Hey guys and gals not sure if I should post this here or in another area. If in the wrong area please move or delete Thanks I have a old set of fiberglass front fenders for a 1953 ford I bought them about 20 years ago and never seen another set. I dont know who made them but im thinking of having them reproduced. But I would need a lot of interest in people buying them to make it worth me spending the money to mold them. So how about it anyone interested? I know shipping would be sort of pricey. Im gonna talk to my brother and get a price on how much roughly the fenders would cost each. I might consider doing a hood also. Thanks Russ
I don't know how much of a market there would be for fiberglass 53 Ford fenders. I have a 53 Ford convertible in the works, and have two sets of metal fenders. There is still lots of original metal parts for these cars available.
A good rule of thumb for figuring what a fiberglass piece will cost to have manufactured is $10.00 per pound, but with the cost of materials going up every month it may be higher than that. Weigh the fender and this will give you an idea. Then multiply that by a minimum of six. that would be the selling price, or a basis for a price. The next thing would be the market that may be limited. From my experience the guys that only deal in metal will never purchase a fiberglass part, but with the right product and a large market almost anything will sell to someone. The molds will have to be amortized over the long term provided you have a market and the prospect for sales, again the market may be very small and when the entire package is put on paper it may not work. The most important link in the chain is the fiberglass shop that would make the molds and the parts for you. Small glass shops come and go, and when they go your molds can and posable will disappear. I'm not saying not to jump in with both feet, but think threw all the parts to the puzzle, and that's what the free enterprise system can be at times.
Thanks for your input.. I know there will probably be a small market for these. My brother already has a fiberglass shop that he deals with and they have been around for about 30 years. My brother has vintage scorpion snowmobile parts made by this company and has had excellent results. He is having them make some more molds of parts now. I just thought i would put a feeler out to see if there is any demand.. Russ
Fiberglass Trends made fenders for '52-54 Fords, but I've never seen any with my own eyes. When I was going to build a '53 Ford Coupe gasser, I was going to have a local 'glass guy do a 1-piece lift off front end with the mold pulled from the stock sheetmetal. I've also seen a 'glass '55 Chevy front clip on a '52-54 Ford drag car.
Here in Canada you used to be able to buy fibreglass fenders for almost any car. They were made to repair rusted out cars. A fibreglass shop could buy a fender, splash a mold off it and make them cheaper than you could buy fenders from the dealer. I know they were still available in the 80s but haven't seen them for years, since they stopped lacing the salt to the roads every winter. Whether there would be a demand or not I don't know. You can make a mold of hydrocal plaster reinforced with burlap for like $20 bucks. Make them to order and you don't have much to lose.
Keep in mind that '52-'53 fenders won't bolt onto a '54. I think the demand would be extremely small.
Yes I am aware of them not fitting the 54. I have seen more and more 52-53's being fixed up and just thought if there would be interest in fiberglass fenders. Its not any different than other cars that are even one year body style that have fiberglass panels available.
i like the idea,,,maybe do a tlit frontend as well...... hell lets do the thin trunk lids,door skins ,hood id love to loose a few hundred pounds..
"Keep in mind that '52-'53 fenders won't bolt onto a '54. I think the demand would be extremely small." Really, I didn't know that...whats the difference...are the air duect/hood hinges different too...?
Hood hinges are the same, hoods are the same, but the front bumper pans are different and that forward area of the front fenders are different on a '54. Not that a guy couldn't put a whole '53 front clip onto a '54, but they aren't a direct interchange.
54 fenders have side peak body lines that match the 54 ford headligh bezels lines that 52,53 fenders/ bezels dont have... and to "1953fords" did you try asking your fiberglass fender question on the 52-59 ford social group here on the hamb? I think just asking there you might get a idea of how many are willing to buy glass fenders and how many wouldnt, since alot of 52 53 guys just hangout there and rarely on the main board....i would consider a set since mine are in poor shape but i have 54 so thats no help...If i were to start reproducing a part for 52-54 fords it would be lower metal patch panels for the fenders, since thats what everyone needs and not many of suppliers yet...
I will have to post it on the social group and see. Thanks Also Guess ill have to get with my brother and see about repoping a lower fender panel. He has just about every sheet metal forming tool available and the talent to use them just lacks motivation. HAHAHA Thanks Russ
design a good bolt in replacement hood hinge...not everyone thats building a 52-54 ford is needing fenders,,but 90% need good hood hinges,,,,
After the fifteenth post I still do not see anyone saying they'd buy a pair so I'm gonna say don't do it this time... Never know, some day down the road this may become popular but I think there are too many decent fenders still available for 52/53 Fords, I can even find them in salt stricken Ontario still... Hey Rusty, they haven't stopped using corrosive winter products here, it's just gotten worse with the liquid brine they are spreading by the hundreds of thousands of gallons on to the 401 now!
Ir you are thinking of entering the fiberglass replacement part business, I suggest branching out to other parts and not be 53 ford specific. Make some of them and shelve them then do a run in another part that might sell, etc. When the shelf clears then do another run etc. I believe that is how a lot of businesses run. You can also buy molds from producers that have decided to hang up thier tools. Supply and demand..
a couple of things: i wonder if these are the j.c. whitney-type fenders? i've heard the fit etc. left something to be desired. also, you might want to consider what the smog police might have to say about such an undertaking. i sold a car to a guy 20 years ago who had to move from st. louis to small-town illinois to be legal with his t-bucket body business.
What would be a the cost for left and right front fenders? My 1953 Ford Mainline fenders are rusted and maybe this would be the better way to go.
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