metal kit body?

[dreamrod57]

who an where can I find a good all metal body to build a car from/

I would like to find a source that carries everything , but not in a turnkey package . I want to put the kit together myself.

I havent decided what body style I like best. but I would like something big and very roomy. for 4 or 5 passengers including myself. what would fit the bill?

for my experience of cars. I have never built a car from ground up, but I have good patience and am willing to learn.








thanks for any help pointing me in the right direction?

[Dave Severson]

I don't know of anyone building a steel sedan yet, not to say there isn't one out there. Why not start with an original body or a fiberglass one??? You might want to watch on ebay, there is usually a few project cars for sale on there.

[Don Shillady]

There is of course an economic issue so that if you can find a rolling chassis with a body it may be cheaper to build it up, but if your financial situation allows take a look at:

1. www.brookvilleroadster.com

Complete kits for '29 and '32 Ford steel roadsters and '32 three window coupe.


2. www.SpeedwayMotors.com

New steel body '32 Highboy kit

Don Shillady
Retired SCientist/teen rodder

[HOTRODPAINT]

I have to ask the obvious question, which is why not fiberglass? Believe it or not, it has some advantages over metal, and the availablity of more styles, and cost should make it more desirable to you.

I have a lot of experience with Corvette work, motorcycle bodies, racecar fiberglass, streetrods, prototyping, and some minor manufacturing, and I can tell you that there are compromises and limitations with either 'glass, or steel.

[dreamrod57]

Originally posted by HOTRODPAINT
I have to ask the obvious question, which is why not fiberglass? Believe it or not, it has some advantages over metal, and the availablity of more styles, and cost should make it more desirable to you.

I have a lot of experience with Corvette work, motorcycle bodies, racecar fiberglass, streetrods, prototyping, and some minor manufacturing, and I can tell you that there are compromises and limitations with either 'glass, or steel.

I dont mind fiberglass. although its a little messy when sanding.
just thought if I could find a good metal body kit that would be just as fun to build.

It would be cool to use an original body. but what few are left require lots of rust repair and I think I would be better off with a new body instead. and as for buying someone's project. id rather not. because I wouldnt know where to begine and where they left off, plus they may have been going for a look that doesnt appeal to me. if im going to build a kit car I would rather start from scratch and build what I see in my mind.

also how much room do the coupe's have? im 6ft tall and about 250lbs. im no little fella. and I need some space to fit my big behind in .

[dreamrod57]

I do like the ford 5 window coupe. how much leg room do they have both in the front and rear seats?

[HOTRODPAINT]

You might try attending an event, and ask if you can sit in a few different body styles.

I always had a love affair with the '33 Willys coupe, until I sat in a AA/GS with a chopped top! I'm about average at 5-10, 200 lbs, but I had my left knee under my chin, the steering wheel in my chest and my right foot in the passenger footwell.

I simultaneously started having limbs go to sleep, while I was suffering an attack of claustrophobia!

I'm just kidding, but it did remove any desire to build one. The answer might be to build a pheaton, sedan, or delivery body. At least you could push the seats back for some foot room.

[Don Shillady]

Just some added comments. I bought a Bebops fiberglass '29 roadster because of the fenders already on the floorpan and because I wanted a roadster, but I believe Bebops also makes a 'glass Vicky body that would have a lot more interior room and the basic Victoria body already looks chopped. A neighbor only three doors from me is a Model-A restorer and he warned me about the fun of aligning separate fenders and at the same time he was not overly pleased with my 'glass replica body so there are tradeoffs. Note also that for a metal Model A there are still a substantial number of wooden pieces that are required. Model A restorers say that you can build a complete new Model A from parts and places like Bratton's Antique Auto PArts in Gaithersburg Md have just about every piece down to the last rivit or screw but maybe parts are not as fully available for the later years, although Brookville comes close to having all the '32 parts. Still maybe a Vicky body in fiberglass is worth considering so take you time and look over a number of possibilities and plan it out further. As I say, for a Model A the thought of all those little wooden blocks and small pieces of sheet metal looked like too much trouble when after all the outer appearance of the fiberglass is pretty close and the floorpan-fenders seem like a reasonable way to save a least a year of construction work, not to mention the need to worry about rustproofing all those inner parts. MAybe if I was 20 years younger I could take my time and build a metal Model-A from parts but at my age the fiberglass shortcut looks to be justified. Checkout the Bebops site:

http://www.bebops-glassworks.com/


Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

[dreamrod57]

HOTRODPAINT. you gave me a good

I have been there. I dont own any newer small compact cars because of this. my sister has a 97 ford escort, and if I can manage to get in the car, it takes me sometime to figure a way to get back out. and only lord knows what if I had to sit in a car that small for more than 20min at a time.

I like very big cars. if I dont find a kit car that "fits" me then I will build a custom land-yacht.

[Dave Severson]

If you want a big car, there are a lot of good choices, most can be had fairly reasonable. How about an early 70's Lincoln, Riviera, Impala or other such large barge??? Any of these lend themselves quite well to customizing. Lots of room under the hood for a torque monster big block, too.

[rltaylor46]

HI Guys (gals too, if you're reading). I'm old, but new to CHR. I have a perfectly good '30 "A" that I could build a street rod with, but, well, I just love the look of the '32, especially the 3-window, with stock roof. It appears that Ravon is out of business (selling their molds on ebay), so I'm trying to find out if there's anyone other than Wescott and Gibbon out there, producing a '32 Ford 3-window coupe with STOCK ROOF height. I'm just having a rough time justifying the prices they charge. HELP PLEASE!, This is a great forum. Thanks to all of you for contributing.
Randy

[Itoldyouso]

Take a look at Brookville Roadsters new '32 coupe. It is amazing, and not bad pricewise, when you see what rusty originals are fetching.

Saw one at Daytona last November, and seriously considered taking out a 2nd mortgage. It was like $ 25,000.00, but really NICE.


Don

[Bob Parmenter]

I'm just having a rough time justifying the prices they charge. HELP PLEASE!, Randy

Randy, if you'd ever built one you wouldn't have that rough a time. BTW, Gibbon is not in business anymore (thankfully, do a search of this site and you'll understand why). The quality difference of a Wescott is well worth it's price. It's a "pay me now, pay me later thing". That being said, I believe Redneck does a stock roof body. http://www.redneckstreetrods.com/1932.html They also have a good name as far as I've heard.

[rltaylor46]

Thanks Bob. My error. I meant to say Redneck. And yes, I've read nothing but good about their bodies. Thanks for the heads-up about Gibbon though. Too bad, as I remember from years ago that their fenders, at least, were really good. Someone is doing business under their name, however. Hum? Anyway, I think you guys are right about the extra expense. I've gotta think of this as an investment. After all, that's a big reason why I want to build a
'32 instead of a '30. Thanks again