Glassic Automobile Model Changes by Year

In an interview with Joel (who is Joel?) in mid-2009, he explained that
Glassic went through four generations , or four main designs - not including
minor parts modifications and upgrades that happened throughout.

1st Generation International Frame, 4 cyl, mostly standard trans.	Second Generation Custom made frame, Ford 302, mostly auto transmission.	Third Generation Replicars, Coil springs, power steering, brakes, air conditioning	Fourth Generation Suspension changes wider wheel stance.
First Generation: The International Scout based Glassics. The first generation began with the first Glassic in 1966 (#101) through 1971. The front and rear suspension, and the frame, for that matter, came from Scouts.
Second Generation: The early Ford-engined Glassics, which used a Tube Axle from Minneapolis Auto Specialties, and Econoline spindles and brakes. The second generation began in 1972 through 1974 and some of the first Replicars, when the company re-formed in 1976-1977, car 689 --Front end - Taken from under the driver's side front fender, looking toward the back of the car. Car 838, the McWreck. Rear suspension, taken from the driver's side.
Third Generation: The Replicars which used a Pinto cross member and Pinto / Mustang II spindles and disk brakes. Began sometime in 1977 through ?? we don't know, but likely 1979 or 1980. Car 1254 - looking up, under the driver's side front wheel – the rear suspension was a Trailing arm, fabricated piece. Car 1254 - Car front is to the left, the coil spring is to the rear of the back axle, the trailing arm is partially painted black at the left side of the picture -- the very old shock absorber is in front of the axle.
Fourth Generation: The fabricated front cross member 2 1/2 inches wider than generation 3, and a Fairmont rack. The fourth generation began in 1979 or 1980 through the end of production in 1981. The "fabricated" cross member was based on the Pinto cross member. The rear suspension was also changed for generation 4 to a 4-bar, using a Fairmont rear axle, which was wider and went with the wider front end – all of which made the wheels sit further out in the fender wells. Car 1505 -Front of the car is to the right -- taken under the passenger side running board, looking toward the driver's side rear wheel. Coil is in front of the rear axle. The changes to Fairmont parts was since Mustang II was not being continued, and parts were not going to be available for newer cars.

Serial numbers - these are the lowest and highest numbers that I have evidence of. As new information comes in, I will close the gaps. chart updated9/2012 These numbers will not match the production quantities on the history page since there are gaps in the known VIN's so we don't know which year they were made.
Year	Low VIN	High VIN	Generation
1966	101	183	1
1967	185	271	1
1968	?	?	1
1969	303	327	1
1970	329	384	1
1971	398	433	1
1972	507	646	2
1973	655	914	2
1974	918	1211	2
1975	none that we know of		-
1976	Transition between Glassic & Replicars First "Replicars" VIN number 1001 making for some duplication of VIN numbers of 1974 and 1976-77's	1017	2
1977	1033	1121	2,3
1978	1123	1297	3
1979	1299	1450	3-4?
1980	1453	1480	3-4?
1981	1483	1509	4

The above ranges need to be taken as "approximate" since
some cars are registered as years that don't match their
VIN sequence. Possibly some cars were assigned VINs when
ordered, but titled the next year when delivered to the customer.

1963	Prototype car built see the prototype webpage
1964	Oct. 1964 Company was incorporated in Florida
1966	First year of production From early (undated) literature: 93.4 hp slant 4, 150 hp available at extra cost wheelbase 100" gas tank capacity 16 gal. 4-wheel drive avail. at extra cost 3-speed standard. 4speed avail at extra cost. Cooling system 12.6 qts. Weight 2420 lbs Oil capacity 4 quarts. Colors available Flag red, jet black, snow white. Cars had headlights attached to fenders -- no light bar.
1967	From other (also undated) literature Items in RED differ on the two brochures -Engine: International 4-152 4cylinder. Gross BHP: 93.4 @ 4400rpm. 12volt 32 amp alternator. Cooling system 11.6 quart capacity. Radiator frontal area 300 sq-inches. Semi-elliptic steel leaf springs. Tires: 7.35x15 4-pr. Brakes: Hydraulic, single-cylinder, double piston front and rear. Size 9x2" front and rear. Total lining area 137 sq ". Steering: S-12 gear with 17" steering wheel. Rear axle RA-4 2300-lib capacity. Hypoid single-reduction, 8 1/2" ring gear. Semi-floating, induction hardened shafts. Three piece cast iron housing. Ration 3.73, 1.27 or 4.88 to 1 Transmission: T-13 3-speed synchromesh, direct. Ratios 3.34, 1.85, 1.0-- 4.53 reverse. Clutch: 10" 6-spring single-plate. Hydraulic control, vibration dampener. Fuel tank 17 1/2 gallon aluminum. Total car weight 2310 lbs. Quoted in literature "Parts and service for the complete chasis (radiator, engine, transmission, differential, brakes, wheels and frame) available at all International Harvester Scout dealers." 1967 Christmas Catalog for Abercrombie and Fitch featured special "Abercrombie Runabouts" Glassics, although a bill of sale on the site shows a sale in April of 1967. See the Abercrombie info page
1968
1969
1970	Start of the transition to the Ford V-8 engine
1971	V-8 Ford engined cars produced this year, but a number of cars with International engines have also been reported as showing a manufacture date in 1971
1972	Ford V-8 showing on all cars made this year-- about 400 cars with the International drive train had been produced Automatic transmission introduced Solid, one piece bumpers Model A style tail lights Gas filler ON the rear pad Car called Glassic at this time Budweiser Special Edition sold this year. (see Flyer) October, 1972 -- Company sold to Parker-West
1973	Model A style two bar bumper Auto transmission shifter on the floor Leaf springs front and rear One piece hood top Windshield wipers at top of windshield Phaeton gas filler on rear luggage platform a March 1974 Hemmings ad claimed for the 1973 cars "original suggested retail $8300"
1974
1975	no cars located yet -few were produced the first half of the year, and none the second half due to bankruptsy of the company.
1976 see article on manufacture date confusion.	Rebirth of the company as Replicars. No cars sold this year, although a few 1976's may appear with a 1977 manufacture date. The first few Replicars had SMOOTH side panels on the hood, that is, no louvers. -- see 1976 specifications here The earliest Replicars had the Phaeton gas filler on the SIDE of the rear hump.
1977	First Replicars -- Gas filler moved from the side of the rear hump to the rear fender. Body modifications began including wider doors (corrected 4/2009 - the doors appear NOT to have been changed in width from the earlier to later years), longer hood, longer wheelbase Windshield wipers on bottom of windshield Front leaf springs, air conditioning Later in 1977 cars appeared with Coil spring s in front. VW tail lights and parking lights Top of hood is split with hinge Drum brakes - front and rear. Car called Replicars at this time
In Feb. 2008 I asked Joel to help me identify how you could tell the difference between the different year Replicars. (If there was no VIN tag, of course). Here is his reply - remember, this is 30 years after the fact. Glassics all had tube axles with the Ford engines and 5 lug wheels - Econoline spindles, drum brakes, and probably a Maverick rear axle (5 lug) Replicars early on had the same...w/ 3" x 4" tubing chassis and leaf springs all around First Replicar change was to Pinto (Mustang II) front cross member w/ coil springs, disc brakes, & a Mustang II rack -- and a fabricated swing arm coil spring rear suspension, disc front, drum rear, and 4 lug wheels w/ 2" x 3" tubing chassis, and about 2" more wheelbase to get the front tires under the crown of the front fenders.. Later Replicar change was to the welded front cross member (21/2" wider track), Mustang II front end "monkey motion" w/ disc brakes, & a Fairmont rack --- 4 bar rear suspension w/ coil springs & drum brakes, probably out of a Fairmont... When this happened is anyone's guess.. We didn't keep records of this. Once I figure out what those changes LOOK like, we can try to zero-in on when the change occurred by comparing with known VIN cars.
1978	Coil springs front and rear - Mustang rear end with the perches for the leaf springs cut off and coil springs mounted Disc brakes in front, drum brakes in rear Phaeton gas filler on passenger fender Auto transmission shifter on the column (Granada steering column)
1979	Somewhere between 1979 and 1980, front and rear suspension changed. See Generation Four above.
1980
1981	Last year of production - Last known car (#1508) produced 12/30/81 Car # 1509 reported in in 12/2012, with a production date of 10/10/81 - not surprising since VINS have appeared out of order before - possibly when the car was ordered, not finished.