coated frame to the immaculate paintwork on
the shapely fiberglass body. The work was so impressive that the
car scored a 1st place award at the 2016 Sante Fe Concours. Having
seen limited mileage since the restoration, some 122 miles as of
cataloging, the rare Glasspar remains in superb condition and ready
for further care in the hands of its to-be third owner.
It is believed that no more than 30 Glasspar G2s remain, and the
example offered here is surely the finest extant and is sure to
take pride of place in any collection of rare and unusual American
sports cars.To view this car and others currently consigned to this
auction, please visit the RM website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/am19.
