The Ford Barn - View Single Post - "Glassic / replicars" 1931 Ford Model A - 1966-1981

DougVieyra · 05-27-2016, 10:32 PM

Today the Ford-Sanctioned SHAY replica of the '29 Ford Model A (mostly roadsters) is fairly well known. Between 1979 and 1982 5,000 SHAYs were built of the 10,000 projected, before 125 lawsuits, 10 million dollars of debt, and Bankruptcy ended production.

What is less known is that from 1966 through 1981 there was another (non-Ford sanctioned) imitation of the Model A, and an alternative to the SHAY. Like the SHAY, it too was a modern drive chain/chassis with a fibreglass body that imitated the Model A. SHAY was made to look like the '29 A Roadster, while GLASSIC was meant to imitate the '31 A Phaeton.

GLASSIC / RELICARS ; Approximately 1600 fiberglass-bodied replicas of 1931 Model A Fords were made by the Glassic Company in West Palm Beach Florida. They were manufactured between about 1966 and 1981. at first using International Scout four-cylinder engines and chassis. changing in 1972 to Mustang 302 cubic inch V-8 engines and specially built frames.

Most of the cars were Phaeton body style. but there were some Roadsters and only three pickup trucks built. The company changed their name to Replicars in 1975. so later models used that name. although the name "Glassic" is used as a generic term for both nameplates.

Glassic replicas are sometimes confused with Shay replicas. The Shay replicas more closely resemble the actual Model A (it had Ford Motor Company endorsement), whereas the Glassics were modified a little in appearance (it did not have endorsement from Ford Motor Comapny) to be more practical for contemporary driving. The Shay replicas used Pinto 4-cylinder engines. and consisted mostly of rumble-seat Roadsters and Roadster pickup trucks. Glassics can be identified by their wider doors and more contemporary 14 inch or 15 inch wheels.

Classic Motor Car Company. Inc. (West Palm Beach. FL) (1964) Name used until October. 1972
Glassic Motors of Palm Beach. Inc. (1973) (Palm Beach. FL) Name used between October. 1972 and July. 1975
Replicars. Inc. (1975) (West Palm Beach. FL) Name used from the last half of 1975 until production ended.
The cars are referred to interchangably as Glassics. and as being made by Replicars. It appears that the name Replicars was used in the last few years of production. Ownership of the company changed hands at least once during its lifetime.

05-27-2016, 10:32 PM	#1
DougVieyra Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Eureka, California Posts: 1,716	"Glassic / replicars" 1931 Ford Model A - 1966-1981 Today the Ford-Sanctioned SHAY replica of the '29 Ford Model A (mostly roadsters) is fairly well known. Between 1979 and 1982 5,000 SHAYs were built of the 10,000 projected, before 125 lawsuits, 10 million dollars of debt, and Bankruptcy ended production. What is less known is that from 1966 through 1981 there was another (non-Ford sanctioned) imitation of the Model A, and an alternative to the SHAY. Like the SHAY, it too was a modern drive chain/chassis with a fibreglass body that imitated the Model A. SHAY was made to look like the '29 A Roadster, while GLASSIC was meant to imitate the '31 A Phaeton. GLASSIC / RELICARS ; Approximately 1600 fiberglass-bodied replicas of 1931 Model A Fords were made by the Glassic Company in West Palm Beach Florida. They were manufactured between about 1966 and 1981. at first using International Scout four-cylinder engines and chassis. changing in 1972 to Mustang 302 cubic inch V-8 engines and specially built frames. Most of the cars were Phaeton body style. but there were some Roadsters and only three pickup trucks built. The company changed their name to Replicars in 1975. so later models used that name. although the name "Glassic" is used as a generic term for both nameplates. Glassic replicas are sometimes confused with Shay replicas. The Shay replicas more closely resemble the actual Model A (it had Ford Motor Company endorsement), whereas the Glassics were modified a little in appearance (it did not have endorsement from Ford Motor Comapny) to be more practical for contemporary driving. The Shay replicas used Pinto 4-cylinder engines. and consisted mostly of rumble-seat Roadsters and Roadster pickup trucks. Glassics can be identified by their wider doors and more contemporary 14 inch or 15 inch wheels. Classic Motor Car Company. Inc. (West Palm Beach. FL) (1964) Name used until October. 1972 Glassic Motors of Palm Beach. Inc. (1973) (Palm Beach. FL) Name used between October. 1972 and July. 1975 Replicars. Inc. (1975) (West Palm Beach. FL) Name used from the last half of 1975 until production ended. The cars are referred to interchangably as Glassics. and as being made by Replicars. It appears that the name Replicars was used in the last few years of production. Ownership of the company changed hands at least once during its lifetime. Last edited by DougVieyra; 05-27-2016 at 11:03 PM.