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Another example. This sister car built with mine at the same is now in Ireland being restored. Both cars were coveted to electric cars in 1959 by the NicLSilver battery company..

These photos are from another photo shoot for motortrend on Getty Images. I talked with the original photographer and writer sitting in the car. These are photos of my actual car. https://www.gettyimages.com/photos/alken-d-2?sort=mostpopular&mediatype=photography&phrase=alken d 2

I was always a VW fan growing up because our family had them. I read a lot and came across the Alken in the R&T article and some books. I had never seen one so I was always on the lookout. I came across 4 in total. I just liked the lines and wanted to save one as a testament to American vision, design and risking to be different. The articles talk of investing $50k. Maybe 20 bodies were made? Too expensive for the time but Fiberglass was new and an extension of early coach work type constuction, but with new materials.

Thank you! I have researched this car for 35 years and you have provided some documents I have never seen Alan and Kennth White formed the Alken corporation. Alken came rom joining their names! Just fantastic history and many photos there are of my exact car.

Hi A friend pointed me to this conversion where you expressed some questions. The Alken is my car. The engine is a 1600N. I would guess a 4 cam Carrara motor is 150k plus alone. There were several car companies that created bodies in the 50s using the new technology of fiberglass. Forgotten Fiberglass is the best resource of data on the variety of cars designed. The Alken was one of these. I have a copy of the original patent of the Alken. I worked with VolksWorld Magazine from Europe to create an 8 page spread on the car and its history in their Nov 2018 issues with many more details. My Alken was used for the Nov 1958 R&T road test on the Alken (60 years to the month it was back in print). Thanks for the interest

I am also disappointed , just stop picking and choosing and set standard rules for classes and follow them. I prefer to see cars of the same era together. It also builds knowledge between brands (who you are parked next to). This topic waffles all around based upon personal preference instead of simple rules to follow. Why bother going to Hershey if it is just a Mopar show or VW show. But if you set it up that way all mfg should be separate and park them alphabetically. Good luck in the brass era , everyone would have their own class. The AACA needs general rules and not make and mark specific rules, seems very biased from lots of angles when done this way.

I found a link to an old ebay ad from France that listed these as 51 52 Ford Convertible Victoria, they look like great reproductions and I could use these! I think I still have all 4 bases.

Hi, I have a 50s fiberglass car that I am restoring. I think the cable door pulls are made from 51 Ford seat ropes. Can anyone identify these, maybe the year and model Fords they were on. I need a pair of the ends because they used this as a cable pull to open the suicide doors. Thanks for any help.

I think these are from a 51 Ford Rear seat. Does anyone have any photos to determine what type of model Ford?

We have an 81 Westmoreland built Rabbit with 9,000 miles. Maybe we should bring it.

agree, I found some on ebay that looked close that were listed to be from the 40s and early 50s but they are not a direct match yet. I am getting warm. The first was listed as a 52-53 Mercury and the second a 42-48 Chevy. Either of these might work although they are not exact. While the descriptions were different they look the same??? Can anyone verify what model Chevy or Mercury these were one? Mine seem to look a little more modern.

I saw two postings on ebay for early/mid 50s Chevy and Mercury rear seat pulls that look very close so I am about convinced this is a rear seat pull.

Still uncovering what parts were used for this 1958 Fiberglass car. I think I have solved everything except for the cable door pulls. A cable runs from the door latch in the front, suicide doors, to a pulley, then out the door panel, through a rubber tube, then is secured at the front. There is a channel that anchors on the door panel (shown in the two pictures) on both ends of the strap (they look the same) then a decorative chromed cover slides over the mounting channel so you can not see the mounting plate. The rubber tube/hose then was covered with matching interior fabric. The anchor points and covers look big enough that this could have been a rope that runs across the back of a seat. All of the parts so far have been late 40s to mid 50s parts for the fiberglass car so this is likely from the same era. Since the chassis is VW, the windshield is from a 52-55 Ford Consul Zephr, and the hood/trunk latches were 356, I wouldn't rule out foreign makes. Thanks for any help you can provide.

Hood latch solved after putting "latch" into ebay motors, vintage parts, and looking through about 5000 latches. It is a Porsche 356, 356A rear deck lid latch.

OK, no luck with the latch yet. How about help with the door pull strap. They used a cable in the door pull to run down to the latch. This could be a rear seat grab strap. The ends were nice because the chromed cap slides over the base so that the screws do not show. The ones I have seen have a visible screw that anchors a cable. In the pictures below you can see the cable installed and then two close ups of the cap and base that it slid off.

That was a good tip. You got me thinking of fender beading/welting. That must be what it was. This company has a chrome over rubber that I am going to try. It is 3/16. When I looked at mine it was aluminum, maybe easier to shape. I'll have to see if this can follow the bends. Thanks again. Fender Welting, Chrome (50 ft) - gtrestoration.com

Also I need to know if this type of trim is available. It is a flexible crome trim, maybe 1/4 inch that is over a fabric. This could have been a fender beading. This was used around the windshield to set if off nice and seal the gap. Is anything like this availabe?

Yes it is, I am a big VW buff and this was likely the first body designed specifically for the VW chassis.

Like most at the time they were trying to get ready to mass produce. They used standard items so I would think the latch was common, what ever it came from. Here is a black and white promo of the car.

Hello, I am restoring a 58 fiberglass car. These pictures are of the rear latch. The front latch was missing but it uses a similar style tongue with a cable release. The cable release on the rear was replaced with a brazed on stick. They might have used the same exact latch and just made new mounting hardware to get it to work. In the last picture I took the latch out of the sheet metal mount that was made to hold it in the body. The door hinges are 55-57 Chevy and the latches and striker 55 T-bird. They were using easy to find 50s parts but this looks like an older style latch. I need one more and would like to find one in better condition. Any help is appreciated.

I should stop over. We live in Hudson and our 1974 Sonett III has 43K miles now. My son drives it about once a week. Nice all original car. I'd like to have a photo of your wipers to see what ours should look like. We have two non-matching ones and we are not sure which one is correct.

Enjoyed the information here. Your engine my be the same style one that my brother has in his 1915 Standard 8. We spent the past weekend getting the engine started and now are working on the carb. Do you still have more copies of the engine manual? The car came with some information that indicated the engine was made in Pittsburgh by the "Pittsburgh Model Engine Company". This car sat in their lobby for years with the poster he got that explained that the engine in the 1915 Standard 8 was built in the same building that the Rockwell company was in.

Sold Hi, I have a very original 62 Mini. It is a real survivor with no rust and it runs great. Below is a link to some better pictures and the Heritage certificate. It has a 1963 Ohio, Title. It is a 62 becasue it has the seat belt anchor point high on the A-pillar. This has the standard 850 cc engine. Most of the paint and interior are original. You can email me if interested at jeff@karmannghias.org Mini

My annual search for an early Karmann Ghia convertible. Still looking, let me know what you have.

Thanks, that helps to give me a better idea.