Period advertisement for the GSM Flamingo
The GSM Dart and Flamingo are nearly forgotten today, but they were pioneering cars in the late 50s when the Anglo-South African hybrids became only the second car manufacturer to build a car in the former British colony. After a trip to England in 1956, South African Willie Meissner became enthralled with fiberglass manufacturing – especially in the use of auto bodies – and wanted to learn how to work with the medium himself. He contacted a friend from home, Bon Van Niekirk, and told him that the medium could allow them to design the car that they had always wanted to. Shortly afterwards, Van Niekirk joined Meissner in England where they took jobs with a local fiberglass company to learn the trade.
Attractive Flamingo rear end won admirers including Formula 1 legend Gordon Murray
Interested in manufacturing a small sports car with a fiberglass body they enlisted the aid of an English designer. The GSM Dart and Flamingo would be developments of that original design – the Dart name was not used in the UK and the car was known as the Delta instead – and would form the basis of the product line for the duration of the company’s existence. Glassport Motor Company – GSM – was formed as a South African country in 1958 and they put the Dart into production (it was sold as the Delta in England due to existing use of the Dart name).
Dart coupe resembles Ford Anglia in profile
Despite poor press reviews of the car that criticized the build quality and the expensive purchase price, GSM sold almost 35 cars in the UK and then set about creating a fastback version – the GSM Delta – and the more successful Flamingo that was introduced in 1962. A more finished and refined car, the Flamingo found several admirers including famed Formula One designer Gordon Murray. Production ended in 1964.
The GSM Delta roadster
'Men in Sheds – GSM Dart and Flamingo' have 3 comments
October 8, 2016 @ 9:03 pm Brian Rennison
Where can I get plans for a GSM Dart
August 2, 2021 @ 1:00 am Vaughan Thomas
The red roadster shown in the photograph as a “GSM Delta roadster” is in fact a GSM Dart roadster. Note it has South African gauging Province Plates on it, and was imported to the UK in 2000. This lines up with the South African registration documents from the importation and re-registration. I would like to know more about this car, as I have recently acquired it. If anyone has any information about the car or the photograph and where it was taken, please contact me. Many thanks
November 25, 2023 @ 9:15 am Alex
If you can put me in touch with the person who purchased this car, I would appreciate it as I have recently purchased one myself.