Fiberglass

[InjectorTim]

Hey guys, I'm buildin a T, and I would like to go with steel,
but its hard to find metal from 1923 in New Jersey,
what do you guys think about fiberglass, do you think it's
looked down upon in most nostalgia rodding circles? what
is your personal opinion?

[40StudeDude]

Get someone to "Patina" it and no one will ever know the difference.
R-

[cornfieldrodder]

Glass is cheap and there is nothing wrong with it. If you want opening doors, metal bracing that won't telegragh to the surface, and a 26-27 body, 'glass will cost more than steel. i have 1900 in mine 'cause i could not find a steel one anywhere at the time. now, of course, they are all over the place at 500- 1200 for good steel with no holes or major damage. A $300 glass 23 body, though, cant be beat. If someone doesn't like your material, fuck 'em, it's not their car or money!

[InjectorTim]

Does anyone know how i can aquire a steel body for a good price?

[SwitchBlade327]

keep an eye on ebay, and check the collector car trader website. And you never know what'll turn up on the classified page on here either. If you wanna get something right this minute then you'll probaly wanna get a glass body. If you can get a decent one for a few hundred bucks I'd go for it, you get a new glass body you don't have to go back and fix alot of rust and damage either. Finding a steel body will take a little time, especially in jersey.

[Nads]

Fiberglass should only be used for insulation and itchy underpants.

[Sean]

Touring Body! (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2435034124&category=42 606) Cut this one down and piss off the restorers.

[SwitchBlade327]

they coulda at least took all that shit out of it before the posted it for sale. jeez, I've seen cars in junkyards, but never junkyards in cars.

[BUICKS38]

I'm doing a glass roadster for the same reasone. I looked for a steal a roadster body and found nothing that was half way good. My body cost me $1175. and $352 for shipping. I realy wanted steal but for the price i payed for the glass it was a good deal. I think? Jerry

[MrGasser]

Fiberglass T-bucket bodies started showing up on the market around 1959, so, yeah, technically, they are "traditional"....

[TINGLER]

I think glass is somewhat looked down upon,
but I think Hondas are looked down upon more.

I am using some glass on a project I have going on right now.
I don't really care, I am gonna bust my rear to make it appear to be real.
Check out the pile: HERE (http://photo.starblvd.net/~Badwillys/1-1-4.jpg?i=1065764921)
As Ed Roth would say "Looks good, is good". (I think he said that once).
Plus Roth was like the glass king....

There's an idea, build a one off, Kustom, glass freaky T like Roth.
Then it would definitely be traditional (old school futuristic traditional) http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

JT.

[Jimv]

Do what you can afford!!, I run a fiberglas T , so what, i'm in the hobby, I love cars, whats the differance!!
I work with a guy who has a steel A coupe, first words out of his mouth is"Is it steel?" He put 600 miles on his steel in 3 yrs, I put 26,000 on my glass in 5 yrs!! whos right or wrong.
JimV

[greaseball]

If you are going to call it "TRADITIONAL"
and you use fiberglass,
I might have to "pickle slap" you-

But if you are just building a cool-ass HOT ROD,
I say work w/what you got
And what you can afford!

[Nick32vic]

Hey Tim, im in the same position that you are in. Im 16 and have a glass 32. It is all i could afford and find right now. I figured i could build this and it will still be cool, In my opinion, and if anybody has a problem with MY fiberglass car i wouldnt get upset cus its mine and not theres. I also figured that i can build this for my first car then when i have a career and more money when im old(er) i could set out to look for somethin steel because i already have a rod to drive so there would be no rush to find one.

[Johnny Ace]

Von "T"...not only do we dig your art,but really like the way you think in regards to what you just posted....
Mr. Gasser....can't argue with facts, and many folks seem to forget the history of glazz in hot rodding....

[roadstar]

Noboody has kicked mud in my face yet http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

It's a matter of having fun and enjoying YOURSELF.

Or just tell people it's your temp body untill the steel one is done being metal finished to perfection.

[40oz.]

we got 3 speedstars in our shop now, i hate those cars, im a metal fab man, those bastards are ill fitting and genaraly a pain in the ass, http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif if you want traditional glass, go out and find an old hap jacobs surf board from the 50's.

[fatassbuick]

I have a really shitty steel body that has no parts that fit it. Doors don't shut right, deck/rumble is all fucked up. etc. For some reason, I like the hell out of it and would only replace it with another original steel body in better shape.

Do what you want. It's your car.

[Alfster]

Roadstar,
<font color="red"> Love that photo. Reminds me of taking my Mustang to a car show once and getting caught up in some shit roadworks on the way. It was filthy. Got some bad reaction from some of the other 'car' people but I figgered that it showed that I was prepared to drive it no matter what. Nice to see. </font>

[HOTRODPRIMER]

I have had the desire to own a steel 32 roadster for more than 30 years,,,always looking for a good steel body that was in my price range,,,,,,,,,,the older i got the more the prices went up!

Fast foward to last year,,,I have a glass roadster now and wish i had done it a long time ago,,,,,,I have enjoyed it as much(maybe more) than any steel car i have ever owned!

I have said a lotta times,,,,,,,"IT AIN'T REAL STEEL BUT IT IS REAL FUN"

Go for what works for you,,,if ya got enough fun tickets to ride in the real thing,GREAT!,,just don't wait to build that hotrod because you think the H.A.M.B.members or your friends won't approve of glass car.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Where can I buy a cheap-ass '26-'27 roadster pickup 'glass body ? I'm gonna cut it up and dzus button the individual pieces to a lightweight tubular space frame so I only need the outer skin....no inside structure.

Anybody ?

[InjectorTim]

thanks for your input guys

[CharlieLed]

If you may recall some years ago the TV show "Miami Vice", the Ferrari Daytona that they blew up at the end of the first season was built by Tom McBurnie here in SoCal. He is still building top-quality fiberglass cars at his shop "Thunder Ranch" in El Cajon. His shop is just a few blocks from me and I have visited many times just to watch him build his custom bodies. He doesn't advertise all the cars he builds so few may know that he builds a killer duece roadster. This body is completely hand laid mat, no chopper gun here. The body is vacuumed baggged and internally reinforced, this body is strong and light. The panels are just as smooth on the inside as they are on the gel coat side.
There's something to be said for having an original, but many of the cars I have seen have been paper-thin rusted hulks that have been brought back to life with gallons of POR-15 and patch panels. Gone are the days when fiberglass was heavy and unstable, with the technology today you can get a glass body that is strong, light, and will last a lifetime.