Hi Gang… Rollie Langston has continued to be an advocate of handcrafted sports cars since he started building his first one at age 14 – and he finished it 3 years later. Now in his 70s, he’s building his second … Continue reading
The Rollie Langston Archives Vintage Byers Photography Roland “Rollie” Langston started thinking about building a Byers SR-100 in February, 1957 when he first saw the Byers sports car on the cover of Road & Track magazine. He was just 14 … Continue reading
Original Byers Communication The Rollie Langston Collection Roland “Rollie” Langston started thinking about building a Byers SR-100 in February, 1957 when he first saw the Byers sports car on the cover of Road & Track magazine. He was just 14 … Continue reading
Rollie Langston Started Building His Byers SR100 in 1957 at 14 Years Old About Rollie Langston Built an SR-100 in the Late 1950s And Used It As A Daily Driver By Graham Kozak Autoweek: April 30, 2019 Rollie Langston and … Continue reading
Hi Gang… This is the first in a series of stories on the Rollie Langston Byers SR100. Rollie is one of the only individuals we’ve found where the story, pictures, and person who built the Byers SR100 is with us … Continue reading
Contributors To Byers Sports Car History We’re proud to release this newly created section of Undiscovered Classics that focuses on the history of the Byers Sports cars. Our research into this marque started in 2007, and took the help of … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Recently I’ve been peering deeper into the mysterious and never-ending Petersen Digital Archive. Last time I found a very interesting unknown car from 1956. Click Here To View the Last Mystery Car I Found and the Story About … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Well…we never really closed but behind all the new stories posted this year we’ve been busy with a redesign of the website. The good news is that our 6 month redesign effort is now complete with great thanks … Continue reading
Undiscovered Classics Contributors Click on each name below to view articles and information contributed Domestic Contributors Geoff Hacker – Founder Rollie Langston Guy Dirkin Craig Johnson Nate Bowne Kyle Feller Merrill Powell Paul Sable Dennis Kazmerowski Erich Schultz Joel Driskill … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Our thoughts and the use of imagery for our Undiscovered Classic cars has evolved over the years, and during this time we’ve walked step by step with our friend Dan Palatnik. Dan and I first started out with … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Dave Peterson’s telling of the story of his two cars – both built by Leo Snedecker – really underlines the fact of just how “handcrafted” these special-built sports cars were across America. And as you’ll read, Leo didn’t … Continue reading
Hi Gang… As they say, “The Punishment of Success is More Work” – and we’ve been keeping Dan Palatnik and his rendering skill busy here at Undiscovered Classics. Dan is our “artist in residence” here whose actual residence is Rio … Continue reading
Hi Gang… We’re proud to release a newly created section of Undiscovered Classics that focuses on the history of the Byers Sports cars. Our research into this marque started in 2007, and took the help of many to complete. This … Continue reading
History Byers Sports Cars (1955 – 1968) Design By Jim Byers — The World’s Most Beautiful Sports Car — Road & Track, February, 1957 Byers Sports Cars Road and Track featured a Byers SR-100 on the cover of their magazine in … Continue reading
Vintage Byers Photography Historic Photos of Byers Sports Cars Explore The Links Below The Rollie Langston Archives The Most Complete Record of a Vintage Byers Build The Road & Track Photo Shoot – 1956 The Most Famous SR-100 of its … Continue reading
Donor Car 1957 Triumph TR3 About The Donor Car From Rollie Langston on 6/13/2020 According to reports at the time, and as best I can remember, the car was being driven by a soldier from nearby Ft Leonard Wood at … Continue reading
Byers Brochures Byers Company Production & Sales 1957 Fiber-Craft 1958 J.E. Byers Fiberglass Company Based on Rollie Langston Communication, Jim Byers Changed the Name Of His Company in 1958 1959 J.E. Byers Fiberglass Company 1963 Last Year Known For Byers … Continue reading
Hi Gang… I bet this car is still out there. I’ve said this many times about many cars, and more often than not – we find the car or the car turns up. Back in 2010 in the book “Corvette … Continue reading
Raiders of the Lost Cars The Greatest American Car Story NEVER Told What People Are Saying… “In attempting to capture the significance and passion inherent in Undiscovered Classics, I can’t seem to shake the graphic allusion to Indiana Jones and … Continue reading
Undiscovered Classics Modern Archives Undiscovered Classics featured in Hemmings, Old Cars Weekly, Autoweek and more. Also includes stories authored by or about Undiscovered Classics and Undiscovered Classic cars, and Undiscovered Classics at concours, in museums & exhibitions, on the web, … Continue reading
Tom Cotter Barn Find Author, Collector, TV Personality About Tom Cotter Interview Listening Time: 38 Minutes Cars Yeah! November 14, 2014 Undiscovered Classics Appearances TV, Videos & On The Web Barn Find Hunter, Tom Cotter: Hagerty TV Episode #72 Viewing … Continue reading
Undiscovered Classics: Personality Profiles These are Personality Profiles of some of the Undiscovered Classics Team – participants, contributors and more. This list continues to grow so check back for additions. We’re happy to have a large and expanding “tent” that … Continue reading
Note: This is a multi-part story, and click here to review all parts of the story Hi Gang… One of the tools an excellent researcher may have at his or her disposal is a photographic memory. Lucky for us Joel … Continue reading
1954 Kaiser “Tahitian Dragon” – Anticipated Car Build – We started this project in 2015 with the help designers such as Raffi Minasian and Dan Palatnik as well as enthusiasts such as Rollie Langston helping us clarify our vision. We … Continue reading
Recent Quote About Undiscovered Classics: Geoff Hacker and his crew are indeed scholars who embark on perilous adventures to obtain rare artifacts. Literally. I’ve seen them in action. They’re obsessive and not afraid to get dirty digging. And, by making … Continue reading
People Interviewed As Part of Research This shows (in process) a list of the people we interviewed to learn the details and history of these cars and their companies. This list also includes first-person histories or research written by individuals … Continue reading
Our Story – A Historical Perspective Introduction From concept cars to teardrop streamliners… From vintage race car transporters to lakesters… From race cars to sports cars… From legendary custom cars to even concept dune buggies… Geoff Hacker and his team have … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Back last fall we surprised all of you by sharing the debut of Robert O’Meara’s Allied “Cisitalia” Roadster at the 2014 Watkins Glen Vintage Festival courtesy of photos provided by good fiber friend Jeff Brown. Click here to … Continue reading
The Greatest American Car Story NEVER Told The Emergence of the American Postwar Sportscar Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance Program: March, 2015 Authors: Geoffrey R. Hacker Ph.D., Rick D’Louhy Ph.D., Guy Dirkin Ph.D., Rollie Langston, Raffi Minasian, Paul Sable Ph.D., Harold … Continue reading
Hi Gang… About a year ago, I heard from an enthusiast in Manitoba, Canada – Ed A. – who wrote the following: Geoff, I just found your web site tonight which is quite fascinating. I have a friend here in … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Today’s story is brought to us by good friend Chris Wolfe of Denver, Colorado. Chris forwarded several magazine articles I’ve not seen before and it’s from his generosity that we owe our first story of his today. Thank … Continue reading
Hi Gang… For those of you who have been a part of LaDawri.com and Forgotten Fiberglass these past many years you have witnessed an evolution. We started our focus on just one marque with Jon Greuel’s website on LaDawri sports … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Many of you know my passion for vintage cars started with my grandfather, Morrie Hacker, my mother Ruth, and mentorship in my early teenage years from Paul Terhorst of Chicago, Illinois. I was well-schooled in great old cars, … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Today’s article is a result of a recent magazine find from Ray Wise – owner of Rollie Langston’s ‘50s built Byers SR-100 and avid vintage ‘glass sports car fan. Ray recently came across a stash of cool old … Continue reading
Hi Gang… This is the second in a series of stories rolling out the new Fabulous Forgotten Fiberglass Flyers. Today’s story / flyer focuses on the Byers SR100. Click here to review all stories about the Fabulous Forgotten Fiberglass Flyers. … Continue reading
Hi Gang… What a great name: “Fabulous Forgotten Fiberglass Flyer…” There was tremendous “buzz” about fiberglass sports cars at our recent appearance at the 2011 Milwaukee Masterpiece Concours d’ Elegance. And all of us who were there delighted in sharing … Continue reading
Hi Gang… As you’ll learn in his story below, Dave Peterson has been a fan of vintage ‘glass for years gone by. And it was his love of the vintage design – particularly the Byers SR100 design – that led … Continue reading
Hi Gang… We touch on foreign fiberglass from time to time, and we’ll do this more often in the future as we close the loop and complete the bulk of research into the forgotten fiberglass of the ‘50s and ‘60s. … Continue reading
THE FORGOTTEN FIBERGLASS FAMILY— OUR CONTRIBUTORS — “We’re Honored To Have So Many Passionate Contributors to the Cause – People We Consider to be Part of the Forgotten Fiberglass Family” The Forgotten Fiberglass Family: Forgotten Fiberglass is much larger than … Continue reading
Editor’s Note: Rollie Langston….this story’s for you! (maybe Guy Dirkin too and interestingly both are/were Byers SR-100 owners…) ————— Hi Gang… I’ve been holding back on you – but that’s now about to change. I want you to believe in time … Continue reading
Hi Gang… This is our fourth in a series of “spotlights” on sections of a Buyer’s Guide for fiberglass sports cars published by Car Craft in March, 1956. Click on the link below to review all fiberglass cars discussed in … Continue reading
Hi Gang… Back in the day, which Victress received more top prizes than any known fiberglass car in the 1950’s? I thought that question might go unanswered for years as Rick D’Louhy, Erich Schultz, Guy Dirkin, Phil Fleming, Rollie Langston, … Continue reading
Hi Gang… As you learn more about the fiberglass sports cars of the 1950’s, you’ll find that the controversy we introduced earlier concerning “Sports Cars vs Hot Rods” was a hot topic back in the 1950’s too (click here for the … Continue reading
