I have seen the S.A.R & Brookville products first hand and I am stunned by the quality and authenticity. Brookville is especially impressive in terms of authenticity. Unfortunately, these products are priced out of reach for the average dude. Think they will ever reach a semi-mass production line, yet still retain the hand built quality. By increasing the volume, the price will come down but units sold will increase resulting in company growth. I'm not suggesting outsourcing or unskilled labor, maybe expansion? Just thinking out loud since I want one. <O</O
They don't have that many employees and I think they are happy with how many they have. When they put a die into the press they run a shit load of parts, then move on to next piece. It just takes time to get back to the first piece........They supply most of the Model A parts houses now. So technically, they do mass produce, just not fast........
Eventhough Brookville uses "production" style processing (hard tools running in big presses combined with CNC lasers, etc.), they are nowhere near being a "mass producer". I'm sure their annual output is measured in hundreds as opposed to tens of thousands. Their current pricing is most likely based on unit production costs (labor & material)+ammortization of tooling and equipment+ongoing expenses of running the business+a fair profit. Only they know what increased level of volume would permit spreading those ammortization and expense $ out to a point that would permit price reductions but I'd bet it would be a whole bunch.
If you were to start from scratch and build a manufacturing plant and tooling like Brookville now has it might cost $20-30 million bucks! (They have slowly accumulated the presses, plazma cutters, and equipment over the years) If you added a new robotic moving-assembly line the cost would go up another $10 million. It's amazing to me that they can sell those detailed and complicated bodies for as low as they do. Besides, aren't we all about hand craftsmanship and attention to detail on here? I've watched a '32 body being built on a custom jig - from the rails to the pan, to the quarters and the rest of the dozens of stampings to takes to complete it - every step by the hand of AMERICAN metal workers. (Some of their guys have been with Brookville for over 30 years - most over 10 years!) And then they work another 15 to 20 hours just grinding seams, fine finishing and detailing the body before it's ready to ship. Of course you can buy an original beater and invest 100+ hours of body work into it and you'll be even in a few years.
yep hes quite right.Imagine buying that beater and giving it to a restoration company @$90 p/hr shop rate and massing 100 hrs plus,it soon adds up to way more than a clean crisp New not tired metal shell.I know where id put my money.
And trust me, 100 hours will only begin to get the job started in the right direction. It sounds like a lot of time, I know, but think about it... it's only 2 to 2 1/2 weeks of work @ 8-10 hr.s/day.
Brookville bodies are worth every penny!!! Any original body/sheetmetal you can find wiil not be equal to what you can purchase from them even if totally rebuilt. It is difficult to find a real "metal man" any more only the "bondo artists". Even with the latter, their labor rates make a Brookville purchase the best deal. Yes, I am a Brookville customer. I purchased all the pieces for a '29 RPU and I don't regret a penny it cost!
The subject makes me think of all the laid off workers that are trained to produce this stuff, and all the machinery that is sitting idle much of the time now. Of course, short sighted American businessmen won't consider investing in a 10 year supply of this stuff while the time is right. With the price of a '32 three window body going at $24K, a ship from China should be arriving very soon.
If they did, do we really need the market flooded with cheap but pretty good bodies and body parts? Anybody see any legislative ramifications from a coupe hundred-thousand jokers trying to register these things, in all of the various levels of finish. I, for one, enjoy having a rare (these days) vehicle. It was hard to find and reasonably difficult to build. I am in favor of keeping the bar where it is.
SAR products are rubbish compared to brookville.I wouldnt mention them in the same breath. unfinished edges, wavy stampings, undefined areas..if they cheapen their processes they may as well give you flat sheets and a hammer and dolly kit! have just built a brokville 32,smooth going indeed. and starting on a SAR 34..jeesus the work i have to do...
Original production numbers for '32 roadster's are around 10,000 and 23,000 for '32 3-window coupe's. Combined production numbers for both '33 & '34 are around 11,000 for roadster's, and 50,000 for 3-window coupe's. I can't see any company justifying investing millions of dollars to mass re-produce a product that never was originally mass produced, if compared to other body types produced at that time. (i.e Tudor & Fordor sedans 200,000+). If anything, I think production from these companies will slow down over time rather then increase. Due to the fact, the supply of both new and old sheet metal will eventually meet the demand for it. I'm just glad to see prices have started to come back down to a realistic level, so the average car enthusiast can save up over time and actually afford to buy one.
I would rather have started with a Brookville body, but they cost too much. After 3 1/2 years and thousands yes thousands of hours, I have a glass body as good or better than a Brookville body. You know what? I have put more money into this damn glass body than it would have been for a steel one. I would have never believed it, I just wanted it now and didnt want to save for it. I always have to learn this the hard way!
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