The Ala Kart: Anyone know where to find the aluminum siding on the bed?

I was at Brizios in 2002?? and saw the Ala Kart.
I found a company that sells 4X8 sheets of what I believe is a dead-on replica of what I saw.
This stuff is polished alumium and clear anadozied finish with a laminent backing. You could shoot a candy gold on it to get the color you want.
I was impressed enoungh with it that I covered the entire bottom side of El Tiki with it.
The only down side is the $$$$$.
I am out of town on a business trip returning home this weekend. I'll measure a scrap piece for you, or pm me your address and I'll drop it in the mail.

 

Since Barry Mazza didn't check in yet.....
The stuff on the Aztec is a bit different. Flatter, tighter. The stuff they used to restore the car, Bob Nitti found on Canal St in NYC. He said he bought the last of it, in that place. They just barely had enough to do the car. I think the stuff was stainless, too.
The Kopper Kart used 2 different types of "perforated" metal. Grill and taillights got oval shaped holes, while the rest of the trim used 1/4" hole in a straight pattern. Even though a few companies listed the right patterns, NO ONE had any of it. It would have to be stamped per order. so unless you were buying more than 100 sheets, it would cost about $1000 per 4 x 8 sheet.
We worked with a local sheet metal fabricator who had the equipment to do it himself. Even though he gave use a break, it was still extremely expensive.
Hopefully you won't be running into that sort of problem with the Ala Kart.
Check with BIG metal fabrication shops.
If you do it in aluminum, have it already polished, and then have it anodized after forming.

 

Thanks again everyone. A few answers to questions: the original panels are in decent shape, but not good enough for the quality of restoration, and one is missing anyways. I agree that it is better to use any and all original pieces of the car as possible, and I've done that with everything I can, but these panels need to be replaced unfortunately.

Thanks again,

Bill

 

Do you guys really think price is an issue?

 

found the fluted aluminum in a old company that made dinners and this material was used in the front of counters. He had one sheet and that was it. I have seen that material exact on storm shutters in Miami and its quite common. I have also seen it wraped around columns at older shopping centers. I had sheets of aluminum made yrs ago by a outfit in Elkhart Indiana. They made the material that was put on motor homes yrs ago and the guy duped a sheet for my old Open Road motor home which was damaged , it was fluted as well. I have to say this was the hardest part of the whole thing to find and just keep calling and looking at these old business's that made these products. Barry Maz