Is The REAL Downs Manufacturing Back In Business

Anybody know, for sure, what the real deal is with Jim Downs and Downs Manufacturing? First I here it's back in business, then I here it's not, then I here it's still Legend, then I hear someting else. I found a Web Site for Downs Industries, and it DOES have Fiberglass bodies, but I don't know if it's the "real" Downs... http://www.downsperformancevehicles.com/DownsPerformanceVechicles/Home.html

 

Looks like them. Last I heard it was back up under the sons ownership. They weren't great shakes for quality before all of the recent nonsense so do your homework. Just my $0.02 worth based on assembling 4 or 5 cars with their bodies and reworking more than one chassis.

Charlie

 

JUST got off the phone with Jack at Downs Industries. They're back up and running again (Jamie Downs & family). He told me that they have ALL the original molds, etc., and that Legendary took all the Office stuff, records, etc. They will be/are building the entire line to the quality that the original Company was known for. Jack will be sending me what all they have on their 32 Roadster, pictures, what's included, etc. If everything is up to standards I think they're in the running for consideration of who's body I'm going to buy...especially for their price...unless it's a crap body...

 

Seen your post, downs is back, and building excellent fiberglass bodies. Jaime Down's is back at the top, and calling the shots.

We are set up as a dealer, so if your interested in any of their products, feel free to inquire.

thanks,
Mike K.
Vendetta Auto Fab

 

Legend Motors, dba Downs Manufacturing has filed for bankruptcy in Michigan.
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She was a bootlegger's daughter, but they loved her still.

 

Are they the ones that built the Model Y 3W coupe bodies?

Steve

 

51WAGON - You're a day late and a dollar short...that was quite a while ago. DOWNS is back up and running, and the Roadster body I got from them is #00031. Workmanship is EXCELLENT...all the gaps are right on the money, and the finish is great...

 

I'm having a little problem here with 'traditional' and 'fiberglass'....

 

WEASEL - There shouldn't be any problem...I'm building it as traditional as I can, except it will have a fiberglass body. I live in an area that has no easily found/procured steel bodies, and I'm NOT going to spent the kind of money that Brookville wants for their "Traditional" body...just to say that "steel is real"...

 

That was Gibbon

 

May I quote from your profile:
"There is no set formula for hot rodding."

By the way, I love 40 Ford sedan deliverys.

 

First glass bodies came out in the early 60's

 

Corvette's in the 50's

 

That wasn't his question.

 

345 DeSoto - Your initial post was seeking information as to whether Legend and Downs Manufacturing were related and if they were still in business. In an effort to give you the latest news, I posted yesterday that Legend dba Downs Manufacturing had filed for bankruptcy in Michigan.

Your SA response was that I was "a day late and a dollar short...this happened quite awhile ago."

No, it didn't happen quite awhile ago. Legend Motors filed for bankruptcy on 6-6-09. It wasn't published until last week.

Downs was noted for some of the best glass in the business until they hooked up with Legend Motors. I wish them nothing but success now that they are no longer associated with them.
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No good deed goes unpunished.

 

Thanks!

Steve

 

51wagon - You are probably 100% correct on Legends filing date. I was going by when Downs won in Court against them, and got everything back except the records. That was in November of 08. The way I understand it, Downs sold the entire business to Legend and held the paper on the whole operation. Legend ran it into the ground so bad that Downs had to take them to Court to get everything back. Now, I see that Legend filed for bankruptcy...thus, the "day late" comment. I'm REALLY glad to see Downs in control of the Company again. As I said, the body is REALLY, really nice...TOP quality, just like the old days. The glass is all hand layed and thick, with no bubbles or voids. It has a layer of sound deadening material glassed into the floor, the steel tube reinforcing is welded beautifully, and the oak woodwork is smooth and finished. The underside is gelcoat and as smooth and finished as the outside of the body. The doors swing and close with NO effort. All in all, a nice, Downs quality body...just like the original Downs bodies...

 

What an elitist Knocking others cars or projects is not cool. I guess we know how you got your name.

 

Just to let you guys know, I am set up as a dealer for Down's... just picked up a 32 body from them yesterday, and it was very nice. Contact me for more info!

 

It seems that most of the guys that I've asked, either have had Downs or Outlaw bodies. The guys with the Downs bodies seem to be more excited about talking about how happy they are with the body more than the others.

We are torn between a 3W or a Roadster.

I've heard that the body line is nice and crisp on a Downs more than some bodies??

Vendetta, I'll get in touch with you once WE make up MY mind on 3W or Roadster.

 

The quality of the Roadster body I got from Downs last April (#0031) is EXCELLENT. Cost me $4,200 plus $300 something for Shipping..

 

I have to admit I like the more factory look of the firewall on the Gibbon's bodies!?!

Thoughts???

 

So do I. However, the 2" set back firewall on the Down's body saved my bacon when I installed the DeSoto Hemi in mine...

 

I sure hope they do a better job on their bodies, the 37, nothing fit right, and had to be modified to work. I did 3 of them when I was working one of their dealers. The fabrication work in the body was back yard engineering. The molds never got updated if there were any problems with the body work fitting, I know this because they told me. I did just talk to someone who his now up there workinhg for them, and things will change in a matter of time, I guess you will see. For me, I will stick with a steel body. Good luck with your street rod

 

I MAY have lucked out with mine, but everything fit right on the money, and the outside of the bottom of the floor is smooth gel coat, too. Once we got it on the frame where it is suppose to go, all the mounting holes lined up perfectly, door and trunk gaps were right on the money, body feature lines lined up perfectly, and the doors and trunk opened and closed effortlessly. For MY money ($4,200), I couldn't have asked for a better quality 'glass body...

 

We have heard nothing but good feedback, and the bodies we have used have been great. IN THE PAST, the only complaint was about Downs' business qualities and communication, but in the defense of Jaime Downs'.... most of that came when under the management of Legend's, who they are no longer affiliated with.

 

Any comments on the quality of the Gibbons body? Two reasons I ask, one I like the firewall better, and I like the California Kid style chop and laid back windshield.

 

When i heard that Jamie Downs had gotten the company back , i immediately sent him an email asking if they were going to be producing the 1934-1935 chevrolet roadster again. His reply to me was that they had never ever made a 1934-1935 chevrolet roadster !!! Answer, we never made a chevrlet roadster only a cabriolet. I then proceeded to scan a late 90's downs catalogue and send him the scan of design #127 the 1934-1935 roadster. I could not find my picture of their complete car in primer at the 1998 nats east show outside their booth.
Never received a reply to my scan and email, guess when you have egg all over your face, its hard too type an reply. ?

Anybody reading this happen to have purchased a 1934-1935 chevrolet roadster body from them and want to sell it ? mike350@rogers.com canada

 

345 DeSoto, your post was the reason I joined the H.A.M.B. I purchased one of the first 1940 Ford pick up reproductions from Downs when Jamie had just taken over the company from his father. Nothing, and I mean nothing that they built was done well. They installed the wrong front suspenion system on the frame, the trans mount was 6 inches too far forward, the radiator delivered was the wrong one, the hood hinges were so badly installed the hood opened up and side ways at the same time, the housing ends on the ford 9 inch were welded on so crooked that the rear axels wouldn't even go into the housing, the left rear air spring mounts were so badly misaligned the first time I put air in the system the bag pouched out to the side instead of raising the car, the fiber glass body has waves and dips in it all over the place and the left and right sides of the front window, dash and side door window openings are way out of semitrical. This is only a partial list of all the problems and Downs fought me tooth and nail about everything. I was only able to get them to fix a very small portion of the problems and after spending almost $30.000.00 with them I estimate what I actually got was about $10,000.00 of value. I delt personally with Jamie for well over a year on this and he proved to be without honor, integrity or honesty. He did not stand behind his products or his work. I have redone almost everything I purchase from him to get it to work and spent almost the original cost again to finish the car.

 

Hi can anyone tell me the length of the doors on the Downs 37 3 W coupe body and the length of the boot. Also the roof chop measurements. The rear of the roof angle looks greater as well ? They are a very cool body I think.
Cheers.