I have been looking at the deals on offer for a rolling 32 3 window. I see that there are a few firms offering them at about $14000. Two spring to mind being the Rod shop and Davviki. Can anyone recommend these or anyone else that are around this price? Or even warn me of the firms to steer clear of. I can't afford the likes of wescot. Ray
Ray,,,I can not tell you anything about the Davikki bodys,,,truth is I've never heard of them. But Choppers 32,,,3-window is a Rod Shop body and it is well made and thick,,, I have a 32 wescott body roadster and the quility is as good as you can get with glass. HRP BTW,,,You should post an intro,,,
I believe the Davviki is the old heritage. Before you buy one you better look at it in person. Look at the KILBOURNE web site, I bought one of their 3W bodies, and am VERY happy with it.
Check out Steve and Robin Jones in NZ. High quality hand laid glass , built one at a time by the owner of the business. www.deucefarm.co.nz. I have nothing to do with it other than they are members of the same club as myself. If you are going to import to the UK anyway, you will probably find the logistics and combination of exchange rate plus freight plus the buy price to be favourable. There are a lot of manufacturers here and a lot of NZ built glass bodies are sold in the US under US brand names ,obviously the price is higher accordingly . At the same time there are differing qualities and prices in NZ, I know Steve's work is top rate. tell them Craig sent you.
Here's the new Davviki bio: We wish to thank all the great customers who supported us during our 20 year run of the previous business and apologize to everyone who suffered at the hands of the new regime of that operation. In 2003, after working 7 days a week for 20 years I made the dumbest decision of my adult life, I broke my arm and was diagnosed with both kidney stones and sleep apnea. Not getting real sleep for 5 years probably contributed to my most unintelligent move. Against my wife and business partners wishes, I sold a business that had increased in volume and profit margin steadily for 20 years. Through 20 years of economic feast, famine, war and even terrorist attack's our repeat customers had given us increased volume and profitability. According to the sales pitch I heard, selling the business was to be a great benefit to the customer base, employees and especially myself. As most of you know by now the situation, including my 5 year agreement to stay on in sales and product development, did not work out. Because of the threat of another frivolous lawsuit, I will not comment any further here.
I know of quite a few happy Kilbourne owners. Doug is a really great guy - I've been to his shop (I've got pictures too) a number of times and each time I enjoy being there. He builds them kind of like Henry Ford... "sure you can have anything you want, as long as it's the way I build them!" He doesn't have a lot of options, and you're not paying for a lot of extra finishing. Kilbourne The body I'm building is a Bear Fiberglass body. It has advantages and disadvantages... the quality is top notch, but some of the ways they've built it require some 'problem solving'. Check out my buildup for a little more info.
I have only just found my thread after putting it on. Thanks for the info guys I will checkout kilbourne. I will do a proper intro when I get some pics done of my rides. Ray
Here is a on line list of some 32 fiberglass body folks .. http://www.seattlestreetrods.com/body_ford32.htm
As a Brit, what's the take on Rodline bodies? I have the roadster model.........Other than having to add internal structure, it's pretty good. Didn't require too much body work.
Hi 36 couper, Rodline are considered quality over here. Problem is if you go for the spec offerd in the States i.e steeled out doors hung windows and mechanism in and rolling chassis it would cost probably double the price. Even with shipping they are a lot cheaper from the States. Ray
Australian made Deuce Customs are top quality if I wanted a 32 I would go no further. They Export to UA and NZ and not sure where else. Ken Brownlee is really great to talk with too. check out www.deucecustoms.com.au
I agree, dont dick about and risk getting a poor body. Get hold of Ken at Deuce Customs and use one of his bodys. No offence to anyone but NO ONE does a better 32 body.
I used an american street rod design when I did my 3 window and i liked the body a lot.. I dont know how they look now but mine wasnt bad but it needed some work and most of them do. It had a double firewall with foam in between and the floor was made the same way. Ill throw the link for my web site in so you can look at the finished product. One thing to look for on a glass body is the body line around the windshield opening .. A lot of people have left that outta the mold and to me it makes too round of an opening around the windshield and really makes it real easy to spot as glass. I was asked at the detroit autorama if my car was steel Anyway american street rod design is in tenessee.. do a google on em Dave http://home.comcast.net/~n8dc-8/Hotrodindex.html
Cheaper from the States, I doubt it. Rodline supply a good quality 32 coupe for 1932 UK pounds. I know, I bought 6 bodies from Rodline last year. If you can't frame it out yourself, Rodline, or any other good shop will do it for you. It takes me a week to frame out a 32 coupe body, and I'm a slow worker, real slow. It really is the easy part of a project. Sure there are cheaper bodies on the market, but if you want one at least as good as a Rodline body, you'll be paying top dollar plus shipping. If you're looking to save a few bucks at this stage in your project maybe you should reconsider and buy a Ford Focus. I hear they're very reliable. Ed
Ed, I would dissagree on the price issue, checkout the link below $13000 fully fendered as well. That equates to £7500 .I have had a PM from another member that recommended the rodshopbodies (link below). The doors on my 32 3 window Rodline body were quite a bad fit and there was quite a bad crease in one of the panels. Most rodders over here now recommend the older Rodline 32 if you can get one. I do beleive Rodline only used timber for strenghth and mounting of the doors although they may have recently changed that as there fitting has gone up quite a bit. Langy had quite a bad fitting pair of doors on the last one he did, that could have been a Rodline? i'm sure he will let us know. Ray
Ed, forgot to mention that though new on the Hamb I am far from new to rodding, just got a different handle on here. I am quite capable of steeling out, it's just that when I have finished the 36 coupe I am building now I have one project left in me , that will be a 32 3 window. This time I like the thought of getting one with as much already done. You sound as though you are loaded buying six at a time, I can't afford the likes of Wescot etc. Are you a German Ed are you just living out there? Ray
I beg to differ Mr Watson. If I was after a plastic 32 3W, I'd go for the the body made by the Deskins at C&W in Brisbane. (www.c&wcarponents or something like that). I've looked at Deuce Customs, C&W, Rod Bods by Elvis and Petes Rods and Restos versions. They're all good, steeled out, hung, latched etc.
Not loaded mate, far from it. And I'm an ex-pat. I buy the Rodline bodies for my customers and am happy with 'em. Yes Langy, did have a pair of bad doors, but if you buy your doors split, that don't happen. I always order my doors split. Yes some Brits, recommend older Rodline bodies, maybe cos they're heavier, but that doesn't make 'em better, just more resin in 'em. John has two very good laminaters on board now who make a very good product. There were a few bad bodies turned out before John took the company over and shortly afterwards but he's got the quality up where it needs to be for a price the market will take. Rodline doesn't use wood for framing out, but steel. Get a quote for framing out a Rodline body before comparing prices. Get a quote from a local shop for framing out. That way you'll be able to keep an eye on it. $13,000 isn't 7500 sterling. I think you forgot the VAT at 17.5%. I recommend: 3W body, dash and side window garnishes from Rodline. Doors and trunk split. Fenders, splash panel and horn cover from Brookville in steel. Running boards from Bob Drake Grill, tank and chrome from Vintique Hood from Rootlieb Chassis; a) Original (if you can find one) b) Hybred 34 with 32 rails (easier to find) c) Rodline chassis (good value and as good as a TCI) Check out Dec. 07 Custom Car for a really nice Rodline 3W. Shows you how good one can look. For a really nice full-fendered build, you should be using steel fenders anyway. Ed
Unfortunate purchaser of a Davviki. A list of screw ups as long as your arm. Wish there was some recourse. So bad that you want to give up.
i bought my 32 3 window body from a guy named cory davis i have been really happy with the body it didnt take a lot of work to get it ready for paint (seams, door gaps) the body came with the doors and trunk pre hung he is located in winder ga i will link a video from his youtube channel that shows him lifting the body with the door and even walking across the trunk, roof, and cowl to show the build quality i have driven mine for about 3 years and have no complaints people love the car i cant get gas without someone coming up to look at it he also sells 5 windows, 37 and 40 ford, vicky's, and a 67 corvette here is my car
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