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Folks Of Interest What happens to rod bod / Denver deuce?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by thirtytwo, Feb 3, 2019.

  1. thirtytwo
    Joined: Dec 19, 2003
    Posts: 2,639

    thirtytwo
    Member

    Still around? Parts?, tooling? Anyone know?
     
    chryslerfan55 likes this.
  2. mgtstumpy
    Joined: Jul 20, 2006
    Posts: 9,214

    mgtstumpy
    Member

    Last edited: Feb 4, 2019
  3. thirtytwo
    Joined: Dec 19, 2003
    Posts: 2,639

    thirtytwo
    Member

    I figured they were out of biz , but I feel like I seen bodies displayed after 2009 though

    They were production , had to be lot of parts left?
     
    chryslerfan55 and kidcampbell71 like this.
  4. proartguy
    Joined: Apr 13, 2009
    Posts: 658

    proartguy
    Member
    from Sparks, NV

    It is my understanding that Rod Bods agreement with Denver Deuce did not work out well.
     

  5. WiredSpider
    Joined: Dec 29, 2012
    Posts: 1,258

    WiredSpider
    Member

    Henry from Steadfast in Ohio bought a bunch of the stampings but I,m not sure if he bought the tooling
     
    Last edited: Feb 5, 2019
  6. 4wd1936
    Joined: Mar 16, 2009
    Posts: 1,288

    4wd1936
    Member
    from NY

    Had one of those a few years ago, a very well built body. Too bad they folded but I am sure there will be more with the current slow down in sales. I can only imagine the expense of tooling up to build a steel body of any design.
     
  7. thirtytwo
    Joined: Dec 19, 2003
    Posts: 2,639

    thirtytwo
    Member

    I worked on one years ago that was in a bad accident with a unboxed frame, the body held up remarkably well , i think it was a good body for what it was ,but I feel the brookville was better quality stamping and finish over all , if they could have kept cost down significantly less I think they would have sold a lot better
     
  8. Mr48chev
    Joined: Dec 28, 2007
    Posts: 33,861

    Mr48chev
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    About all I can remember about them is seeing their adds and maybe a car or two built by some well known builder at the time.
    There are all too many reasons why someone producing a good product goes under. Supply line issues are obviously one of them. Living too large and not leaving enough money in the business kitty is another. A friend didn't think he had to give himself a set salary and stick to it and let his wife write personal checks on the business account and went broke. We all know someone who went under during a downturn in the economy.
    I'd say keeping your costs in line is a big issue for anyone. I watched a nationally known RV manufacture that built some high quality and still in demand stuff go broke a few years a few years ago because they built two big new and rather grandiose buildings on spendy land after 40 years of working in leased buildings. They could have downsized on the lease and still be in business today but a couple of years of bad economy and big expenses killed them.
    One thing that I think keeps Brookville ticking along is the amount of parts they sell along with the complete bodies. Almost every Genie Duece roadster redo project we see on here has a few panels from Brookville on it. Multiply that by all the ones we don't see and it adds up.
     
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  9. thirtytwo
    Joined: Dec 19, 2003
    Posts: 2,639

    thirtytwo
    Member

    I think your right , but I think brookville still sells a lot of whole roadster body still though , I think as far as roadsters it’s still a fairly good value the 3w priced over 20k is a little bit harder pill to swallow for most people , I don’t think they are selling as well but like you said I’m sure lots of old 3ws have been put on the road with replacement parts thanks to them

    The rod bod was a bit more funky with wierd firewall, bear claw latches , hidden hinges, and tubing inner structure , not very true to original , but if I got one cheap I wouldn’t hesitate to use it ... with some changes..
     
  10. JFRASER
    Joined: Apr 18, 2008
    Posts: 27

    JFRASER
    Member
    from denver

    Thought I would chime in on this. I built these bodies for about 8 months towards the end of the business. Don’t remember the exact timeline but it was very obvious that the business was either not profitable or very poorly managed. More often than not, paychecks would bounce and very rarely did we have what we needed to finish the job.

    The owner was some sort of retired Executive for Boeing or one of their subs. His son basically ran the place. They both lived in multi million dollar houses and had lots and lots of toys.

    My last day there came about when, in the middle of the day, a locksmith with the government showed up and told us all to exit the building and leave all of our possessions in the inside. I said fuck that and grabbed my toolbox and rolled it out the back door. Before I could make it to my truck I was met by a lady in a pant suit backed up by 5 police officers. They said unless we had receipts for all of our tools they were now property of the city and I could buy them at auction. I was furious and was escorted out by the police and was told to wait outside until the owner got there.

    When the owner got there he went into the office with pant suit lady and 15 minutes later they let us back in the building and the owner promised us that our tools were safe and would make some sort of contract to prove that our property was ours. I agreed to continue working for them but without my tools. I really enjoyed the job for the most part. But they decided to “fire” me instead. LOL!

    It was not long after that when the building was for sale. I’m pretty sure after I left they never made another body. After I left there was only the helper kid left in the shop.

    I was trying to find info on the company so maybe I could buy the stampings to start building bodies again. I really enjoyed it. That is how I came upon this thread. I probably haven’t made a post on here for 6 years or so.

    Sorry for the novel but I thought I’d share my story.
     
  11. swifty
    Joined: Dec 25, 2005
    Posts: 2,217

    swifty
    Member

    Is there any connection between Dearborn Deuce and the Denver Deuce? AFIK Dearborn Deuce are still in business and I met the Sales Director at Hershey a couple of years ago. He was based in Ct and had sold a few bodies into Australia.
     
  12. No connection.
     
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  13. krylon32
    Joined: Jan 29, 2006
    Posts: 9,397

    krylon32
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Nebraska
    1. Central Nebraska H.A.M.B.

    At one time I was told that the Rod Bods stamping dies went back to the original owner in Sparks NV? I had a friend that bought a Dearborn Deuce body not long ago and he said he was told that when this run of bodies was sold there would be no more? These are both unsubstantiated statements so who knows.
     
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  14. WortRod
    Joined: Jun 16, 2011
    Posts: 291

    WortRod
    Member
    from california

    I have a rodbod roadster. Really nice car. I recently was contacted by a guy named Matt Wilson that said he bought the tooling/stamps and is planning on starting them up again. I have no idea what validity there is though and don't actually know the guy.
     
  15. thirtytwo
    Joined: Dec 19, 2003
    Posts: 2,639

    thirtytwo
    Member

    I thought the quarters and maybe a couple other pieces were hydroformed and that was the reason for the lack of crisp beltlines but I could be wrong

    I remember them being made fairly simple tubing structures and skins basically I think if someone was able to tool up well and organized ...make a few refinements those body’s could be put together reasonably priced maybe even close to price of the cheaper glass bodys? Not sure what there is for market anymore though ,the scene is changing fast.. I can’t make any sense of it anymore
     
  16. Steadfast mfg
    Joined: Jun 12, 2012
    Posts: 185

    Steadfast mfg
    Member

    I should spend more time on the HAMB... some really cool topics! Rod Bods inventory and tooling is now in Mansfield OHIO awaiting completion of our new shop!
     
  17. 4wd1936
    Joined: Mar 16, 2009
    Posts: 1,288

    4wd1936
    Member
    from NY

    I had a Rod Bod here a few years ago and thought it to be very well built piece. The way they did the firewall and dash eliminated a lot of the typical cowl shake you normally get with an original or exact copy. Hats off to Brookville for staying with it, as a few mentioned they are one of the few sources of panels when we need them.
     
  18. blvdbill
    Joined: Feb 2, 2010
    Posts: 456

    blvdbill
    Member
    from California

    I have a Rod Bods 32 roadster very solid body lots of bracing.
    I added 32 ford firewall feet to mine. I like how the front floor all unbolts.
    Very strong Body.
     
    kidcampbell71 likes this.
  19. @Steadfast mfg , any update?
     
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