Complete bodies available?

Digger89L · Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2015 9:41 am Post subject: Complete bodies available?

I know there are several makers of reproduction VW body repair panels, but has anyone gone to the next step: making complete car bodies? Wouldn't that be sweet to be able to buy the complete body (I know it would HAVE to be pricey) and then just bolt it to your pan, and bolt on your fenders, etc. !

Just day-dreaming after re-surveying all the body work my project needs!

Tim Donahoe · Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2015 4:28 pm Post subject:

A decent roller would be far less expensive--and thicker, too.

Tim
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Richard O'Brien

hitest · Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2015 6:15 pm Post subject:

'69 Camaros, maybe. '32 Fords, okay. But beetles? Why even try to fake the funk?
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jhicken · Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2015 8:24 pm Post subject:

VW folk are cheap, your market would be limited. Your next issue would be what year would you make, Pre 52 splits, zwitters, 54-57, 58-64, 65-67, 68+ standards, 71-72 supers, 73-77 supers? Splits would most likely be most profitable but the cost to finish it would be pretty steep. I have a friend who repoped W decklids in steel. Top notch repro, reasonably priced in comparison to the originals, but they didn't really fly off the shelves like you would think.

Nice thought but it would never fly.

-jeffrey
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Der Kleiner Kampfwagens

VOLKSWAGNUT · Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2015 6:40 am Post subject:

[email protected] · Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2015 6:48 am Post subject:

You should be able to pick up a non running Mexican bug in Mexico for cheap.

vwnut1 · Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2015 8:16 am Post subject:

I agree with most of the comments. In general, the air cooled VW hobbyist is a frugal bunch who would never cough up $20K for a bare "body in white" Beetle shell. Even if it was produced the replica would not have the same German quality of fit and finish, sheet metal thickness and high quality steel.

Now, that's for a Standard Beetle. Due to the rarity and high demand what MIGHT sell and make financial sense would be an early Bus FIBERGLASS replica shell that would sit on a newer style ladder chassis. The chassis (tubular steel) could be similar to what Berrien Buggy is currently offering for their Dune Buggy fiberglass bodies. It would still use the classic VW air cooled flat 4 engine and tranny in the rear. It would be similar to what Factory Five is currently doing with replica Shelby Cobra fiberglass bodies and tubular steel frames.

I am also curious as to what happened to all of the original VW Beetle/Bus/Ghia stamping dies and heavy machinery. Are they sitting in a warehouse somewhere in the world(?)
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1957 VW Oval Resto Mod

Digger89L · Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2015 9:22 am Post subject:

Yes ....that's what I was kind of hinting at in my original post. Did the Mexicans and Brazilians (and Germans for that matter) melt the old dies down as scrap iron, or are they rusting away in some warehouse? Perhaps a WW crew could launch an expedition and track them down!! And, yes ....perhaps a fibreglas replica would be part of the answer. I've thought of making fibreglas moulds of the patch panels I've bought ...wonder if there's a market for fibreglas patch panels?

MMW · Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2015 9:59 am Post subject:

Digger89L wrote "wonder if there's a market for fiberglass patch panels?"

In my opinion no. Steel is always better in most peoples opinions. That's why all the muscle car repro panels are steel cause there isn't a market for glass.
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Mic
1959 356 coupe
Missing the original engine 72488
Update - third pc. found!
Now just need the case halves.
1965 fenderless beetle

vwnut1 · Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2015 11:45 am Post subject:

I concur, steel is the way to go for repro panels. You can currently purchase brand new late '60's Camaro steel body shells, including doors and truck lid, for around $14k from Dynacorn. That price does not include the front clip, hood or fenders. They are official GM licensed body shells and they are currently developing a brand new Ford Bronco '66-'77 steel body tub. The original Bronco bodies were rust magnets so this will be a great option if you can find a rusted out beater with a solid chassis.

I do see a market for officially licensed early VW Bus shells as "restorable" examples are getting difficult to find. What Samba member would not want a "brand new" classic 1949-1967 early VW Bus in their collection?

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

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1957 VW Oval Resto Mod

jhicken · Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2015 1:20 pm Post subject:

GArBa · Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2015 1:35 pm Post subject:

agreed. the more a specific car becomes collectible and pricey, the more quality reproduction parts become available. You can already buy complete kubelwagen shells from lehar in the czech republic, and it won't be much time before you can pretty much build an almost complete beetle shell from gerson's panels.
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cars:
'97 type 1 1600i
~~'14 type AA Seat Mii~~ (sadly dead after 270.000 km)
'22 type C1 T-Cross
'23 type AC3 Hyundai I10 (VW no longer makes small cars!)
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moped:
'82 Benelli Magnum 3v

vwnut1 · Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2015 5:02 pm Post subject:

I do agree that Klassic Fab (the funky green panels) makes some high quality replacement sheet metal. They are now selling Oval and Split Beetle front fenders, but they are pricey at $800 for the front pair. But like most things in life you get what you pay for. Quality does not come cheap.

Maybe one day we will see similar ads online for licensed reproductions of VW Beetle and Bus shells...

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1957 VW Oval Resto Mod

itskyle · Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2015 6:00 pm Post subject: My $00.02 American...

It would be interesting to know the fate of the stamping and molding machines. My bet is they got shipped from Deutschland to Mexico (at least, for the most modern body style.)

As far as the older ones, as much as I'd like to think they are stored, perhaps forgotten in a VW warehouse, or maybe in a ginormous storage facility at one of the Porsche estates in Germany, but our luck would be that they were decommissioned and sold off as scrap.

I'm not sure about Germany's laws, but here in the us, auto manufacturers have to be able to Mae parts for cars that are ten years old, from what I remember.

I would like to hesitantly point out that 03 was the last year of production for the Mexibug, which has been more than ten years. However, in Mexico, the law may be different.

So, I point to the fact that very few parts vw sells as new, for the old bugs via mid America motoroworks, and those are the emblems. So, my theory is that they kept an emblem pressing machine and tool and die set for that after all of these years and nothing else.

I also say that Mexican production would be a reason, perhaps not the only one, of why vw enthusiasts are so thrifty when it comes to paying for parts or demonstrating the market for it.

I would love to hear more about this firm making küebel bodies.

Kyle
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--
69 or 72 Autostick Bug current
66 Bug (We both miss it)
74 SuperBeetle Auto Stick (I miss that car)
73 SquareBack, Straight Stick (Wife misses this one.)

GArBa · Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2015 3:07 am Post subject:

http://www.leharmilitaryvehicles.cz/

some members making repro kubelwagens bought parts from him.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=140035&start=160

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=5272342
_________________
cars:
'97 type 1 1600i
~~'14 type AA Seat Mii~~ (sadly dead after 270.000 km)
'22 type C1 T-Cross
'23 type AC3 Hyundai I10 (VW no longer makes small cars!)
-------------------------
moped:
'82 Benelli Magnum 3v

Jon's62 · Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2015 10:44 am Post subject:

There are an impressive amount of car shells are available in England for restoration purposes. MG's, Mini's, Triumph's, even the Gilbern Invader!

vwnut1 · Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2015 6:12 pm Post subject:

Kubelwagens are awesome, and it's a convertible! Do the replica bodies bolt onto a VW Beetle chassis?
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1957 VW Oval Resto Mod

itskyle · Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2015 8:19 pm Post subject:

BenJAMin · Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2015 6:21 pm Post subject:

Another car that this has happened for is the Citroen 2CV
http://www.ecas2cvparts.co.uk/body-shell-left-hand...-2257.html

Digger89L · Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2015 6:39 pm Post subject:

Well, I guess the roll has started, so perhaps a VW beetle body shell repro is not a far away as some might predict.

Thanks for chiming in on the discussion, folks!!

Digger89L


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