Looking to purchase a glass '32 Ford 3w cp. Who makes a good one?
Thanks for any help.
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Looking to purchase a glass '32 Ford 3w cp. Who makes a good one?
Thanks for any help.
Sorry, meant to say with a 2 inch chop. New at this puter.
Wescott, Outlaw, Rats Glass, and Redneck are the best that I have seen. I own an Outlaw, but they have a 3 3/4 inch chop. I don't know what the chop is on the others--I know 3 inch chop is fairly common--but I don't know about a 2 inch. Google their names and check their websites. Rats Glass would be the closest to your location.
http://www.wescottsauto.com/body-pho...pe-chop-00.jpg
The Wescott 32 3W is chopped 2 and 1/2 inches at the front and 2 inches at the rear window. ( shown above )
Go here for a list of features and options ...
http://www.wescottsauto.com/body-193...upe-chop-1.htm
Wescott makes the BEST fiberglass 32 3W coupe body IMHO ... and once painted and on a chassis ... they are difficult to tell from one of Henry's steel cars. That is coming from a fellow who owns a Henry built steel 32 3W ... :D
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...r/4f4dfdb9.jpg
Seriously, take a look at this site.
http://www.nnfiberglass.com/32.htm
The prices are low enough that you'll say "are they for real?" The answer is . . . yep, they are. There has been some discussion about them on this board recently, and it has all been good.
Here's a link to some of the discussion:
http://www.clubhotrod.com/forums/sho...ght=fiberglass
Here's some more:
http://www.clubhotrod.com/forums/sho...ght=fiberglass
Also, take a look at Jim Stafford's gallery. His car is an N&N
http://www.clubhotrod.com/photopost/...at=500&thumb=1
I've been told by several builders that Bear Fiberglass makes excellent bodies. They have a 32 3wc with a 2 1/2 inch chop. All of their cars come with Cool Car insulation. Web address is: http://www.bearfiberglass.com/main.html
Worth a look.
I have also heard N&N glass bodies are nice--but I have never seen one up close and personal. I don't know about Bear Fiberglass--I saw one of their bodies at their display at the SR Nationals a couple of years ago, and I spoke to the owner's wife (great saleperson) but I heard on another site that a guy had real problems with one. That may be an isolated case, but I have not seen one of their finished cars, only the display model. They have a composite approach to building bodies rather than the steel and wood reinforced approach.
They may be a well built body :confused:Quote:
Originally Posted by Henry Rifle
BUT look at them ... they look like a 1-800 fiberglass body.
At least to me ... :rolleyes:
Just my nickel ...
What the ****! Are these prices for real?!
Fiberglass 1932 ROADSTER for $4,500.00. That's about 31,950 Swedish kronor.
You can buy a Swedish 32 Roadster for 16,000 Swedish kronor. That's about 2,300.00.$. And these bodies have really high quality. Way better then a Wescott.
You get a 32 5W coupe for 4,000.00.$ here with same quality.
Compares to NN's price, 6,300.00.$ And that's supposed to be cheap?
A-31 roadster costs 2,800.00$ And this price includes a pair of American stamped rails.
And it's supposed to be cheap to buy rod stuffs in America? Guess i've been lured..
I'm sure a lot of that is due to the exchange rate and the ratio of dollars to kronors. This is off the subject somewhat, but a year or so ago, there was talk of some talented Swedish entrepeneurs who were going to produce a steel '32 Ford roadster body. Any word on this?
Quote:
Originally Posted by rumrumm
Last I heard the guy who runs "Roadsters.com" was going to be importing them.
I was VERY Impressed with the Redneck body and how there built, seen a guy hanging on a open door and swinging like a monkey, then bouncing up and down hanging on the same open door, stood away and closed it with one finger,... *Click-Click*, lined up perfectly and no drop to the door at all. For all stock you cant beat a Wescott,... A friend of mine has a N&N, window moldings are one piece with the inner door panel and some low spots around the deck lid area.
nice body, but not my cup of tea.
Thank you very much for all the help fellas. So far I have only found 2
companies that have a 2'' chop, that is Coast to Coast and Russnomore.
Anything good to say about these 2. Thanks again.
Everyone will give you their opinion..... Mine is I have seen them all up close. I think N&N are the best I have found.
1-800- hotrod....well if you say so but I am not a fan of what Henry sold.
Well it's not much diffrence between Sweden and America, We both get around same salery. The cost of food is cheaper in America but living is way more expensive.Quote:
Originally Posted by rumrumm
Let's say that im going to buy a pair of tires eg cheater slicks from Radir that costs 300$ then you take 300 * 7,1 "which is the exchange rate" and you'll get 2130. SEK. That's way cheaper then tires in Sweden. So it cant be the exchange rate.
Concerning Swedish steel bodys..
We have a company called Reprosteel that stamps 32 roadsters and only that. These bodys are stamped in old Volvo presses. The company that puts them together is http://www.jocar.se. one 32 roadster costs 12,000.00$ and brookville takes $10,500.00.
Then we have http://lazze.se/ which also have a shop in Oakdale CA. He also makes 32 Roadsters.
Then we have another builder i dont think that he has a company yet but he have built 10~ 32 roadsters in steel. All from steel sheets.
And the word says that there is another guy going on in southern Sweden and hes making 3D moulds on hes computer from orginal bodys with a 3D camera. He will start producing T-27 roadsters, A-28/29 roadsters, 30-31 roadsters, 31 5W coupe, 32 roadster, 32 3/5W coupe and 33 roadster. All in steel.
We also have a few companys that puts together brookville bodys.
Quote:
Originally Posted by iceburgh
Not to stat a POO storm ... but do you own a N&N body ? ;)
http://www.wescottsauto.com/body-pho...upe-inner2.jpg
This is a Wescott 3W ... look at the roof and the steel and wood ...
http://www.nnfiberglass.com/images/inside2.gif
http://www.nnfiberglass.com/images/inside1.gif
This is a N&N body ... :rolleyes:
I know which one I would rather have ... and it is not the N&N body.
Disclaimer ...
Everyone has their own preferrences and tastes. I owned a 32 Ford ( no repros back then ) before Iceberg was born ... so my age and experiences will differ from younger folks with different outlooks and experiences.
I like my 32 Fords to look like a 32 Ford ...
Others may like the smoothed off, changed around ... look.
That's their right ... :D
Hot Rodding is about doing what YOU want ... NOT what someone else thinks is right for you.
Then why did you want a 32 Ford 3W coupe ... Chevrolet and others made cars back then and a lot of folks make fiberglass bodies to resemble them ... ??Quote:
Originally Posted by iceburgh
This the way original 3W coupes are done ( photos from Brookville Roadster site )
There is a lot of wood and steel in them ... :rolleyes:
http://www.brookville-roadster.com/3...R%20WINDOW.JPG
http://www.brookville-roadster.com/3...OOD%20VIEW.JPG
http://www.brookville-roadster.com/3...AND%20WOOD.JPG
A lot of them has survived 75 years ...
Deuce is right--to each his own. He likes his one way and I like mine another. The old arguments about steel vs. glass, original vs. repop are silly. A hot rod is your own personal vision of what a hot rod should be. Period.
I lifted this quote from another thread ... but it SO APPLIES here ... :DQuote:
Originally Posted by rumrumm
I could not have said any better myself ... so I copied and pasted it here ...Quote:
Originally Posted by joeybsyc
Just noticed you are in Florida ... :rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by muncie
This guy is in Florida ... and builds 32 3W bodies. I do not know him or his work ... but he may be close enough for you to go visit and see for yourself.
http://www.dkrods.com/shop_image/pro...3736ebc6c8.jpg
http://www.dkrods.com/?page=shop/ind...a43e05ade20fb6
Thanks again for all the help. I'll be asking more questions if that's ok.
I would want my 32 to look like a 32 as well.... Wescott's or Brookville would be my only options.
I think Brookville and Wescott would be my first choice,...... but I got to tell you that I am Very impressed with the construction and strength of the "Redneck Bodies. the bodies are built like Corvette bodies,.. they don't have wood or steel reinforcement just laminated opposing fiberglass panels and Steel capture plates where the hardware mounts, the strength is just unparalleled. check out there sight,.......
http://www.redneckstreetrods.com/
There strength demonstrations are insane,... and they offer any chop you want,
straight chop or canted "A" pillars if you want. Again I have been working on a N&N bodied 3 window (picture of it in my last post),... nice body but still not near my first choice (IMHO)
Yep, he does.Quote:
Originally Posted by Deuce
http://www.clubhotrod.com/photopost/...0&ppuser=11176
:3dSMILE:Quote:
Originally Posted by Henry Rifle
Muncie is the one who asked for opinions and options ... And he has not jumped on anyone ...
IF I was Muncie, I believe I would look into the Redneck body ... looks good from the stuff highboy 32 posted.
Everyone has their idea of what a 32 3W should look like ...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...ster/fe_12.jpg
This is the almost perfect 32 3W .. for me ...
There are two things I would change ... NO cowls lights and I would put my name on the title ... :) :rolleyes:
It has all the cool stuff that I like ...
Working chrome windshield frame
Unfilled cowl vent
Unfilled roof
Stock headlights
fenders and bumpers ... running boards too
door handles and door hinges
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...r/bf674374.jpg
Hopefully, my 3W will look a LOT like this one ( but no cowl lights )
My son and I are working on 32 coupe from BeBops in Athens Tn. I am pleased with the body. For pics
www.guillconstruction.com/garagebuilt.htm
Yes everyone has there opinions but the fact is I didnt have a million dollars to buy a 32 . But what I did get was a very very well made fiberglass body from N&N for a great price . Yes Wescott makes a great product and Brookville and Outlaw. But it would have taken me a few more years to get one.Dont forget these cars are hot rods you put them together any way you can so that you can get out there and drive them not trailer them around
like some museum piece. I have to give it up for the guys at N&N for having pride in what they do and giving me a quality body in this day and age where everything is made in china and is made like crap becuase they dont give a crap about quality , its all about quantity. Nothing beats the smile on a little boys face when he gets a new toy.:D
Angelo
Enough blather has gone on here to warrant some of my own "insight" based on having "been there".
First, to put it in context, we live today in a time of relative riches for the glass body shopper. There are way many more sellers/manufacturers of comparatively good quality bodies than in years past. This is not a negative comment on any of the suppliers named here, just a general commentary that may help the more thoughtful potential buyers see their decision in a slightly different light. And there is a component of "best available choice at whatever point in time".
I think there's a false economy in becoming fixated on the mere price difference of the body. Taking the broader, long view of what you're doing will show that saving a couple thousand now could cost you several thousand later. Say you have a choice between body A for $6000, and body B for $9000. That's a 50% swing, seems like a lot. But let's look at the rest of the project outcome. The rest of what's involved in the build you will do pretty much the same, whichever body you choose. You'll spend about the same amounts for the chassis, it's components, the wheels, tires, electrical, glass, paint, upholstery and on and on, all dependant on what level of fit, finish, and style you choose. All told you'll spend, let's say $20k for all those components (ex-body). You're going to hire or do (perhaps a combination) the same amount of labor to finish all that stuff, so that cost will be the same. So, adding in the body you'll spend either $26k or $29k (ex-labor).
There are essentially two challenges for you. Pay me now, pay me later to borrow a phrase. Odds are the cheaper body is cheaper for a reason. Could be that attention to detail in the shape of body lines, gaps at panel openings, quality of hinges, amount and style of bracing and the materials it's made from, and so on is lacking. Now, if you don't know enough to appreciate the differences between a good, and a better body as these matters are considered, then you won't value them highly enough to pay the extra in either time or money. That's fine. But if you know yourself to be "particular" about these things, you may find out that, having bought the "cheaper" body, you end up spending as much, and more likely more, "fixing" the cheaper body to make it as good as the seemingly more expensive one.
The second challenge is one that gets argued to death because perception gets in the way. There will come a time when you (or maybe your survivors) are going to have to part company with the car. If you have a noted, high quality body, it's very likely you can realize a pricing premium because much of the informed market is willing to pay extra for that perceived quality advantage. Unless you're willing to prove that denial is more than a river in Egypt, the market for glass '32 roadsters, for instance, values a Wescott bodied car over all others. That's why many sellers lie (or suffer from wishful thinking) and say they have a Wescott when they really have no idea who built the body. The premium may not necessarily be in a higher dollar as the hot rod market changes, it may be in the willingness of buyers to buy perceived good quality over not so much. Which is to say, you'll be able to sell it rather than being stuck with it. For a non car example of this look at today's housing market in some areas of the country.
As a personal example, in 1990 I bought a Gibbon body for the car pictured below (for which I can't take credit for paint and interior). At that time the Gibbon was probably the best quality on the market. Well, there was the Outlaw which really was much better, but they built their body without the reveal around the windshield opening which made it look more like a '33-4, which I didn't care for. I looked at Downs, but a good buddy was in the middle of a '33 3 window of theirs and had to fix a BUNCH of stuff. As it turns out my body was built at a time when George Packard had left Gibbon and was replaced by Kyle Bond (the owner's son). Kyle's concern for quality has been well documented elsewhere on here, so let's just say that I had a lot of work in rehabbing the body. If I had to guess I'd say 200-250 hrs (perhaps more), but that was still less than what my buddy had in his Downs. And these were the two BEST regarded body builders for '32 3 windows at the time. That's why I say that today is much better, market demand has upped the ante. From the looks of many of these bodies mentioned here a buyer could get by on much less "rehab". But the basics still apply, pay me now, or pay me later. Or one of Severson's favorites; If you can't afford it now, how can you afford more later?
damn you added a lot in for the price of frame and body. I will have around 3k in my frame and rolling. Said and done I think I will have in the 10k area on my car, but I would do everything my self and no billet. This is a 32 5w coupe. Body was free though, but I still have to buy a few pieces for it.
Well stated ... and very true ... :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Parmenter
The older Gibbon 3W coupes were very good bodies. I have a few friends who still have theirs and have a LOT of miles on them. They are holding up good.
Go here ... to a internet Hotrod classifieds site ... and see which cars are bringing the $$$ ... :) Lots of the low priced body cars for sale ... for the lower prices. Plenty of them ... The Wescott, older Gibbons and Outlaw cars bring MORE $$$. No brag ... just the fact.
http://www.hotrodhotline.com/classif...=174&page=1&c=
http://hotrodders.com/journal_photos...1772829672.jpgQuote:
Originally Posted by Uptown83
http://hotrodders.com/journal_photos...1772829671.jpg
http://hotrodders.com/journal_photos...1772828872.jpg
I am WAY PAST 10 grand ... :( :o
Just for what's in the above photos ...
AND ... I still have a long way to go
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...r/MVC-027S.jpg
Yes I do....becuase I looked at all of them up close and many times. I bought waht I think IMO is the best.Quote:
Originally Posted by Deuce
I like the look of the '32 Ford but I prefer it chopped and smooth.
Just got back from a show in OC and there was every type of '32 you could want there. The smooth chopped look keeps grabbing my eye.
Just my opinion
Well Im keeping track of my expenses. Ill post some time in the future with my chassis and how much I have in it.
:DQuote:
Originally Posted by iceburgh
Nothing wrong with having the style street rod a person wants ... America ... I love it.
Your car turned out nice. The paint work is very eye catching and looks to be very well executed. I would imagine that having lots of Meguiars products on it does not hurt the looks either :) ( I know you work for them ) I really like their " Quick Detailer " and the purple gel tire stuff.
As a older type ( retired guy and 32 Ford owner for over 30 years :rolleyes: )
I tend to be attracted to the more conservative look. Tastes vary from person to person and age bracket to age bracket.
Best ... is a matter of one's own experience and taste.
Unlike a race, a ballgame or sporting contest where a WINNER is declared ...
I believe N&N bodies may be a good buy ... for the money. A Wescott or Brookville body will cost 2 to 3 times as much more money than a N&N body. Good original steel 32 3W coupes are even more expensive unless you just get real lucky. If a builder is going to grind off the lines, remove the hinges, chop the top, glue in a windshield and smooth off all that stuff ... It would make good financial sense to start with a body that was already a smoothed off and chopped body.
There is room for all styles and all tastes IMHO ... BEST is a matter of opinion. There are a lot of different opinions on the best 3W body ...
Just as there should be :cool:
(A Little,... maybe a Lot O/T if that's OK )Quote:
Originally Posted by Uptown83
Even though I have a bunch of projects going on ( some mine,... most other peoples), I collected a bunch of left over, discarded & Swap Meet stuff to build a 34 Ford "Beater with a Heater", I am trying to build it on a "busted shoe string budget" to see how cheap I can build a solid, safe, and bullet proof Hot Rod for daily use. I straightened up a stock 34 Ford frame, built a X member and boxed it, mounted a 351W/C-6, 9" rear end on home made rear suspension, Mor-Drop axle, split wishbones, disc's, Saginaw steering, re-chopped glass 34 3/W,(still have to do the doors) Figuring out what I have in everything, I am just over 3K at this point. I have about two weeks work in everything at this point ( haven't had time to touch it sense last year) But I am having a blast with this "budget build"
SORRY TO GO O/T,...... please forgive me,.... "Now back to our regularly scheduled topic"