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GSM 1958-1966 - South Africa's pride

Name: GSM Flamingo 1963
Brand: GSM

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Created in 2013

Text:

Roger Gloor

Photos:

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GSM Flamingo (1963) - a pretty sports car

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GSM Flamingo (1963) - the rear window design is reminiscent of the split-window Corvette

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GSM Dart (1959) - Model 95 and 105 without hardtop

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Summary

There have been around 10,000 car brands and designers - most of which have disappeared. The Glassports Motor Co (GSM) can also be counted among these vanished brands. The South African GSM sports cars consisted almost entirely of English parts - yet they were South Africa's pride and joy.

Estimated reading time: 3min

Preview (beginning of the article)

The GSM sports cars were also used by South Africa's car fans for racing fun. Glassports Motor Co Pty Ltd was founded in 1958 in Cape Town by Bob van Niekerk, Willie Meissner and Verster de Wit. The name Glass referred to the lightweight open plastic bodywork, which was also available with a hardtop. The GSM Dart was powered by engines from Ford England (997 cm3, 56 or 68 hp; 1172 cm3, 73 or 87 hp), Coventry-Climax 3 (1097 cm, 86 hp) or Alfa Romeo (DOHC, 1290 cm³, 95 or 115 hp). The basis was a tubular frame chassis with two longitudinal members, which had an upper transverse leaf spring at the front and a rigid axle with coil springs at the rear.

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