The last one was found in Texas. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=329095 It looks like someone was training an autobody class? half the body was painted and the other half is still raw fiberglass. Or maybe the body is half stripped and the gold paint is original? Not enough room for a big block but a flattie would fit (Briggs and Stratton) The frame is pretty basic, but looks strong enough?
On average I have seen about one a year show up. They are out there hidden away in barns, buildings and garages but they do not surface very often.
I know plenty about them. I make parts for junior cars and have a website about them http://www.jrcentral.com I also know that they are pretty darned hard to come buy. I am sure there are fewer of them than the full size versions?
I would bet that if someone popped a mold off one and started making them again you would have a winner. The chassis would be simple to duplicate and easy to upgrade to something better. Frank
Here is mine. It made its' parade debut last weekend to promote my sister's business. Not quite finished with the restoration yet. Still need to reinstall the winshield, install taillights, and get the lights up and running (if possible). This one has a 3 1/2 horse motor and newer tires/wheels (I still have the originals). Had it baking soda blasted and painted with base/clear. Found at a yard sale in TN about 2 yrs ago.
Yes Frank, they are hard to find and thats my idea exactly! They were originally given away to dealers as a promotion. Building them in glass would not be that hard to do since I have 3 real Divcos in the back yard to take measurements on then scale a model down to size. The original ones were not to scale. Fenders, glass, headlamps and wheels dont look correct on those little ones. Golf cart wheels and everything to 1/4 scale may be just about right. Now if I just had the spare time.........
Let's put this whole discussion into perspective with a photo behind a Ford F250 short bed crew cab.......
After looking at Matthewts mini Divco some more I really like the disportioned cartoon look of them better all the time. I think I'm the guy who need to start building these things, but I need to finish my real one first. Come on... someone tell me "It cant be done". That is my great motivator. That will get me started!
If you make a duplicate of the original Junior you have done the right thing. The scale is not relevant in a kiddie car since the kid would have to conform to the midget car, that is why the car conforms to the kid or teenager or grampa that will be riding around in it. It is instantly recognizable to any car guy as a Divco and to anyone else as a milktruck or breadtruck so the market recognition is assured, just determine your cost and your profit margin (100% is most comfortable) and it is all yours.
There was a fellow in eastern PA who created a plug and fiberglass molds to make a small body based on Divco design, but not the same as the original ones pictured on this thread. He did minimal marketing, and didn't sell very many. I would be willing to pull molds off one of the original bodies and produce the fiberglass shells. The kicker is the molds would probably be in the $2500 range and the bodies around $500. In my 45 years experience in the business, there is one buyer for every 100 who think they would want one. I did a go cart size Fiat Topolino many years ago thinking it was a great idea. Only sold 6 of them before I retired and sold the business.
If you still have the molds you may be now living at the right time for this to sell like gangbusters.
The milk truck molds were not mine. Being in the business, I just kept track of what was in the market. Last time I saw the guy was at Hershey 3-4 years ago.
I recently met the man who made the originals. Still has the molds. He's getting pretty old. He wasn't sure what he was going to do with them. He has some other stuff that is WAY cooler than the Divco molds, that I would be interested in more. He was an inventor and mad all kinds of stuff. I'll pay him a visit and see what's going on. With the price of materials and the time it would take. I can see a body being closer to $1,000.00 Zilla!
Rich is right. You have a hundred "I want one" people for every person that is really ready to reach in their pocket and get out the cash. Luckily I bought the original molds I have for the 57, 58-60 Thunderbirds and 65-66 Mustang along with a bunch of other stuff so when I sold off the other stuff I got the molds for cheap. I make very few bodies every year so it is only side work not a full time job but one of the problems is a lack of frames or people able to make them. I could probalbly sell a lot more if If had reproduction frames available? (I am working on it). I agree that the price to make the bodies would be in the $1,000 range for the Divcos and another problem with them would be shipping. I ship my Thunderbird and Mustang bodies by Greyhound bus for under $100 to anywhere in the states but I think the Divco would be too large to fit under the bus so the shipping costs would be much higher. Yes the original molds still exist but if the owner wants too much for them they can always be reproduced off an original body for under $2,000 (less any repairs to the original before molding) The small bodied ones that used to be made in eastern PA are much to small for an adult to fit in. They are for kids only and pedal car only as there is really not enough room to mount the engine in them. The original Robel Divcos like the Powercar products are large enough to fit an average size adult Stilloutthere The only problem I see with that picture is you have room for 5 more or better.
Hi Guys I have the mold for this Mini Divco Truck. If anyone is interested in a body please contact at mytm1dget@aol.com
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