This is John Saccullo's 1954 Woodill Wildfire. The Wildfire was America's First Production Fiberglass Sports Car. They were made from 1953-1958. This body style is one of only two made in 1954 with 1953 Buick headlights and taillights.
Own a piece of early American Sports Car history
Call or Text: (408) 461-0720
Offered at $29,000. Car is located in Gilroy, California
The Wildfire's Colorful History
The Woodill Wildfire was an American sports car built by Dodge and Willys dealer Blanchard Robert "Woody" Woodill from 1952
to 1958 in Downey, California. The Wildfire used a Glasspar fiberglass body and is credited with being the first complete
fiberglass car available. Estimates are that 15 were produced by Woodill, and another 285 sold as kits. It is believed that there are only 25 Wildfires left in existence.
A feature by Frederick Roth on the American Sports Cars website does an excellent job of tracing the Wildfire's history:
The Wildfire in Hollywood
The Woodill Wildfire was the lead car from the 1954 movie Johnny Dark, starring Tony Curtis, Piper Laurie and Don Taylor. Filming started in late summer of 1953. The first race in the film contained footage of an actual event/race that occurred in Santa Barbara, California at the Goleta Airport on Labor Day, 1953. Even the Movie's Trailer (above) featured the Wildfire prominently.
A little about John's Wildfire
John bought the car from a collector in 1990, and immediately went about restoring it between 1990 and 1993. As a finished product, this 1954 Wildfire sports a completely rebuilt Ford 302 that came out of a Mustang before its rebuild. Engine is in top condition.
The car has been garaged and covered since 1993, leaving only for occasional shake downs around the streets of Gilroy, car shows between 1993 and 2008, and a few trips (always on a trailer) to Hot August Nights in Reno.
Paint is excellent. The photos appear show some black dots. Those are camera lens debris, not paint flaws. You'll need to see it for yourself.
