I've looked a couple "U-build it" bodies, up close they leave a bit to be desired. Thin gel coat, porous gel coat, thin spots in glass layup, big mold marks, lack of detail, firewalls that aren't even close to looking original, ect. A buddy of mine here used to work for Downs Mfg. here, he reports it's much more work than a novice may anticipate to build and install all the bracing, framing, and support in a bare shell. He was telling me not to do my own... It's not impossible, and if your free time available outweighs the $$, go for it, but look at whatever you think might buy in person before shelling out the long green.
My free time far outweighs my income right now, but I'm hoping to change that soon. My problem is I'm so far from anywhere that pops out bodies that I know of. Other than Superior Glass up in Oregon. Ever heard of any other companies in the Pacific Northwest? Do you know what happened to Downs? I heard they recently went under...
I have! I bought one... real nice product, real nice guys to deal with. Two friends have also bought frames... equally satisfied! Sam
Great looking start to a project! How bitchen would it be to do a version of Milner's car in black! Sam
Biggest mistake I ever made was building a Downs 32 Vicky on a TCI chassis. What a POS, never could get the left door to fit right. Thank God I sold it. The reason companies selling glass bodies always seem to be going out of business is they wear out the molds and sell them to someone else. They then set up and sell garbage.
I was there where were you? This is my downs really early downs body (ser # 20) with 85,000 miles on it.
Give Russ Nomore bodies a look, they have a 5 window as well as all of the 32 body and 34 body styles.
The Jalopy Journal
