Alan and Jen Mortlock’s Glasspar G2 Special


Alan and Jen Mortlock – Just Before I Stole Alan Away For Our “Guy” Trip To Bonneville in 2009

Hi Gang…

Alan and Jen Mortlock have one cool Glasspar G2 Special – and it’s almost out of restoration and ready to debut.  Alan recently sent me some pictures of it so what better way to celebrate his work than to share it with vintage fiberglass sports car folks out there.

Alan and Jen Mortlock – Collectors Extraordinaire:

Alan and Jen have a fantastic collection of American sports cars and other unique automobiles which include two Muntzes (one restored and one being restored, a 1946 Buick Roadmaster convertible,  a 1957 Mercury 2 door hardtop station wagon (used in the Johnny Cash movie – “Walk the Line”), a 1959 Chevrolet Impala Convertible with a 348 cubic inch engine and factory 4 speed, and a 1953 Cadillac Flower car.

Alan’s Glasspar G2 – as he Bought it in Oklahoma from his friend Clifton Hill

Recently they added a 1949 aluminum Spartan camper, and they have other unique cars too.  In fact, Hemmings covered the restoration of Alan and Jen’s first Muntz in June, 2007.  Here’s a great article penned by Richard Lentinello.  Keep in mind that Alan and Jen do almost all of the work themselves:

http://www.hemmings.com/hmn/stories/2007/06/01/hmn_feature25.html

Meeting Alan and His Glasspar G2:

I first met Alan about 3 years ago when I started working with Jon Greuel on the LaDawri website and tracking down owners of these rare cars.   Last year, Alan and I

hooked up on my way to Bonneville with the Bill Burke Belly tank.  On my way from Florida, I stopped in Sikeston, Missouri spent some time with both Alan and Jen, and the next day we were off to Bonneville.  Here’s what I learned:

The Glasspar G2 Alan purchased had been sitting for a number of years and needed minor engine work.  It was

Beautiful Gold Finish Applied to Glasspar G2 Body in 2010

mostly complete and looked like a nice original build.  No doubt it was a good runner back in the day.  Alan works magic concerning the restoration of his cars – he does all the restoration himself with Jen chipping in where possible.  And…in no short time….Vvvvvrrrrooom!  Up and running!  And the engine was in great shape too – no rebuild necessary.  Alan removed the body from the chassis and has been restoring the car for the last 2 years.   He’s rounding the final bend gang.  Lots of interesting aspects to this car.

Research Questions About the Glasspar:

Alan has two areas of research left with this car.  Anyone want to help?  Here are the questions:

Alan Always Wanted a Glasspar G2 – Just as Shown on this 1954 Trading Card

First:  I’ve posted pictures of Alan’s chassis below.  What is it?  It has an independent front suspension.  Alan thinks it might be a Plymouth.  Could it be a 1949+ Ford front suspension?  Maybe a Henry J?  These had independent front suspension too.  The frame is one piece – not modified or cut in any way.  This leads us to more strongly believe it is a Henry J.  Click on the “Fiberglass Forums” link at the bottom of this story and let us know what you think.

Second:  What’s the history of this car?  It seems to have magically appeared in Oklahoma in and around 2007.  How about it gang?  This was already in pretty nice shape in 2007.  Anyone recognize where this came from?

If anyone can help in these two areas, please post your thoughts in the discussion forum associated with this story (click on Fiberglass Forums link below).

Finishing the Glasspar Restoration:

He plans to finish the car this year – 2010 – but it sure looks like the final result will be worth it from what we see so far!  As you can see in the pictures, the car is gold in color.  Alan’s always liked the look of the Glasspar G2 that appeared on one of the 1954 “World on Wheels” trading cards, and I’ve included one here in the story.  The car on the trading card is gold with a black hardtop, red interior, and finished with dog dish hubcaps.  That’s the exact look he’s going for with the restoration of his car.

Checkout this Gorgeous Original Brass Glasspar Tag. A Restored Tag is Painted; Stripped Brass Looks Great Too!

I think all of us wish him the best on his continued success and I look forward to sharing final pictures of his endeavor with you in the near future.  Alan….this “glass on” is for you!

Glass on gang….and Alan and Jen too!

Geoff

 

Technical Specifications
Body
  • Glasspar G2
Designer
  • Bill Tritt
Body Work and Paint
  • Alan Mortlock
Upholstery
  • Rhonda Tidwell
Frame
  • Still being researched.  Look at pictures above and let us know your thoughts in the forum.  Might be late 1940’s Plymouth
Suspension
  • Front: Independent A Frame Suspension, coil springs with tube shocks
  • Rear: Parallel Leaf springs
Engine (make/year)
  • 1954 239 Ford Overhead Valve Y Block V8
  • Standard heads
  • Edelbrock early finned valve covers
  • Mallory Dual Point Distributor
Carburetion
  • Fenton Intake Tri-power – 3 two-barrel Ford carburetors
Displacement
  • 239 cubic inches (First year Y-block Ford was same displacment as last year production Ford Flathead engine)
Horsepower (estimated)
  • The stock 239 Y block Ford was rated at 130 HP.  With modifications to this engine, estimated to be 170 HP.
Transmission (type/year)
  • Late 1930’s Ford / Lincoln Zephyr Top Shifting Transmission (3 speed)
Rear Axle / driveshaft
(open/closed driveshaft)
  • 1949-1951 Ford
Wheelbase
  • 99 inches
Track/Tread (front/rear)
(distance between center line of tires)
  •  Body designed to take a tread of 55″ to 58″ (from 1953 Glasspar G2 Brochure)
Tire Size
  • H78-15
Wheels / Rims
  • Standard 15 inch Ford wheels, small dog dish hubcaps
Curb Weight
  • Estimated 2000 lbs
Top Speed (0-60)
  • Fast
Special Features
  • Serial number G253157 which is stamped on the passenger side sill plate (aluminum) and on the Glasspar vin tag on passenger door jamb too.
  • Optional: Original Glasspar Hardtop with plexiglass window – purchased from Hugh Nutting in Montana 2009

Comments

Alan and Jen Mortlock’s Glasspar G2 Special — 5 Comments

  1. The upper A arms look to be Ford. If I remember a story you ran about a Byers SR100 the had a Henry J frame with pictures showing the frame and front suspension, you might compare the two. Cheers, Michael

  2. i just found a picture of 49-53 ford frame with control arm etc showing , it looks identical to the pictures you have of the glasspar, makes sense too if other componets like the eng are used also, i don’t see a way for me to share the picture with you.

  3. you could probably tell if it was a henry j frame, if you remember the henry j frame was a kaiser sedan frame shortened, i haven’t seen how they finished the cutting though but from that era it was usually noticeable. if it is important and no one knows for sure i have quite a few of the very old interchange books and flat rate manuals that show pictures steering and suspension components and i would be glad to dig them out to help. are you going to show his muntz cars anytime soon, i have an original muntz 4 track tape player, chrome plated complete with bracket for under dash mounting with the original two bolts for holding the unit on the bracket, perfect condition and have a bag with several tapes in it.

  4. If the frame is not been cut, I’d say it was Henry J. The front brakes are very small. The wire wheel are 15″ Motor Wheel wires. They fit Kaisers, post 1949 Fords, Hudsons, Studebakers and Plymouths. Generally the painted ones were on Plymouths and Hudsons circa 1954. A good brake up-grade would be to install 50 Ford parts with Ford spindles, etc. 1953 Studellacs were often beefed up using 52 Mercury parts including rear ends.

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