~ Whole Fiberglass Merc Bodies?? ~

These conversations always seem to come down to FG verses real steel....I built a 27 roadster one time and it turned out great...real traditional looking,beam axle, hairpins,all the cool stuff, and it was a riot to drive....but I used a glass body....and it was such a drag every time I was asked if it was steel and I had to say no...I finally couldn't stand the fact that there were no real 1927 parts on it....I felt like a fraud, even though it took the same amount of energy to build as a steel car....that was my only reason for selling it.....

 

That seems like a cool thing, but the owner would have to prepared for all the idiot remarks about it being glass. If I had the money and couldn't find a steel one at a good price, I'd give it a shot.

Ya gotta do what's right for YOU.

 

just to add o/t fuel to the glass vs. steel merc debate ... who knew that this 32 coupe was glass? I think if the correct time and money is spent on a glass car, nobody would ever know.

 

It's nice to at least have the option of 'glass for the hard to find cars. On some popular models, they've been grabbed up since the day they first came out, and about all that's available are expensive originals, and badly rusted bodies.

 

It'll be interesteing to see what the body ends up going for. I didn't know that anybody still made them. Don't you have to straighten those fiberglass bodies just like steel even though they're new? I thought I read somewhere that they're not perfectly straight like I had thought they'd be.

It *seems* like a good idea to start with one, rust free and body mods already done, but yeesh how much custom work needs to be done to finish it out and make a real car out of it?

Maybe it's easier than it seems. I'd love to hear from somebody that's built one.

 

I have an article about the P&J glass Merc bodies. They pulled a mold off PeeWee Wentz '51 Merc. It looked pretty good. It had all the custom stuff already done. Front fender flares,chopped,rounded corners,recessed tailights,or filled tailights. It bolted directly onto a stock frame. They also offered a frame with IFS and c-notched,that was a direct replacement. One was built for a Goodguys Giveaway car one year. It was dark purple,but it was like a "Goldchainer" car. Billet wheels,blackwalls,lower in the front,than the back,tweed interior. Also available in a convertable. Around $9K.
Cool,but would never replace my steel one.

 

if i cant find a a good steal one for a decent price then i am going with a glass one. Fuck it!

I mean a guy near here has a 4 door and a vert for 12,000 for both and they are in BAD shape

 

I've also been looking for one for a relative, who wants a 2-door. I have found nothing for sale locally, and the only lowpriced possibilites at all, are 4-doors, about 300-400 miles away.....condition unknown.

I have a talented and reliable guy who can convert one to a two door, but that cost is unknown at this time.

 

I think gene winfield still offers his for sale...

 

Gene Winfield uses 70's big Olds chassis I believe.

 

Gene Winfield's shop is located just South of Mojave CA in the Mojave Desert. The yard in front of the shop is literally full of mostly-chopped Mercs - and most of them are 'glass. Talked to Gene awhile back.
He mounts the Mercs on Oldsmobile chassis - can't recall exact year, but seems like mid 80's. He uses virtually all of the Olds in the process and the results seem to be fairly nice. You have a mechanically-modern, chopped Merc. Cannot testify to the durability of the body, however.

 

Gene has probably forgotten more about cars, than most people know. I would assume it's well-made.

 

That would make an awsome funny car body

 

I agree. that could be modified into a wicked funny car body.

 

Like I've said before Gene is THE merc man. He has worked on more mercs than all us hambers own together. He is also one of the nicest famous people that you will ever meet or talk to. Will help you any way he can. Most unusual person. Doesn't know the word EGO! Thanks, BOBBY FORD

 

I hope these disneyworld cars are fiberglass "replicas" as well as the other classic cars in their parades.

 

I did a glass 3 winder and at autorama i had to argue with a guy that knew it was a steel car cause the lines were right .. Yep takes time but the end result can be fantastic..
dave

 

They've been selling Corvettes for 55 years. If they were being sued for unnecessary injuries, I think they would have stopped a few million cars ago.

 

It really depends on whether you build what you want, or what other people want. It does vary a lot. I have customers who tell me they want something, and when I tell them they will get some negative remarks, they tell me they don't care as long as it's what they like. Other customers tell me they don't care what I do as long as everyone else likes it! Unbelieveable!

 

There's a '50 Coupe,right now in the local trader,for $6500. And '49 Coupe,with no motor of trans,for $8500. Both look better than the ones were, that are on the build threads ,that have been on here lately. That's not too bad of a deal.

 

Those are so fucking cool!!! Wish I had one of those... The blue Geenie one is awesome,LOL!!! I'd like to drive it to the Anti-donut breakfast,right after cruising through the Donut Derelics first,HA HA HA!

 

Two words come to mind....super cool "winter beater" that wont rust!!!!

 

I am thinking this is must be a glass car also.

 

Ironhorse is the coolest ever. I dunno what happened with it but he has one called Darkhorse now, maybe it was wrecked? I know Ironhorse was wrecked once with the owner (Johnny Rocca) behind the wheel, then after which he enlisted a driver. The car got put into the wall pretty hard.

 

Yes, I know this is an old thread but with all of the people that get butt hurt about people not doing searches before posting new threads I figured I'd just add to this one.
Here's a local craigslist find I thought looked like a pretty good deal for somebody looking for a project.
http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/cto/1770733976.html