[2weson3]

what is a quality body to buy? I am thinking about having a car built. I would rather pay more for better fit than pay for fabrication of the body.
I hope that makes sense.

thanks
wes

[OneMoreTime]

Kinda like asking if we like blondes or brunettes..

Either can be good..some are a bit cheaper and require more work on the part of the builder to make fit well and some are very expensive and are not that much better..

I would say stick with one of the companies such as Speedway or one of the others that have been around for years specially if this is your first build..

most of the guys here who are successful in getting a car built are very hands on kind of guys and do all that they can do themselves and just farm out the pieces that they either don't want to do or do not have the equipment to do..such as machine work..or painting..

Good luck
OMT

[MARTINSR]

Buy a completed car you will be MILES ahead. One of my buddies recently bought a super nice (Streetrod mag top 100 from a few years ago) 32 Hiboy. It was $45ish and I can tell you right now, you are NOT going to build one for that.

And, if you have never dealt with the living hell of dealing with your typical resto shop count yourself lucky and buy a finished car.

Brian

[Bad Rat]

Originally Posted by MARTINSR

Buy a completed car you will be MILES ahead. One of my buddies recently bought a super nice (Streetrod mag top 100 from a few years ago) 32 Hiboy. It was $45ish and I can tell you right now, you are NOT going to build one for that.

And, if you have never dealt with the living hell of dealing with your typical resto shop count yourself lucky and buy a finished car.

Brian

THE BEST ADVICE RIGHT THERE;;;; unless you just want to build your own car,, believe me you can buy one MUCH cheaper,, I know,, I build cars for customers,, and for some reason they think they can get one built for 20 K,, that won;t even pay for the parts, I am having a problem right now with a customer about this very thing,, but I won't get into that,,
But to answer your question,, there are several good manufactures that have good quality fiberglass body's,, WESCOTS,, DOWNS MANF, are probably the better ones,, Gibbons , redneck, Superior glass works has a nice vicky body,,and if you want steel,, theres Rod Bods,SAR[ steves auto Rest-ration,,] Dearborn Deuce,, but these are expensive,, theres a bunch out
there,,
we just finished a Rats Glass 33 coupe ,, and I wouldn't recommend them, unless you are a good body man... Just my opinion guys Bill

[cboy]

The guys (above) have it right. If you are going to hire out the building anyway, just go find yourself a competed, running car. You'll not only be money ahead but you can test drive them to insure you'll get the ride, features, comfort, fit, etc. etc. that you want. There are literally dozens of classified hot rod sites on the web with every year/style car you can imagine. And there are some great bargains out there if you take your time and keep at it.

[2weson3]

Originally Posted by 2weson3

what is a quality body to buy? I am thinking about having a car built. I would rather pay more for better fit than pay for fabrication of the body.
I hope that makes sense.

thanks
wes

thanks for the advice.

wes

[OneMoreTime]

Originally Posted by cboy

The guys (above) have it right. If you are going to hire out the building anyway, just go find yourself a competed, running car. You'll not only be money ahead but you can test drive them to insure you'll get the ride, features, comfort, fit, etc. etc. that you want. There are literally dozens of classified hot rod sites on the web with every year/style car you can imagine. And there are some great bargains out there if you take your time and keep at it.

For an example I just ran across a 36 or 37 dodge that had a hemi installed in it..was kinda rough but not all rusted out but all there for 5K..almost brought it home but I have a project and do not need to be sidetracked..

There is stuff like that out there that could be real nice with some TLC and some elbow grease..

OMT

[MARTINSR]

Wes, this is it in a nut shell. Figure out what you will pay for all the parts to build a car, then triple that. Figure out what you will pay to have one built (get an "estimate" if you like) then TRIPLE that. Then get an "estimate" on the time it will take to build and triple that, then DOUBLE that.

You will still be off by a mile, but a heck of a lot closer than if you would have went with your first estimate.

I can't take credit for this piece of wisdom (though I have lived it) I got this (almost per batum) from a Rod Action or StreetRodder or some other magazine 20 or so years ago. It still is very profound today.

Just buy a car built.

Brian

[Henry Highrise]

I am not advertiseing on this forum......look at the car in my avatar and send me a PM.

[Bad Rat]

Originally Posted by Henry Highrise

I am not advertiseing on this forum......look at the car in my avatar and send me a PM.

THERE IT IS,,, just what you were looking for,, done right and by a real hotrodder,,