Hot Rods Traditional style 32-34 ford fiberglass cars - Any pic's?

SO-CAL employee, Mick Jenkins, built this 34 roadster and it was a winner from day one. GMT did a lot of work on this one. Deuce Customs body. NZ

 

Home builder, Gearhead Bill, built this Wescott roadster with a perfect top and drove the wheels off of it to the LARS. Wescott body.

 

Gary, built this beauty in the early 80’s and was a hit everywhere he drove the car. He still owns it and it looks as good as it did in the 80’s. Wescott body.

 

He also had a hand in building this beauty that Tom now owns. What a stunning example of a nice 33 Ford roadster. Gibbons body.

 

Roy also builds FG cars with the same high quality he is known for. I always liked this car and tried to purchase but was a little short on my offer. Wescott body.

 

Terry finished my dream roadster and the new owner is enjoying his version all over LA. Wescott body.

 

Adams Rod Shop in Georgia is the current leader in building FG cars that have the look. I don’t know whose body they use.

 

A Top 75 pick was Pete’s Limefire. This beautiful roadster was a 90 day wonder featured in Hot Rod and the start of Pete’s successful career an eventual president of SO-CAL Speed Shops. Wescott body.

 

Write up from the site:

I very seldom enter into a conversation about traditional roadsters that someone doesn’t mention the word “Fiberglass” as if it was a four letter word. I have owned several 32-34 Wescott roadsters and two phaetons without any negative comments about what the body was made of. This stigma has been around since the introduction of FG car bodies in the 70’s. Sure we would all love to have the original Henry sheet metal or a reproduction metal clone, but that may not be in our budgets. I have watched the demise of the FG market over the last several years since Brookville came out with their primo bodies. Wescott’s are about the same price $11-12K so most people go with the steel version. Builders will even steer you away from the FG models noting the declining market value of completed cars. I think the reasons are threefold: 1.) The market demand for hot rods (as we define them) in general is declining. 2.) The DMV is some states require significant documentation and permits to build a “Kit Car”. 3.) A preconceived notion by many enthusiasts that they wouldn’t invest their money and time in building a FG hot rod due to the declining market value.

While all of the above may be true, I would not let a nice FG roadster, priced “Right” get away from me – Gentleman, now is the time to buy your dream roadster. For example, if a well built FG car cost $125K to build in the 90’s and can be purchased for $35 – 40K, that is a sensation deal in my simple mind. Even if the market continues to decline you could lose another couple of thousand but you would surely get that much enjoyment out of the car during ownership. You think nothing of loosing 50% on your new car after three years but we all expect our Hot Rods to appreciate not depreciate. Those days are gone for ever due to rising cost of building a car in today’s economic climate. If you can live with people asking you, “Is the car fiberglass?” then by all means proceed to go – and collect your dream. Tell the inquiring mind that you choose FG to save having to bondo and entire steel body to make it paint ready as is done by most competent shops today. I look at a car without any concern what the body is made of but that is just me. To each their own as they say.

I finished the front chin, skimmed in bondo, and will paint it Screaming Yellow tomorrow. I love the bondo work and hate cleaning the garage afterwords but I guess that goes with FG repairs on steel parts.

 

Ron.....
So very true and well articulated, one other thing that I feel has led to the decline is the times we are living in, in general we have become so used to the techno world of "one click" "purchases and the instant gratification mentality that people don't want to invest the time required to build a car from scratch.

 

mines getting there. going a Washington blue, not sure of engine color yet, probably a vanilla..

 

^^^ What brand is the body? Looking good...

 

One I've had for a short time.

 

I built that 1 dickster27, bought it as a wreck.
Went to AZ, then Florida then to Texas

 

What brand body was this one? Just trying to see if there is some consistency as to what brands people are going with.

Did this car have red wheels with white walls at some point?

 

Ron......
I'm sure some would call bias, but in the last dozen posts; by my count there have been nearly a dozen photos submitted of Wescott bodied cars. I'd say that is pretty consistent.

 

I think historically, in the U.S., the Wescott range of bodies have been consistently the best/most accurate to a Ford body as well as most expensive. Brizio seemed to always use them pre-Brookville.

The old Gibbon bodies were also made very much as a replica of a factory body, although sadly they have gone the way of the dodo.

A convincing body is accurate to factory detail and crispness. Cheap ones don't have that and are often a mould off another glass body. I've even seen glass bodies with the windshield frame included in the mould! It's debatable which is worse - that or a glue in windshield.

Also like a lot of things, you can buy cheaper and then put a lot of work in yourself, sometimes a LOT of work. But then it gets down to personal standards as well and what it will take to satisfy you. Which is why opinions about a 'good' body can be a little risky unless you eyeball them yourself. And there's nothing new in that, it applies to lots of things.

 

Mine is a Deuce Customs. Nicely made body for me usually sticking strictly with metal cars. I've added a few things to look a little more original. It's the little things...

 

Car did have red wheels and big whites 1st time around Ron

 

This thread validates my latest project! It's odd to think a fiberglass car has been around long enough to have some "history" and is nostalgic, but this one does. It's an Gibbons body, we think. All the details are on my blog, "Cool McCool's Garage". Excited!
https://flynbrian48.wordpress.com/2015/09/08/shhhh-its-very-quiet-here/

 

Well said, I just did exactly what you suggest! It was too good a deal to pass up, right here on the HAMB classifieds.

 

Any more photos or details on this one?

 

yeah, but you can fix rust....

 

Built by Gary Monnich in Sonoma in the 1980's using a Wescott body with all original components including chassis. Most people think it's steel when they tap the fenders and even when they tap the body. He still owns the car and it has held up well after thousands of miles.

 

Lloyds new tub...

 

And every time it bubbles up in a different spot, you can fix another rust spot......sort of like a cat chasing it's tail.

Too bad you can't fix fiberglass.....guess that explains why the junk yards are full of fiberglass hot rods and Corvettes!

 

I was just being goofy. the only fiberglass car out there I could afford would be a T-bucket. and not even a good one...

 

New Tires, Knock Off wheel centers by wicarnut posted Aug 24, 2013 at 12:03 AM

. This was my 32, sold it this spring, David Koorey body, Rootlieb hood/side panels, Ford grill and shell, Outlaw fenders. I like the 60's style and IMO, it hit the mark, I agree, Steel is real, But to have and enjoy a glass car beats the hell out not having a car or complaining for years about , can' t afford a steel car, life is way too short, Enjoy the hobby. Good people, great fun !

 

After reading this thread I would trade my Henry steel 29/32for a 34 coupe like this..