Hot Rods 32 B400 Fiberglass body ?

Hi

I just picked up a project car with a B400 fiberglass body in SoCal.
Now I'm curious if anyone knows who made the body ??
It's a good quality body, reinforced with round tubing and wood.
Be fun to know

Hank / Mooneyes Sweden

 

I seem to remember some of these being made in the UK about 20 years ago. Can't remember who it was though.

 

I had a friend say the same thing...
I've also had guesses on Gibbons or Downs.

 

Window reveals and windshield header and other things look like it's made from an English sedan body.

This is a real one:

 

The cast door hinges were popular on some English glass bodies. Can't help with the manufacturer though, sorry. Nice car.
Cheers,
Stewart.

 

I know they are a little bit different around that area.
That original one is super nice !
I've seen it live in SoCal

 

Pretty sure Gibbon never made them. HRP

 

Barry Lobeck built some B400's in the '90's. If you go to Gibbon's old fiberglass dot net site, cached on Google ...... the text indicates a B400 body choice ... whatever old school Gibbon part #s mean. Different pricing then the other Cabriolet body listed ... and with a working top and other options also noted. Who knows ? >>

• Stock or hidden hinges
• Stock or smooth dash
• Trunk or rumble seat


Part#

Description

Price

B-375

1932 Ford Cabriolet Body Only

$7800

B-400 Ford

1932 Ford Cabriolet Body Package


$9145

EW-32C

Power windows mechanism installed no glass

$550

CTO-32

Working convertible top installed, with Stainless Steel hardware



Had to edit out the wheels ... but here's a Lobeck build circa' 1993. He'd be a good phone call maybe. It's pretty cool regardless. I'd like it more with your hood, hinges, and some other stuff obviously.

 

Shows ya what I know,when Gibbons had a manufacturing facility in Darlington,S.C. our club toured the plant and I never saw a B-400 there,maybe they had quit making them at that time. HRP

 

You know all kinds of stuff. There's no telling how old that site is .... I sure don't remember seeing any either. Work software brings all kinds of muck to the surface. Three cheers for HAMB'ing at work. Whoops !!

 

I believe when the old man was running Gibbons in the northwest, he had a variety of different body styles. Some body maker, I believe Gibbons had an early Packard glass body available. When his son took over and moved it to SC. the bodies were limited in variety.

 

You do realize Barry Lobeck passed away??

 

Yeah,I think it was 2011. HRP

 

"Shows ya' what I know" then .... yep yep. No expert here. Just a guy at "work". See above. ^^ <cough> <cough>

 

I never knew they did one either. Perhaps the demand was so weak that the Son determined they weren't part of the business plan going forward. Frankly, and I mean no disrespect to the owners of B-400s, I never understood just what Henry was up to when he built them. I mean they're not a Sedan really, not a Phaeton or Cabriolet, not really a Victoria. Kind of like Sport Coupes, I just never quite got it, unless he was just trying to address every single corner of the automobile market............Just my ramblings.

 

On one of our trips to Southern Cal we stopped by Dan Fink's and I'm sure that was the body that we saw hanging on the wall. They said it came from England. I noticed the ad for that car, I think you got a good deal.

 

Seems like it must be a Rodline International body. They list a B400 body.

 

OK.....I'm glad they quit making them. (the gibbons version)

 

The English glass B400's referred to were built by a couple of guys in Devon, Steve and Terry who operated as Classic Fabrications. There was a US arm to Classic Fabrications run by another Steve with further connections to Dan Fink Metalworks. The white colored glass body that was seen at Dan Finks is now built, painted matt black and is Rolls Royce powered and owned by John West aka Biffo who still has / is the non grille part of Dan Fink Metalworks. Classic Fabrications in the UK was sold off piecemeal (I think) and I think the majority of the molds could well have ended up at Rodline, or whatever they're called. Steve and Terry did some great bodies when they we using the molds that they either made themselves or fettled. I have a 32 roadster that I couldn't be happier with (for a glass car) and the Fordson Vans they made, a few of which wound up in the US, are superb. I think some of the other bodies made were only as good as the molds but their laminating skills were top notch. Devon is a hotbed of boatbuilders. Hope that helps!

Chris

 

Great information, Happydaze

 

that was made in the uk,by a guy called pete farmer,company name jethro automotive.he made about 25.more than 75% went to Europe.theres only one that's finished in the uk.

 

Well, If your trying to figure Henry out, Put this in yer hopper: he also made 3 windows, and 5 windows, from 32 till 36,, and Vicky's and tudor sedans, why would he make both? I think it was because: In his mind he said" Those Hot Rodder's are goin' NEED 'em let's make a few", same with convertibles and fordor convertbles and Phaetons, He was GOOD to us, cause he knew we would need 'em.. !!!

 

Man !! This thread. How many companies made these things !! (????)

Hey Don .... ya' forgot Sport Vicky ???

 

Some guys make their own

 

Ago
I don't recall Gibbon being based here in The Great Northwest.
Maybe you meant the Midwest.

 

.................I think he's confusing them with Wescott.

 

I was wondering about that and wasn't sure and didn't want to get confused with the Nick Shandley originated Vicky, but i think Classic Fabs ended up with the molds, along with those of many others other originators that they managed to hoover up. I've seen the blue B400 in So Cal somewhere (LAR swap probably) and the metalwork inside looks to be Classic Fabs, if it's ever possible to identify the source of some welded bent tubes! Trotty will know for sure!
Chris

 

when I last spoke with pete,which was about 5 yrs ago.he still had the moulds.as far as I know hes still got them.

 

Gibbon Fiberglass was originally based in Nebraska and then moved to the South Carolina for a time before sorta fading away.

 

Ok, I stand corrected about Gibbons.