Happy New Year!!
Just wondering what glass 32 Roadster bodies out there are favorites among you glass roadster owners.
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Happy New Year!!
Just wondering what glass 32 Roadster bodies out there are favorites among you glass roadster owners.
the manufacturer of choice is what I am looking for, Pros and Cons?
Wish I could help. The only fiberglass bodies I ever worked on were Vetts.
I have Ball's Rod and Custom it cost more to fix it than what I paid for it. It was awful the worst craftsmanship possible, I can't say enough bad things about it. I would never buy anything from them again.:mad:
Heard a lot of good things about Redneck bodies, seen a couple and they look really nice. Built cars using Downs and Wescott bodies, IMO both are quality units.. Nothing but bad the last 10 years on Gibbons, really went down the tubes since the kid took it over... I'm sure more of the guys will have some input.
When most people don't want to admit they have a cheapo body, or don't know who made the body they have they say it's a Wescott.............that should tell you something.
There are other good ones, but they're few and far between. Wescott has been at it over 35 years (nobody else can say that)...........that should tell you something.
Wescott's body cost more than just about anybody else's and he's still the sales leader year after year..............that should tell you something.
I'm with Bob on this one. No place else is it more true then in Fiberglass bodies that you get what you pay for!!!! IMO they are well worth the extra bucks. There are a number of guys on this forum that can tell horror stories about cheap glass bodies. Also, take a look at the Wescott site, the body has a steel cage built internally throughout the car. My favorite example is a car I built the chassis for in 1986..... It's a Wescott body, gets driven about 3 to 5 thousand miles a season, and is still as nice as the day it came out of Craig Matson's paint booth, not withstanding a rock chip or two.....
If you can do all of your own body work and consider your time to be worth nothing at all, then you can save money going with a cheapie, but when all is said and done, you still have a cheapie.... Some of the other higher end bodies are getting close to Wescott's quality, but I haven't seen one that is quite there yet..... Also at resale time, when you say it's a Wescott body, questions about quality and who built it are over.....
Wescott, Downs, Redneck, and Rats Glass manufacture very good bodies. I have seen them, and they have excellent workmanship. There are probably other good bodies out there but I have not seen them up close and personal.
What do you guys think about Coast to Coast bodies?
I looked them over at the Street Rod Nationals a couple of years ago. Nice workmanship. But I liked the Wild Rods better as they appeared to have better bracing and internal reinforcement.
While I believe that they may be pretty good bodies, they are a bit like Street Beasts in that only their parts fit, plus they build only '37s and '39s. If you want quality, stick with Wescott's. If you are only interested in building it and driving it quickly and as inexpensively as possible, there are many to choose from.Quote:
Originally Posted by 1923sst
Quote:
Originally Posted by Irelands child
they also sell a 32 body , nice part from what i have seen .
Must be newer than their website info then - it doesn't list/show a '32.:confused: I've only seen the '37 and '39 models at any show - which are real nice, but not my style and becoming too popular and, IMHO, Ho-Hum. Ya see one, you've seen 'em all except for colorQuote:
Originally Posted by kennyd
Oze makes a '32 and several others - possibly that's what you've seen - they are nice looking but really have no idea of the quality. Always like any '32, regardless.
Anyone have any experience working with a Kilbourne body? They're based in Kilbourne IL, and that's what mine is... It looks very good, and has a ton of square tube bracing, etc inside... but the bodywork and paint were already completed when I bought my car, so I can't really comment on how much work was involved to get it to the condition its in now. Another thing I like about it is the very stock looking firewall with the various ribs and contours of a steel car... looks much better IMO than the full smoothie firewalls i see on alot of other 'glass bodies. There was a guy posting on a couple websites claiming the bodies were like 2" narrower than stock, but I don't buy that, as I just installed a stock windshield and the stanchions, posts, and frame fit up like a glove. No way that woulda worked if there was a 2" discrepancy from stock.
If this was the old Heritage supplied body, they do have some fit problems, but a couple new bodies I've seen displayed at shows were fairly good - that is, no worse than others and better than some. But not Wescott.Quote:
Originally Posted by joeybsyc
dangeroustoy (Dave Brisco) is the only one on here I'm aware of who also has a Kilborne (Not anything to do with Heritage Dave [IC]). Hopefully Dave will see this thread and comment for you Joey. He's never voiced any disappointment in it that I'm aware of. The topster folks made some comments about the top attachment area being an "issue" with the Kilbourne but sorry, I don't remember the specifics........perhaps there's some connection, erroneous or otherwise, to the 2" commentary you've seen.
Heard a lot of good thing from several builders about Bear Fiberglas bodies. They make several models of 32's. Have never seen one myself, but I trust the people I have heard from. Have always heard that Westcott and Downs were always top shelf. But frankly I don't know that much about glass cars as all of mine are steel.
Yes, I've talked to Dangeroustoy Dave... he seemed pleased with the quality of the Kilbourne body, as am I... and yes, you are correct, it was the Topster guy who claimed the body was narrower than stock. If thats true at all, its gotta be on the back side, because at the cowl/windshield its identical.
Bob, Thanks for the clarification - I was given that erroneous info at the last NSRA York. But I still like Wescott bodies and give myself a mental kick in the posterior everyday when I look at my POS Brookville body(see my posts here and my company review on another site) I was convinced by a respected supplier that Brookville was a better choice....NOT:HMMM: :CRY:Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Parmenter
Quote:
Originally Posted by Irelands child
nope it was a coast to coast . they had them in there booth at nsra . i have seen oze rod shops cars also .
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Originally Posted by Bob Parmenter
dave and i painted his car and was pleased with the body . he has had the car for 5 or 6 years and it has no stress cracks , and dave drives it ! rain or shine .
I am lucky enough to work in the car show industry and I go to many many shows. I have seen them all some good some not so good.
When I decided to build a '32 I narrowed it down to 3 Outlaw, Redneck and N&N(HBclasssics.com)
I went with N&N do to strength, build and fit. The other 2 were very very close. Outlaw being the closest but N&N sold me based on the people.you can see more at my web site if you like www.iceburgh66.com
"people in glass roadsters should throw no stones..."