Hot Rods The future availability of Wescott fiberglass?

I have with much trepidation decided to put the word out that the end is approaching for me to continue making fiberglass fenders, components, and bodies. Besides my being tired and my wife wanting me for retirement the property and buildings the business is using will soon be sold to new owners. Will this be 3 months? Possibly. Will this be a year? Probably. Will this be two years. Maybe. There is no one in the Wescott family who has the skills or inclination to keep the fiberglass manufacturing going.


If Wescott fiberglass is to continue someone with passion for keeping parts for old Fords available will need to step up. This is going to take space. I use five 40’ containers to store just the fender molds, At least that space is needed for all the body molds. If you know someone who is interested pass the word.


Meanwhile, we are still building fiberglass parts on a limited basis and keeping up with orders.


The non fiberglass parts we make should continue to be available for a few more years, I believe I will be able to continue as a part time garage business, or again if someone wants to step up I will be happy to “transfer the torch” (my wife will be happier!) The resale parts portion of this business will likely slowly go away (unless someone steps up as an adjunct to the fiberglass or other parts manufacturing).


I expect to continue to share my (limited) technical knowledge to the community, and continue to keep the frame diagrams available.


Karl Wescott

 

Thank you for all you have done for the hobby.

 

Being up in Seattle, I’ve seen a fair number of your products. You certainly made things affordable and available for those who couldn’t be involved otherwise. Thanks for the years and the memories.

When I retired 13 years ago I had a younger partner ready to step up. Most aren’t that lucky. Best luck and wishes for you going forward.

 

Karl: You and your family have been a valuable****et to the hobby for many years producing the best glass products on the market. I had to make the same decision a couple years ago. It was tough to step away but I found nobody to pick up the torch. . Good luck. Gary at Cornhusker Rod And Custom

 

Karl. I bought one of your deuce bodies in 2009 and am still enjoying it almost 50k miles later. It is, indeed, a fine piece of craftsmanship! It is quiet, solid and reliable as it was from the day I first set it on my frame. If someone purchases the company, my hope is that they will continue the superb quality that you and your dad established! Thank you for no compromise quality!

 

Living here in the PNW I've seen a good number of cars built with your bodies over the past 47 years. Many look every bit as good now as they did 40 years ago.
I'll admit that I spent a lot of time looking at your glass bodies at shows in the PNW over the years but never had the funds to buy one and only had the experience of talking to you or your dad over the years.

Hopefully someone will step up and buy your molds and continue to produce the fiberglass pieces.

 

I can understand the reasoning. Yours were what set the bar. Hopefully someone will indeed take over your business and carry on the quality. I know a lot of people think that “only steel is real” but glass will never rust! Good luck...

 

What's the deal if someone wants to "step up"?

 

I got mine!
<<<<<<<<<<<<
I have the pleasure in telling people that Dee loaded my roadster into my friends big dump box pickup with his forklift over twenty five years ago.

 

I know that this is a bittersweet moment for you and your Family, Karl. Time has its' way of catching up with all of us. You and your Dad have done a tremendous service to the Hot Rod Culture for so very many years. Good luck with the transition whichever shape it takes. Here's my testament to the quality of your products...

 

Karl,
Having the pleasure of knowing you and your dad for the past 38 years and doing business together, I wish all the best for you. This will be a difficult transition and you will miss it at first so, good luck and we all hope you can find someone to "step up".

 

First, thanks for being a pillar of the hobby over all the years.
Second, thanks for being open about future changes. There have been others who understandably kept private stuff to themselves and just closed up.
Third, I hope a qualified buyer can take on the business, allowing you to retire and also carry on the Wescott name.
I haven't met you or bought your products, but still feel a loss when such a well known renowned business is facing the end.

 

A sad deal but part of our hobby anymore. Look at the number of glass manufacturer's that have closed up in the last few years. People retire and the business may be gone.

 

Those of us in the hotrod scene around Damascus, Or. have always admired and enjoyed what your dad and you have provided to the whole world in the way of early Ford parts. Thanks for all the great work! I hope someone steps up and buys the business and keeps doing the same quality work, and hopefully in the same location, or someplace close by!

 

Sorry to see this but completely understand. Your Dad gave me a personal tour of the operation many many years ago.
Best wishes for your future!

Dave

 

We are all getting older and I often wonder how long this wonderful hobby of ours is going to last. All the best to you.

 

I bought a set of their fenders for my first 36 ford waaaaay back in time. I was a local kid, I had no idea who I was dealing with at the time. Here we are 40+ years later. Wow. Thanks to the Wescotts for helping us build our dreams.

 

Karl, thank you for your making it possible for a guy to have a Deuce when Henrys wasn't available.

I certainly enjoyed mine! HRP

 

Thanks Karl. I didn’t buy much but what I bought is spot on, you will be missed. Cheers from nor cal.

 

Wescott’s set the bar for early Ford fiberglass hopefully someone will step up and take over. I have a set of Wescott’s fenders on my 31. The market has been evolving thru the years . You should enjoy some retirement time.

 

Karl,thanks for the ton of extra work you have done*. no one knows about much.
I had to retire my self over 24 years ago. Ya,I should of before that by 5+.

 

You guys saved my bacon on my '36 coupe when the old deck lid flew off and got smashed by a truck. The new one was a thing of beauty and fit like a glove.



Good luck to you, enjoy retirement.

-Abone.

 

Sorry to hear this, but the "retirement" thing creeps up on all of us eventually. You have to do what is best for you and your family.

I bought all four fenders for my '40 from Wescott's 30 years ago. Excellent fit and quality, and they have held up well over the years!

 

I'll add mine to all the best wishes here. It would be great if someone with the same dedication and skill level would step up. It would indeed be a huge step, but you just never know.
I've dropped by a couple of times, the first visit was in the early 90's and Karl gave us the royal tour, taking a lot of time out of a busy day just to show us around. As he did, I spied a row of '39 Ford Standard front fenders sitting outside one of the buildings. Did a double-take, and Karl says, "Yup, we just started making them!" Weren't even in the catalog yet. Lucky me! I bought a drivers' side, they packed it up and I hauled it back home on the plane. The only work I did prior to paint was sand out a parting line, scuff it, and drill out the dimples in the mounting flange where the mounting holes would be. It was flawless and it fit perfectly. The second time was about 6 years ago. We had a great conversation and although I wasn't looking for any parts at the time I at least wanted to pick up a T-shirt. He didn't have any then, so I bought a copy of one of Albert Drake's books he had for sale on a rack in the showroom.
Thanks for the hospitality, @Karl Wescott and all the best to you down the road!

A couple pics from 1992 - I seem to remember that was a steel Deuce sedan body behind Karl?
Strictly "top shelf"!!


1992: A glass '39 Ford convertible body in one of the storage buildings.


2018 visit - a full-fendered deuce roadster in the showroom.


2018: Some cool garage art - everybody should have a '40 Deluxe nose hangin' up!

 

Thank you , the great work . Hoping someone will step forward to keep the hobby rolling . It’s time for you to enjoy , life and family . Enjoy the wealth of many years of hard work and labor .

 

I'm in the same position as you, Karl!

I want to pass along the business, but haven't found the right guy(s) yet. I'd love to have an apprentice for a year or so and then work as a consultant to my successor.

Was going to be done by age 70 and will be 77 later this week.

Maybe we need to have a thread dedicated to Hot Rod business opportunities.

 

Just an idea; why not take on a summer intern/recent grad from McPherson College's auto restoration program, groom and mentor them and in a year let them take over? Sure they'd have to be moved to a new location eventually. A bunch of semi-trucks could haul it all to the mid-west or where ever they wanted to go that land/warehousing is cheap. You could still retain interest in the business and get lasting income (and so could your heirs) and a new generation could get a foot hold without having millions of dollars to start. If I was 30 again I'd be calling you today to work out an arrangement.

Hemming's does have a business for sale column, but this is a great idea.

 

When we picked up my roadster body I asked Dee about his 41 COE, he asked if I wanted to see it, I figured we would go into the shop to look at it, he surprised me when he said to follow him and he led us through the field to his garage at his house, this thing is a beauty.



I've always liked seeing old trucks with wood slat side boards on the bed.

 

I'm not 100% sure about this and I'm sure Karl will know, but according to the roadsters' owner, he owned the first Wescott deuce roadster body made, this guy lived across the street from my high school pals' mothers house, I would see it quite often, especially during summer cruising season, the car was quite well known around here.
I seem to recall it was originally built by the owner of a Ford dealership in the area, it had a small block Ford engine and it was a full fendered car, dark maroon with chrome wires.
It was a great looking car!

 

Pat. His last name will come to me by Thursday or never.