[Judd Lund]

Fiber glass vehicles I've seen are better than their metal counterparts. What brand fiber glass is good? What are not good?

[willys36@aol.com]

Welcome to the board. You are new so don?t know the ins and outs yet. This forum is intended for general introductions only. Tech questions posted here don?t get the coverage they deserve. Repost your question in the body forum and it will have a good chance of being answered. Read the Newbie threads at the top of every forum for lots of good site info like this.

You have come to the right place. Just be sure to ask specific question and in the right tech forum and I guarantee an answer. Read the newbie post at the top of every forum for tips on asking good questions that get good answers.


Your question is pretty general. You contention that 'glas bodies are 'better' than steel is kind of like asking "how long is a string?" Better how? They don't rust but they take a whole lot more work to get ready to finish than a steel body in reasonable condition. They need mounts made, reinforcing, lots of block sanding, often warp removal.

Which are 'best' is really dependent on what car you are talking about. There are really good bodies and really poor bodies made for many makes of car.

[302 Z28]

I don't think you could have asked a more controversial question, unless it was religion or politics. Some glass cars require less work than other glass cars, Gibbon for example which I am currently trying to finish. I would not recommend them to anyone. On the other hand I know a guy who is finishing a Brookville roadster. It is requiring a ton more work than he figured a steel car would need. The impression is all you need to do is primer it and paint it. That could not be further from the truth.

Your question has far too many variables to answer. I will answer a question about who has the better glass bodies however. I will not get into the "steel is real" vs glass nonsense.

I would rate the available glass car body manufacturers by quality as follows. Outlaw, Redneck, Downs are all quality bodies, but they all have issues and will require varying amounts of work to finish. As I said before, I have a Gibbon and I will not recommend them to my enemy.

Vince

[Judd Lund]

Thank you so much for your response to my question. I'm shopping for a street rod and totally confused with wide array of vehicles available. Prices also. $15K up to 100K. I was looking for $25-28K, but no quality at that price. Obviously I would like to "steal" a car, but that is difficult. I'm now looking at $35K which I think is realistic.

[Henry Highrise]

WElcome to Hotrodders, enjoy the site.

[Deuce]

Originally Posted by 302/Z28

I would rate the available glass car body manufacturers by quality as follows. Outlaw, Redneck, Downs. As I said before, I have a Gibbon and I will not recommend them to my enemy.

Vince

Well Vince, even if you did.......they are out of business.
Kyle has tucked his tail and went back to Nebraska. The Darlington plant stands empty.

I too am very disappointed with Gibbons ..........now
I have seen good fiberglass bodies come from Gibbons. Have a friend building a older one now ( 6 years old but not built ). Saw another one last week only a few years old ( non finished either ) and it was pretty good also.....

The work ethic just went in the toilet.....

I suggest Wescott also......they are the most accurate 32's being reproduced today IMHO....Sadly ALL bodies..............steel or plastic need work to be nice and paint ready. None fit like the rodders want today. Even my 32 Ford needed a little help fitting up good. And it is all Henry.the fenders, body and frame......

Some folks put the " Kit cars " down.......but I believe it is more difficult to build a real nice reproduction rod than to build a original steel body car. The fit is not as good......and no weatherstripping to fit and you have to make all those repro parts from different manufacturers work.....They are not KITS per se.....but the name has stuck........like rat rod......

[MARTINSR]

Judd, there is no recommendation I can give than "Buy an off brand" car. Your $35,000 will get you a LOT more with a Dodge, Pontiac, Buick, Plymouth than it will with a Ford or Chevy.


At a recent "Goodguys" event the prices were at least 40 or 50 percent less for these "off brands" with comparable quality builds.

Brian

[41willys]

Agree and disagree...

I have two fiberglass cars and love the solid feeling, and lack of weight.

Very difficult to straighten, unlike metal bodies.


Love em both....

Jason

[Deuce]

Originally Posted by MARTINSR

Judd, there is no recommendation I can give than "Buy an off brand" car. Your $35,000 will get you a LOT more with a Dodge, Pontiac, Buick, Plymouth than it will with a Ford or Chevy.
At a recent "Goodguys" event the prices were at least 40 or 50 percent less for these "off brands" with comparable quality builds.
Brian

TRUE......all true..... But likewise when you go to sell it......the list of buyers is way less......" Off Brand " vehicles do not bring the money.....because there is much less demand.....

Buy what YOU WANT.......
Why pay 35 grand for something that is a substitute for what you really want ? ?
IF you originally wanted a Dodge, Pontiac, Buick or Plymouth.....GREAT.....but if you want a Chevrolet or a Ford.....

[adtkart]

I am confused. Which is nothing new here. At first, I thought you were looking to buy a body and build a car. Then reading the posts, I get the feeling that you are looking for a completed project.

That being said, there are other things to look at besides the materials that the body is made of. A 'glass body that was originally of poor finish, can be build into a great rod if done properly. One that is of poor construction is a real challenge for the most experienced builder. On the otherhand, someone that doesn't know what they are doing can build a really poor car, from a good body. The way that the panels are made to fit can cause serious problems in a 'glass body by weakening it. This may not be noticeable without disassembling the thing.

[Henry Highrise]

Personally I like the original steel. My coupe is the real thing, frame and all and I am proud of it. But real steel cars are getting harder to find and when you do find them you have to pay the price. Its a sellers market on those things ( limited supply, large demand). I have seen great looking glass cars and there is nothing wrong with them, but for me...I am glad mine was made by Henry.

[MARTINSR]

Originally Posted by Deuce

TRUE......all true..... But likewise when you go to sell it......the list of buyers is way less......" Off Brand " vehicles do not bring the money.....because there is much less demand.....

Buy what YOU WANT.......
Why pay 35 grand for something that is a substitute for what you really want ? ?
IF you originally wanted a Dodge, Pontiac, Buick or Plymouth.....GREAT.....but if you want a Chevrolet or a Ford.....

I should be wipped with a wet V belt, you are right. If it doesn't matter to you, any rod will do than buy the one that is built well and be damned. If you want a 34 Ford three window, pay up and get it (it still has to be right though).

I do have to say though, if your budget is below what that nice 34 Ford is going for, you have some thinking to do. I have seen WAY too many poorly built cars bought JUST BECAUSE they were the body style and the price was lower. That makes no sense either.


Brian