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.