40-41 Willys Repro bodies........experience?

Dug through a bunch of old threads looking for input on GL*** Willys bodies. Since much of the info is old and many companies are kaput I thought it was time to discuss this again.

A buddy is building a Willys Coupe, g***er with his 8-71 blown BBC (from his red ModelA I posted in the past). He is looking around and ready to pull the trigger next week. One company he has looked at is A&C? from New York.

Anyone have suggestions in a body that is decent?Location? Maybe experience with a certain vendor? He is serious and wants be to ask around before driving across country after a body.

 

I hate to steer your thread off so early, but can you post a shot of your buddies Model A? It's one bad mutha.

Thanks, -Abone.

 

Funny thing, he says the same thing abotu your A!

Jeff, no pics on the new Mac............that car is getting split up. He is keeping the mill and building a 400 for the A.

 

A&C has a good product..have seen several at various show/shine events as well as drag events. Unless he has an earlier placed order, I was told last week the molds are being renewed/updated and production won't restart until early summer.
If he wants a spot on reproduction of a steel car, there's only one that is true and correct. Body character lines, overall shape, drip rails, exterior door hinges, correct style ch***is, are all facets of the nicest 'gl*** body out there. The molds came directly from a museum quality steel car, with no modifications or smoothing up as most of the producers do. In fact, most of the gl*** component pieces out there will NOT interchange with a steel car or with another manufacturer's 'gl*** body.

The body I'm referring to comes from Ronnie Sandifer at Hillside Street Rods in Covington, Louisiana. (985) 898-3653. Literally, the fit and finish along with the shape and body lines/curves cannot be distinguished from a steel car, until the old action of t******* a fender.

There is/was a producer in upper New York..Liberty NY called Willys Works.....Vinnie Castigliono (sp?) Another steel car/gl*** components interchange that works. In fact, the front end on my steel coupe is made up from 'gl*** pieces. It required only minor shaping and adjustments to fit.

There are several other producers out there, but I won't comment on them due to the public nature of this forum. Have your friend pm me for a phone number and I'll be glad to talk with him direct. I've been messing with these things for a lot of years and have been around a bunch of them. I feel I have a pretty decent perspective on them.

 

Thanks, you SHOULD comment though, it can help lots of folks. The HAMB is kinda the leveler, lots of scheisters have been outed saving folks some money! Shoot your # to me via PM, Randy is not on the board, I will p*** it to him. Thanks

 

I believe Vinnie sold his molds to a company which is now called Rod Craft Inc. Do a search they should come up.

 

Thanks

 

There was a fellow here that put one together using an Outlaw body. 671 blown 392 hemi, 9", the works. He drove the car to the west coast, competed in the first Egorama, took a side trip to Wisconson on the way home and had one failure the whole trip (broken alternator bolt). He was very pleased with the body quality and the finished car was a head turner (black, nose slightly up, all chrome straight axle, Halibrands on the back, 12 spokes in the front.)

Frank

 

I remember that car in the mag frank, very cool

 

Tell your buddy to check with Doug White at Show Me Rod and Custom. They are between Springfield and Branson, Missouri. A good product at a compe***ive price.

http://showmerodandcustom.com/

 

Impact Cl***ic Reproductions bought the business that was formerly known as Dennis Taylor Reproductions. I spoke to a guy who has one and he said it was very good quality. In and out of the body shop in a week.
http://www.impactcl***ics.com/

What ever you do stay away from StreetBeasts in Miami. I'm building one now and let's just say that it would take me longer to tell you the horror stories than to actually finish the car. Absolutely the worst company I have ever dealt with im my 53 years.

 

Yes, Street Beasts are pretty much known to be pieces of ****.

 

T-Bolt: My boss (yeah, I'm back in the hot rod biz again) has a gl*** '41 body from New York, but I believe it's called "Sports Cars America" or some such thing. Anyway, it gets the job done, but looks phoney from 1/2 mile away IMO. Door hinges ****, too...
Fun car though - blown SBC/4-speed in a '40 Ford ch***is, chrome axle , headers, etc - we take it to lunch a lot. Pulls hard(!) and looks mean - flat black, G***er stance, Halibrands, etc...
Okay, sorry - I got nothin'...

 

So, where ya workin now Scotty?

 

Place called Musclecar Alley - guy I used to work with at Bob Drakes. Almost all Mopar musclecar resto-mods. It's been an education - fun though... And I'm schoolin' him a bit on G***er stuff...

 

Ronnie Sandifer at Hillside Street Rods in Covington, Louisiana.
.....any one have a pic of one of these....

 

I was wondering the same thing. BTW, it bothers me when a company appears to have a dead web site in todays world...when I find out about one and the site does not work it makes me wonder if they are super busy and don't have time for it or don't pay the bills LOL.

 

Ahhhh I'm not so sure about this place. I clicked on the gallery and some pretty werid **** popped up.

 

one thing to ask is are they "hand laminated" or "chopped" hand is stronger but heavier. chopped is production line stuff, lower quality imho.

 

if he's already "BUILDING" a Willys coupe,then why is he looking for a body?
..this **** is getting old.

 

Last Wed. late afternoon on I-10 heading towards Tucson, a Westbound auto carrier semi had a load of ***orted cars. On the top level, second car from the back was a '40/'41 Willys body red in color, no doors, appeared to be strapped to a wood base for the trip. Anyone on here have one coming their way?

 

Chill Sammy, when did you become an English Professor?

Besides, he started by BUILDING his front axle, just hasent got around the a body yet.

 

Boogerracng is absolutely spot on in his ***essment - take it from a long time Willys collector (me). It really depends on what you want - a). an inaccurate fake or b). a good and accurate reproduction - pick one.

Is Ronnie still doing Willys stuff? I last spoke with him about 18 months ago and his website does not come up. Am I correct in saying that this is the old Willys Unlimited body from Harry Phillips?

I never had any luck with Willys Works - I left many messages saying I wanted to place an order - not one single call was ever returned or responded to - go figure.

The areas that are normally dead giveaways on 98% of all 'gl*** bodies are the incorrectly shaped tail pan - straight instead of curved - and the molded in rocker covers on the quarter panels - also the lack of external door hinges. Many of them also have hopelessly incorrect dashes. Molded in rear fenders and sharply peaked front fenders are also a sure sign of a fake.

You get what you pays for.....

 

Thanks, everyones input (except for slammin sammy) has been a help. I will post up some pics as it goes together.

 

I don't think anyone uses a chopper-gun on car bodies anymore. Since the old Mr. Ed trailers and the Dune buggy and VW kit car days, it's actually easier to just lay down three layers. After you make the cutting patterns, it's just pour, slosh, and roll

I always wondered how they did the seams, and watched as they pulled the edge material apart on both sides and had a bit of overlap. I would never have thought of that.

I also learned why bondo works so well on fibergl*** parts--the gel coat is almost the same stuff.

On a side note, nothing is easy. I bought a couple of peep mirrors for my 32, and they don't fit. These mold designers need to take these things into consideration, ha. Now I need to go find my dremel tool to cut a notch so the peep mirror will fit on the edge right...

 

I got the same ****. Don't understand it. I have one of Doug's 32 Ford roadster bodies and it is first cl***. And I have seen their Willys bodies and they are also very good.

 

On the web do a search for Willys Hot Rods previously called Active Power. I was impressd by them and there price has not chhanged for several years. There body package will mount on an s10 frame or they have a tubular frame. With an s10 donor truck and being creatively cheap i figured one could have a driver willys for under $15 or 16 grand or even to build to sell at a reasonable profit.

 

Yeah...I purchased a coupe roof section from Active Power to make templetes to fix the steel coupe I had. The roof was a very quality piece & I was very happy with it. The rear window shapes where very nice looking also. Carl Hagan . Oh...they were reasonable on cost too, not sure if still in business

 

bttt

 

Active Power is now American G***er.......They have a website http://www.americang***er.com/

Littleman