With all of the repop sheetmetal now being made I'm surprized a company is not make a new shell. What are you guys thoughts? A brand new 70 chevelle, I know the purist would have a hard time with it.

Well, they do make fiberglass shells for 32 Fords and various other street rods like 40 model Ford coupes and Willys coupes. I don't know how much of a stretch it would be to make a fiberglass replica Chevelle body. But then you'd have to have someone produce frames and custom suspension components. I just don't think there is enough demand to justify such an undertaking at the present time, not like there is for early street rods.

I meant use all of the sheet metal that is available and weld up a “new” body shell. I know that all of the components are not available to do it. But I bet you if could build it relatively cheap people would buy it I know I would. I need to quit daydreaming and get back to work!

If the body is lighter, I think the market would be there - be there in either case.

You guys watch - this will start to happen. I was just reading an article about how the Model A's and Model T's are losing value, as opposed to about 10 - 20 years ago. Thing is - the older fellas that grew up with those cars are the ones buying them, and restoring them. And, those are the guys that those cars are worth a lot of money to. Now, as time moves on, You'll see the cars from the 50's and 60's peak like that, and then the 70's, and then the 80's... etc. etc. etc. It's all about us guys having a messed up midlife crisis and trying to re-live our youth.

In my case, I just like the looks of the older cars, since I grew up in the Honda era. But - I wouldn't pay squat for a Model T right now, I just have no interest in it.

Point is though - I'm sure in the not too distant future, you'll start seeing a lot more interest in the cars of the 60's and 70's.

Look up how much one of those "all metal" street rod kit bodys costs... They are in the neighborhood of $10k-$15k and that is without the frame and other stuff to finish it.

I'd rather pay $15k and buy a REAL ready to go big block SS. Heck i could even re-paint it with a killer job and still be WAY less than the cost of building a new one.

Originally posted by 70_L78:
I meant use all of the sheet metal that is available and weld up a “new” body shell. I know that all of the components are not available to do it. But I bet you if could build it relatively cheap people would buy it I know I would. I need to quit daydreaming and get back to work! I don't think there is enough sheetmetal readily available. It's not just the quarters and fenders that make up a car, you also have inner quarter supports, package tray supports, rear seatback supports, all the various braces (at least in the 70 to 72 models), and assorted stiffners and webs. That's why a fiberglass shell minus a front clip and deck lid would be a more practical alternative. And who knows, maybe it will happen someday. It would be neat.

Cant recall where I read this but sometime this year, guy is making a COMPLETE glass car of a 66-67 chevy II or nova :eek:

Talk about the perfect drag racers dream!!
The thing looked pretty damn good, the coolest thing about it was, it had a very mild chop top like 1.5in with a layed back windshiled. Looking sweet

sevt,

I wonder if this is the nova you were talking about?
http://www.vennom.com/frameset.html

Andy

That's the one Andy I've seen it also. What an awsome looking nova. An I don't like glass cars as a rule :D