Model A Roadster body, OG or Brookville?

Looking for a little advice here folks...

If you had to choose between buying an original Ford body that's had some questionable work done to it over the years but looks pretty solid over-all, and a brand new Brookville body for a couple grand more, what would you do?

Why?

I'm a little indicisive on this one so thanks for the advice.

 

is the brookville body metal? what's it cost?

 

Depends on how important 'original' really is to you.

Knowing how much work it takes to get a car ready for paint, etc. I'd say if you HAVE the money for a Brookville, you'll save yourself loads of time taking that route. You don't have to worry about fixing all the body problems you might find on the original, and if what were really talking about is metal vs metal here it's all a matter of choice. I saw the Brookville roadster up close and it's a really nice repro.

If you don't really care about the opinions of people who will call you a goldchainer for buying a repro body(something they'll probably only know if you TELL THEM), than I'd say go Brookville and get that ****er on the road a little faster.

Stacey

 

actually if you fixed up an original body you'd end up using some aftermarket repro panels... so who cares? the brookville would be like the same thing.. only lots more aftermarket repro stuff! and it beats the pants off of fibergl***.

is your time and effort worth the price difference to you?

 

I found several 30-31 roadster bodies and I have to agree its hard to find an original under $3,000 that doesn't need a ton of work...!

You could easily spend another 2 grand cherrying it out... !

The $5,500 Brookville bodies seemed steep at the time, however if you're not handy at doing your own body work this would be the best route... !

Mark

 

The big question is about your bodywork skills. Can you get the original to paint grade or will you pay someone to get it there? The Brookville bodies are VERY nice and I'd go that route if you have the funds.

 

metal fatigue! metal fatigue! metal fatigue! how much has that old roadster body been shrunk, stretched, welded, picked, filed etc. If, resale value is your concern, the old body gives you bragging rights, what that means is the $ value depends on how bad the buyer wants the "original bodied blah blah" and how deep his pockets are. Are you good at m***aging old metal or replacing sheet metal with new? or will it be a learning process? no better way to learn. Bottom line, if the $ invested in the old body result in quality work and a solid, sound body and are not a whole bunch more than the new, I would lean towards the original body. If, the body repair has to be sourced out, the problems and cost generally exceed the cost of the new body. This subject should fire up the worms. If, you are building an "early style hot rod" clone for low buck, it doesn't matter. The nature of your question leads me to believe you have a different style in mind. Get a concept, picture, drawing or whatever of the end result that you are aimimg for. Post it or describe it on HAMB and some of the HAMB replies may be helpful.Personally, dollar for dollar, I would go new. Nostalgia and tradition are great. 30's and 40's parts and bodies were only 10 to 20 years old, when I started. Now, they are 50, 60 to 70 years old. Stepping up to parts with current technology and mettulurgy has appeal, also. Hey Jim A, should I listen for the "INCOMING"?

 

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actually if you fixed up an original body you'd end up using some aftermarket repro panels... so who cares? the brookville would be like the same thing.. only lots more aftermarket repro stuff! and it beats the pants off of fibergl***.

is your time and effort worth the price difference to you?

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Hey look a new guy who isnt a total jack***!

BTW I agree spend a little more and get the Brookville. If the other body has questionable work you will spend more fixing it in the long run anyway.

 

My two pennies worth here
If you like the thought of the car having another life before you owned it and all the nostalgia that goes with it then get the original,if that don't matter buy new.Now i like original because i love the thought of the car/trucks previous existence.I love the dents and the suede paint and every new dent or chip will stay as to me it's part of the history of the car to me the Brookville would just be a repro and i may as well buy a new Honda.That all said it was just my opinion and it's your opinion that counts not mine,Brookville make nice bodies but they aint a model A Ford stopped making model A's in 1931 or so i'm told and thats they way it should be whatever Brookville make it aint a model A it aint a Ford either...........Marq

 

Thanks for your time.

I have the SKEEEELLLZZZ to fix the original...

I just don't know if it's worth my time. The original body is under 3k. It was rat-rodded and that's where the questionable work comes in. It's history to me has already been *******ized by someone else's interpretation of what a Hot Rod should be. It's confused right now and I would be charged with giving it a new life. So to a certain extent it is no longer a Ford body. It's had the floors replaced and some patching done.

I'm planning a fairly traditional rod. It will have a flathead, 3spd, and banjo. and it will be on duece rails. And to be totally honest... I want to CREATE history with this car, not regurgitate it. So all in all the historical aspect of it is not very important to me. It's more about saving a couple of bucks.

 

The old body has real 'soul' as some of the 'elite' claim. From a pure dollar stand point the new will be less $ in the long run: Time is money no matter how you slice it. A Roach with your added touche's wlll be cheaper. Want it NICE? Shiney? Really straight panel's w/out a ton of time? Now is Real Henry Ford tin what you want....or Reproduction?

 

I do know a guy that downgraded a Brookville body for use on a Rat Rod. A tube of construction adheasive was used to run fake *********** welds anong the lower cowl, door and rear quarters, then brush painted. This was then covered with two shades of gray primer.

 

Hey Kilroy .. The Gold Chainers have added new rules to their *******-contest. Remember when "Steel was real" , "Gl*** was Cl***" or " Wrap your *** in fibergl***" .. ?
Now, it is Ford-body against Brookville ,Rod-bods or Reprosteel. To me , it has been all about the $$ & lack of skills .I have had more than one opportunety to buy a real deuce body , but they have all been exspensive & in need of work far beyond my skills .My car is Real Ford all the way BUT the body & "HOP UP"-Parts, and I have NO problem living with that. If your gut says "Ford-Body" , then go for that ( Time-consuming or not ). If you don`t care too much aslong as it is a Steel-body , Then the Brookville bodies are the way to go , Hands down !!
The main goal is to have fun , so choose what gives you the most FUN for the $$$$

 

I used a rough REAL one-[lots less $] I would use a Gl*** one If it suited my budget-But in your case IF the funds were there, Id buy the Brookville body.
Its just as nice as real and would 9 times of ten be less money if repair hours parts and materials were considered

 

One thing to remember is when Brookville first finished their Model A roadster bodies, they put one on an A ch***is and went to a Model A restorers meet. The car won "best of show" against some of the best restored Model A's in the country. they were PISSED when it was reveiled that it was a reproduction, but it sure proved what a great job Brookville did with their product. I guess there are still some of the old timers talking about that one.

Frank

 

I was reluctant to use repro body parts but out of desperation ordered a brookville subframe for my rpu... It's beautiful... Just think of how much faster you'll be on the road and let me at that gennie body...

 

Or you can be somewhere in the middle like me. An original 31 roadster body with one new brookville quarter, and to be honest even that much repo bugs me, i'd swap it in a minute for a good original quarter. I guess i'm alone here, but to me, steel AIN'T real unless Henry built it, might as well be gl***, which is fine too, if thats what you want. A replica. I mean, is it a 31, or 32 if it wasnt made back then?

No question i'd be driving my roadster now if I'd used a brookville, but I think just the fact that the old ford survived this long is cool. For me it wasnt about bragging rights or resale, I just wanted it to be what it looks like.

To each his own....

 

well said mate and hear hear,if it aint a ford it aint a ford even if it looks like one.It may be a hotrod i will admit i dont mind gl*** or steel copies but get pissed if i know it's a copy and someone says oh my 32 blah blah blah .They should be saying my 2002 blah blah blah.It it aint a real 31,32 whatever body then it aint real and thats why i went all out to get my truck right,ok it aint quite right yet as i needed to get it done but it will be period correct within a couple of years..........Marq

 

another thing about that original body, if you don't care too much about having the original thing and keeping the history as you said, you would be doing someone else a favor that is interested in that aspect. ask around and p*** the original to someone else who's into that, and get the brookville for you.

 

Built at home with Brookville stuff was my choice....The history goes back to 1997 when I started it. My youngest son learned how to drive in it...illegal backroad underage cruising .... Every day adds another page or chapter to it's pedigree.

I have the skills to rebuild rust and have done quite a bit since 1975...but this one was for me and I'm tired of rebuilding junk....I would do the same again...Brookville.

 

Brookville makes a nice body.
Nice part about them is, when you get it you're over the bodywork hump for the most part and that gets the car on the road that much quicker.

Other nice part about the Brookville is you don't have to re-do someone else's shoddy work and questionable ideas.

Far as history goes, nothing wrong with making your own history right from the get-go.

Nothing wrong with fibergl*** either. I made a conscious decision to run a Wescott body after I'd found a Deuce roadster for 7 grand. I was tired of dealing with rust after doing battle with the Rust-Devil on my 63 Chevy pickup.
My 32 with Wescott body and other aftermarket as well as many home-made components has made more than a bit of history itself.
41,000 miles and counting....

 

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If you had to choose between buying an original Ford body that's had some questionable work done to it over the years but looks pretty solid over-all, and a brand new Brookville body for a couple grand more, what would you do?

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For me..............no question.........I would buy the original Ford body. You say it's in pretty solid over-all condition. If it was a pile of poo......different answer.

I have a original Deuce Roadster body. Not a patch in it anywhere but I have had it many, many years. And paid a ton for it back then.

This whole deal is sort of like the blonde, brunette and redhead thing. Each has it's own good and not so good points. I prefer original cars ( and brunettes ). They have a soul about them. The history, the feel...... it's just a feeling.

<font color="red"> With that said........I may buy a 32 Brookville 3 window body.

Because I cannot afford a original 1932 Ford 3 window. </font>


.

 

I have a brookville roadster PU 30-31, with the new bed.. I tried to build it a number of times, it just didn't feel like the real thing to me.. I put her on a orignal 1932 ch***ie.. and still it didn't do antthing for ME.. Looked cool as hell, but I'm a bit weird and like the old tin, it's got history and patina.. I'm sticking with the oldstuff Any body want to buy or trade a RPU..

 

sorry for the stupid question but does brookville have a website?

 

Thats where i'm at Continentaljohn, I'm not trying to step on anyones toes, and I sure wouldn't insult anyones car. But lets be real here, (no pun intended) I got into the old car hobby because I like old cars. Hey a PT Cruiser looks alot like my 37 slantback, I could have just bought one of those if ease is the goal. They even make the 37 tudors in fibergl*** now. Yea, its a ton of work getting a original back on the road, I thought that was part of it. And sometimes you have to redo something. The notion that original cars are rusty, and patched junk is driven by the reproduction companies. A patch panel doesnt make an original body lesser in some way. Brookville filled a need with the steel 32s as original steel 32 roadsters are out of reach nowadays, for me anyway, but steel Model A roadsters are at every swap meet. Find one and build a real one. Whats up with Brookville charging twice as much for a 32 over a model A too?. Another problem is down the road as these steel replicas become more exact, and are ***led as 31s or 32s, they will be p***ed off as originals by unscrupulous owners. Ever try to buy an original 32 roadster ***le?
anyway, Is a cobra or lamborghini replica any different that a ford repo?
Okay....blast away

 

i have an original body and a repro (gl***) body. the original has been on the road for many years and the repro is getting to the finishing point. when i drive the original bodied car, i can't help but wonder what the original owner thought as he first drove away from the dealership and what the car went through over the years. both methods of building have their merits, but in the long run i would go with the brookville and be done with it.

 

FIRST BLAST
so "My31and37" and "Continentaljohn" I ain't gonna step on your toes and I respect your opinion and choices about the cars you own and build. What concerns me, as I read more and more of HAMB, is a whole lot of the "speak" seems to be getting stronger and stronger with the elitist, "if ain't original", "genuine old", "don't stray from the old tried and true" **** that I heard from the looking down their nose Model T, A and V-8 purists and restorers during the 60's and 70's. Hot rodding grew because hot rodders ignored the narrow vision and close mindedness of "formula", "original this, origial that" **** and didn't care about any one p***ing off their hot rod as some original whatever.
Are some of the "traditionalists" becoming "hot rod restorers"? Are they ***uming the "traditionalist",
"restorer", "original only" POSE to be apart from or just a little better than the common rodder?

 

There is no way you could take a Brookville A-body off the shelf and go and get "best in show"!

I have one and if I had the choice today between a Brookville and decent Ford, I'd go for one that Henry built.

In my opinion Brookville is the best thing since pre-sliced bread but it still takes alot of bodywork to fix it and it will still not be as crisp a Ford body.

 

This body will probably never be as crisp as an original Ford body either.

The desire to have a "perfect" all Ford hot rod is understandable to me. The delimma for me right now it that I'm building a hot rod and don't really care all that much about "Perfection." Or rather, I have a different idea of "perfection" as it will exsist for this car. I will be modifying the body to a certain extent and would never even consider a nice original Model A body for that reason. I'll leave the surviver bodies to the restorers.

But all that being said I might go with the Ford body just because life's about it's little challenges and I just feel better about a thing after I've ****ed with it and made it "better."

Thanks for all the opinions, I expected 8 posts tops on this one.

Let's hear some more.

 

I'm not saying that you should go with one or the other.

My input is more of how will you feel talking about each once you are done?

"The body is a Brookville. They really make great bodies that even fool the hard core original guys."

- or -

"Yup. That's an original Henry Ford. I put a ton of time into that body. Infact, this part was a part that I worked on for about a week... Check out these before and after pictures. etc...."

If you seriously don't care about the stories, labor, and nostalgia, get a Brookville. Seeing them on the pallet in person makes you say wow! They are very nice.