"By the time you read this, you'll be able to buy a reproduction '69 Camaro convertible bare body or a complete turnkey car." This is according to the October 2004 issue of Hot Rod magazine. It goes on to say the all-steel reproductions will also be available in a hard top, perhaps easily manufactured as a '67 or -68 Firebird. They're going to do a '67 Ford Mustang fastback too. I'd suspect some hard-core Camaro owners may not agree, but I think this development is pretty cool. It now allows many enthusiasts to build a classic car that they can drive every day without worrying about protecting it like a newborn. There's just something to be said for being able to obtain any part for a classic car with just a phone call. Of course, there's something to be said for building an original too, especially something that stands apart from the crowd such as a Gran Sport. But a reproduction Gran Sport would be pretty darn neat. In my wildest dreams! :3gears:
How are they going to register them? (vin) How much? These things are probably gonna be waaaaay too much.
Doesn't matter ...when guys are building a 100K street rods, you think they care what the body would cost if it was brand new metal?? VIN's can be issued, just like they do for kit cars and various other situations... Its incredible what you can get for those cars already...we can only dream... later Tim
probably the same as kit cars if the shell is used to create a totally new car, which is pretty much nil. While most kit cars are overbuilt, there isn't much in the way of safety equipment that is required. I think some basics are required like seat belts (up to modern standards), ride height restrictions, working lights and signals and tire width past the fender but for the most part collision standards are not required. each state has their own laws concerning this so check with your local dmv for the restrictions on kit cars, and some states will apply the safety standards of the year of the vehicle being replicated while others will require modern safety equipment. For kit cars emissions would be based on the year of the engine (in some states, other's use the year of the car being replicated, and some don't have emissions). In NY kit cars used to be registered by engine type (if you had a 93 ford 5.0 motor in your cobra kit the car was registered as a 93 ford, if a 69 chevy 350 that cobra was registered as a 69 chev) and issued new vins according to the MSO or the state. A couple of years ago it was changed to you could register kit cars as the cars they replicated but you still needed an mso for the body/frame and receipts for everythingg else. If you are using the body to rebody an already existing 1969 camaro then all of the state safety and emissions standards will apply as in 1969 because it is basically a replacement part. Think about this and all the 1969 camaro vins, titles, and body plates you have seen on ebay lately....hmmm may not be too hard to build a rare camaro anymore.
If they ever start building reproduction Chevelles, then you won't see as many four doors running around either. Furthermore, the article states that it's now feasible to build a '69 Camaro without using a single GM part. What about us Buick guys? :ball:
This is pretty cool.:TU: You can already get just about every piece needed to build a 1st Gen Camaro from scratch. It wouldn't be completely "stock" but it can be done....with lots-o-$$. But, if they are going to put out "Kits" this will be much easier...and, I would think, cheaper. Will still be a lot of $$ though...I'm sure. Me personally, I dont give a rat's butt about "originality". I like the old cars because they're cool, not because they are old...or original. I am a "Hot Rodder". I don't mean to step on toes. I have nothing against the "restorers" or the "all originals". But I am not into museum pieces. Cars should be drove. I know thats not really an issue with us "Buick Folk" but it is a problem with the other brands. I would love to have a 1st gen Camaro. Given a choice, I would much rather have a "NEW" 1st gen Camaro. I like the way they look, not the fact that they were made in the 60's. Sorry for the :rant: ...Just my thoughts.:TU: By the way...Do we know who is doing this and how to contact them?
Found this at mikescustomcars.com 69 Camaro Coupe Shells Convertibles not yet available 69 Camaro Body Shell - Front to Rear Body 90% New $17,000.00 Ready for Paint Add $2,000.00 Old Body Shell Core $1,000.00 Credit Includes: Hood, Fenders, Front End Body Parts, Doors, Deck Lid, Rear Spoiler, Cowl & Body Shell Does not Include: Subframe, Glass, Rear End & All Hardware 69 Camaro Body Shell - Firewall to Rear (shown) Body 90% New $11,000.00 Ready for Paint Add $1,500.00 Old Body Shell Core $1,000.00 Credit Includes: Complete Shell, Firewall, Full Floor, Rockers, Roof, Trunk Floor, Inner & Outer Wheelhouse, Full Quarters, Rear Filler & Tail Light Panel Does not Include: Subframe, Glass, Rear End, Hood, Fenders, Front End Body Parts, Doors, Deck Lid, Rear Spoiler, Cowl & All Hardware ALL OLD BODY SHELL CORES CAN BE 67,68,69 Camaro/Firebird 67,68 Camaro & 67,68,69 Firebird Core Prices are SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE New Body Shell Prices SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE - Call for Current Prices
The 1969 camaro is not the first car this has happened to. Back in the mid/to late 1990's super chevy magazine did two articles. One article was taking a 4 door 1957 chevy hardtop and making it a 2 door 1957 convertable. The second was about danchuck using all the reproduction sheetmetal for a 1957 chevy to create a new body. Basically they built a big jig and assembled the bodies by hand the way fisher did back in the 1950s. You know what? there still aren't that many fake 1957 chevys running around right now. Basically what happened is the resto crowd kept going it's course and the new bodies were used by the hotrodders and car customizers so that when it came down to parts the two factions of the same shoebox car hobby were not drawing from the same parts bin anymore. With this new 1969 camaro, yes there will be a few rare cars saved that otherwise wouldn't have been (the wrecked on every end ss/rs 396 4 speed drag car on ebay last month comes to mind) but mostly the protouring and drag guys will be the predominant buyer for these bodies (prue drag cars don't really need a vin anyway) and the resto freaks will have their nos quarters back at a reasonable price. Now what I don't get is why 1969 firebirds? the firebirds are super cheap (more than half the price of a comparable 1969 camaro) and you can get a good condition car for less then the price of the whole body. The reproduction body saves a ton on bodywork I betcha, spray block sand and go. From someone who is looking at more than 10G's in bodywork for both the cars he owns (if i let someone else do the work) this seems like a bargain. Too bad they will probably never reporduce an a-body body (if they did my money would be on the 1966-67 GTO or the 1970 chevelle)
That place looks like they are just restoring old bodies. Otherwise, why would they want your "core" body. Still is a good service. Just did a quick look. Correct me if I am wrong. I hope that is not what the original post was referring to. A guy can get all new, steel, '32 ford bodies from several dirrerent sources for around $8,000. I thought that is what the original post was referring to. I know that Goodmark is selling a lot of repro metal. Do they maybe have a complete body shell for the Camaros?? Is someone putting all the pieces from a manufacturer into a kit, or is there a new kid on the block that is making all the necessary pieces AND selling them as a "kit". Just curious. Will have to do some searching of my own.
I don't know why they want the old bodies as a core charge, however there is a 1969 camaro body being produced new and that is what it looks like (im pretty sure those are the new bodies and he uses the cores to cut up for any useable parts and to make an extra buck). I don't think it is a kit yet although there is talk on the pro-touring.com board about the possibility of rollers and turn key cars from a few sources. Basically as far as I am aware the 1969 body being sold is meant to be a factory replacement body for a stock 1969 camaro but since the cars are unibody and there are so many parts for them there is a lot of talk about making a kit car. That is all I know so far.
I guess thats cool. I personally prefer the '67-'68 bodies to the '69 (I like the round rear wheel openings). But I guess most people like the '69.??
Isn't there enough of those cars already? That jacka$$ from HP TV is probably flipping his wig.:blast:
no, it was in hemikiller's topic heading. here is the link: http://www.mikescustomcars.com here is a link to the parts place and their 1969 camaro convertable body shell: http://www.thepartsplaceinc.com/gallery.asp?Category_ID=4
Ill ditto some of you. Id love to have a 68 Firebird, oops they are not making it. Maybe a Camaro will suffice.
I like the 69s, but would prefer a 67 (probably b/c my mother had one). Either way, its a great idea.
I love my Buick but the sight of this new steel ready for paint is too much. I need to build a new garage. http://classicautomotiverestoration.com/ http://classicautomotiverestoration.com/Build_your_own_Camaro_Convertible_price_list.pdf
NOW, THATS WHAT I'M TALKIN' ABOUT!! :TU: :Brow: :TU: :Brow: :TU: :Brow: :TU: :Brow: :TU: :Brow: :TU: :Brow: :TU: :Brow: Prices don't look too bad either. :bglasses:
