[427TJ]

I have an old Rod & Custom magazine from the early '70s that contains an article on a then-new '34 Ford Roadster body done in fiberglass. The repop was parked next to a genuine '34 Ford Roadster and the repro was hailed as having the potential of being the next big thing in rodding. Remember that in the early '70s you could still buy original '34 Roadsters without having to balloon-mortgage your house and it was thought that the 'glass '34s were more of a short-term fad and not yet a necessity. Now, there's companies like Brookville, etc., that produce brand new steel '32 Ford Roadster bodies and fenders as well as other body styles, not to mention the large number of fiberglass early Ford bodies available. Hot Rod led this month's repop Camaro convert story with the statement: "This changes everything." I have to agree. Just as with the 'glass roadster bodies 30 years ago, it will take time for builders to warm up to these new bodies. Once a few 'name' builders and others roll out their versions of the new Camaro, it's likely that any 'stigma' that might arise from the fact that it's not "real" will be forgotten. Again, a certain percentage of collectors will always value originals and pay accordingly. In 30 years we could see Boyd Coddington-style high-end shops producing mega-dollar '69 Camaro convertibles (Cudas, Mustangs, etc., etc.), just as we see today. Original cars will continue to escalate in value, as we're already seeing, and these repop bodies will become popular out of sheer demand and necessity.

My 4 year-old son is 100% gearhead and I'm sure as hell not going to let him drive my '67 RS/SS 396 to high school. If he wants a first-gen Camaro and can't afford $50,000-up for an incomplete-but-restorable original (it's coming, mark my words), then I can see buying a new body and building one that way. History repeats itself: Fiberglass '34 body = Reproduction steel '69 Camaro body. Anyone price an original steel '34 Ford Roadster lately? Can you say "$75,000" minimum? Who'd have imagined that kind of coin for a '34 back in 1970? Who could have imagined $2,000,000 for a Hemi Cuda convertible back in 1980?

Oh, and the idea of a retro Trans Am racing series using the new bodies sounds like fun. Unfortunately, as with all racing nowadays, it quickly becomes a million-dollar ordeal just to be competitive. If it could be kept relatively low to medium-dollar it could be a great thing.

Lastly, the Hot Rod article stated that the new Camaro bodies aren't "Taiwan steel," they have equal or better quality steel as originals and fit and finish is as good, probably better.