Folks Of Interest Rieds fiberglass Dayton Ohio ???

hemigeorge · Apr 23, 2011

Jim Lightcap A/MR w/302 jimmy

Rick Beil · Nov 15, 2022

Berzerk said: ↑

Both of these guys are original members of the "Hoodlifters" car club here in Dayton, Ohio. Now I am only 40, but I grew up around these guys and have spent most of my life listening to their stories, so I think I may know the history on this body, if I am wrong on a few things, forgive me.

Rieds Fiberglass was Johnny Ried from Trotwood, Ohio. He has not made fiberglass bodies and parts as a business since the late sixties/early seventies. Johnny made a lot of the parts for George Montgomery when he was racing and is still a master model maker for a company here in Dayton. One of the most talented men I have ever been around and a true craftsman. Johhny is still building Hot Rods and I was at his shop a few days ago. Johnny raced a rear engine coupe named "The Mole" that was featured in a few magazines back in the day. When he stopped selling fiberglass, a lot of his inventory was sold to others. I do not believe he ever made a whole body, but I am not 100% sure. I know he made doors and the dash, so you probably have his doors and dash that actually where made in sixties or seventies.

"Gump" was Bob Andrews who was half Owner of A & M Automotive in Trotwood, Ohio. An early pioneer in Hot Rods. Gump was a drag racer as well, and another super talented guy. Now I was never at A & M's old shop because I am to young, but from what I have been told, in the day the guys would start lining up before the opened on weekends to get their hoods louvered. If you ever got the chance to be at the farm where Gump moved, it was a walk through history. The barns where full of parts, bodies, and engines. The only 32 mold that remember Gump having was one that was pulled from a roadster that belonged to Jim Lakamp (also an original "Hoodlifter") I believe. If it is the one I am thinking about the original car had partial doors down to just above the channel line of the body. When Gump pulled the mold, he kept the doors in the body. The original mold was owned by Walt "Butch" Bunn of Butch's Rod Shop. I think Gump may have pulled a second mold off one of the bodies and this was the one that he was working on when he passed away. He had told me that he planned on putting the original door jambs and doors back in the mold. I'm not sure if this happend or not prior to his death.

This may not be 100% accurate, but it's 90% so I hope it helps. I will try and upload a bunch of old pictures I have of these original Hot Rodders...
Click to expand...

Bob use to supply hood scoops to me at the "Big K Speed Shop" on Salem ave. 1970 - 1974. He also let me use his lathe at the shop in Trotwood for my own "hot rod" issues. (I made a 2 speed out of an old muncie 4 speed that even had reverse for our B/ED "Nightwine and Beil". Bob was just the nicest person in the world. A super talented great guy

hemihotrod66 · Nov 15, 2022

I worked at his competitor B&N Fiberglass In the 60's and I believe we acquired some of his molds....He was the one that made the first all glass 33 Willys body....He made quality parts....

ironrodder · Nov 15, 2022

It's really spelled Reid. He took the mold from " Rudy's Beauty " Award winning B/SR '32 roadster. That was sold to Gump when Johnny shut down his 'glass business. He made Montgomery's. Fred Hurst, and many other racers 'glass. He was first with the one piece Willys front ends. Always a Craftsman. He also built some Grand National Champion 1/4 midgets his 2 sons drove.

AHotRod · Nov 16, 2022

What interesting history fella's ...

Log in or Sign up

Folks Of Interest Rieds fiberglass Dayton Ohio ???

hemigeorge
Member

from centerville,ohio

Rick Beil
Member

from Port Saint Lucie Fl.

hemihotrod66
Member

from Henderson NV

ironrodder
Member

from Brookville,Oh,

AHotRod
Member

from Weeki Wachee, FL.

Share This Page

Archive

Atomic Industry

Support

Subscribe

Log in or Sign up

Folks Of Interest Rieds fiberglass Dayton Ohio ???

hemigeorge Member from centerville,ohio

Rick Beil Member from Port Saint Lucie Fl.

hemihotrod66 Member from Henderson NV

ironrodder Member from Brookville,Oh,

AHotRod Member from Weeki Wachee, FL.

Share This Page

Useful Searches

Archive

Atomic Industry

Support

Subscribe

hemigeorge
Member

from centerville,ohio

Rick Beil
Member

from Port Saint Lucie Fl.

hemihotrod66
Member

from Henderson NV

ironrodder
Member

from Brookville,Oh,

AHotRod
Member

from Weeki Wachee, FL.