Hey Folks, So I'm thinkin about buying and building a new Steel body 32 Ford Roadster, though I'm trying to decide between the options. I'd like to do an original, though it's probably not in the cards for me at this point. The main two that I know about are Brookville and Dearborn. Are there other good steel body options? Between Brookville and Dearborn, who makes an easier body to work with? I'd like to buy the body that is easiest to set up and requires the least amount of modification and adjusting before it can be put through a body shop. I've read that some bodies need more metal work and much more body work time. Is this true? I am willing to spend more $ for something that is a better starting point. Realistically I'd like to have a body that I don't need to do a lot of reinforcing to and one that is fairly ready to mount to a frame and take to a body shop. If anyone can help point me towards the best option I would be greatly appreciative. Oh, and my thought is to do a fenderless moss green colored nostalgia car with a 401 nailhead, a 4 speed, and blackwalls on painted steelies. Let me know what you think.
The Brookville is very true to the original henry body. The last two I did took almost no metal work, very good quality. The Dearborn deuce takes a lot of liberty's with the style, starting with the folding top and the hatch for it. The Rod Bods, now sold by Streamline and called the Denver Deuce, seemed to need more work to make nice, and are no where near as accurate in the details - in my opinion.
Well, I have heard nothing but great things concerning Brookville so I think my money would be on them. I personally think that a repopped Steel body is a good choice especially if the money is not there for a real one. I think you can order them ***embled or in pieces to save some money. I like where you are going with the build. Nail Heads are cool and combine that with a deuce and you're golden. Here is Ionia's own green Brookville (I think) deuce that they built for a customer. I strongly encourage you to have a frame built by them for your car. They are top notch and I think the nicest looking.
Thanks for the insight fellas. Great invaluable info. Does Brookville make hoods as well? Who is the best source for grill shells and other componentry? Once again, greatly appreciated the insight. Thanks!
I got my Grille Shell from Riley-Auto here on the HAMB and it's a really nice piece. It's does not have the stock holes on the bottom but it otherwise perfect. I think he may even have the unfilled ones with original crank holes too! Man, I am sort for excited for you. I told my wife that I wanted a Deuce Body for a birthday gift and she keeps laughing. I am going to put her in a headlock soon if she doesn't start listening.
I've done over a dozen Brookvilles and I have bought them both un***embled and ***embled. Currently I have 2 in the shop that were ***embled by Brookville and one that we are having ***sembled. The quality is very good either way. We add some reinforcement to the Brookville. I have done 1 Dearborn and the quality of the sheet metal was outstanding but at that time they had some panel alignment issues that had to be addressed. The Dearborn needs no additional reinforcement.The Brookville with firewall, floor and rear strip around the ****pit will run you about 12-12500 with no top, and no windows, while the Dearborn is 24,500 with windows and top.
Brookville makes any part you will need for a 32 roadster get on line and order a catalog. As for the Dearborn bodies start about 22,500 I thnk is about twice as much as Brookville body.
For the money , I would go with Brookville ! You won't find any better for the money & you get a very high quality product ! Go online and you will see what you get for the money . They do all the hard work for you . Well worth every dollar ! Unless you have a real good , straight body to start with , it doesn't pay to do all the work anymore plus you still have 75 year old metal to work with ! Just my 2 cents worth !
They're really two different animals. The Brookville is a true roadster, about as authentic a copy of the real thing that you'll find. The Dearborn is a gentleman's car. A convertible -- not a roadster -- with roll-up windows, fitted roof, boot, etc. It's the kind of "hot rod" your mom would ride in.
Whats already been said. I am building a Brookville and it is so nice. It almost comes with some built in "history", I could swear some guy was working on that car in the '50's !
I have a triditional looking Dearborn and other then fixing some gap issues it is a great ride. As one calls it a gentlemens car your mom would drive, I have been driving in the low 20 degree weather with the heat on while the other Brookville guys have theirs in the garage wating for the spring warm weather. As for the hot summer weather we have run with top down. When the seat cools down so we can sit in it the top is up and the ride home with the AC on is great. It all comes down to what floats your boat and makes you happy. Life is too damn short to worry about what is best or not, just do it. I can tell you when my wife first saw the Dearborn body she said order one. As usual I said yes dear and off to Columbus we went to buy it. By the way her and her girl friends are enjoying the ride to and from getting their hair done with the windows up or down.
Fantastic insight from everyone above! Thanks so much for giving me real user opinions. It's worth it to me to have somthing that is probably much more of an easier starting point than an original body. I was at a local auction a year or two ago with an original 32 B 2dr on the bill and it was as nice as barn find originals are around here. I brought my checkbook and thought seriously about bidding, and it went for 16k and I thought about the repro steel cars being built. I've done the restoration thing far too long and cut out way too much rust out of cars to go down that road on this project. Thanks very much again for everyone's input! Oh and I've attached a photo of that 32 B model for everyone. Nice Barn find with 55k original miles. It had prewar pinbacks stuck in the headliner from elections and stuff. Even had a real early Buick flag pinback too!
I inquired at my local shop, MN Hot Rod Hardware, and asked about the lead time and wait for a Brookville body as they are a dealer. They informed me about a brand new body that someone had canceled on this last week that was available immediately. It's a 32 roadster body with a smooth deckid, cowl vent, and a flat floor. I put the deposit down on it on Friday and it's full steam ahead. I've been thinking about one of these for years and it's finally going to happen. Thanks again for the above insight and opinions of all. Now down to the next steps. I'm debating between a 331 Cadillac and a 303/324 Olds for the engine. I've got access to very a very reasonable 331 and a 303 as well. I'm going to put a 37 Cad/Lasalle ****** in the car and the search is on for one of those. The rear end will end up being a Olds posi unit out of a late fifties, a quick change of some kind, or a 9". Buick fin aluminum drums will also be in order. Let me know what you think so far. Thanks again for everyone's insight and opinion.
Back in 1970 I found and unchannelled a '32 roadster which took me almost 10 years to finish. I bought a Brookville body for my current ride and I am happy enough with it that I would only consider a genuine body If it was cheap enough to be finished lots cheaper that a Brookville. I'm building a Henry Ford 3 window now and would probably swap it for a new Brookvile.
I'll echo what has been said about Brookville. Yo won't find one truer to the origional. After having been involved with a half dozen '32 builds using Brookville bodies I couldn't recommend them more. Get one, you'll be glad you did. Frank
Well I picked up my new 32 roadster body the other day at the local freight terminal. It's quite stunning to see it brand new on a pallet right before my eyes. My next biggest question is about the ***le process for this thing. Does anyone have any sort of guidance they could p*** along? What's the best way to ***le a new brookville bodied car? Thanks again for all the input!!
i too have a brookville body about half way finished the fit of everything is excellent ,my only complaint is the doors are too short for a fat old guy like me ,but i`ll get over it now if i could just find a ***le.
I built my '32 using a Brookville with an original frame, all the holes lined up perfectly and it required very little bodywork. Yes, I would rather have a gennie body but I'm no Bruce Meyer, I had a budget to work with.
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