Steel '69 Crate Camaro

[Supercar_Kid]

I've yet to see anything reproduction that is totally undistinguishable from the original. Somehow I doubt these "crate Camaros" will fool anyone who knows 69 Camaros well, with real Camaro body and VIN tags or not. It will just be something more for Camaro enthusiasts to look for when checking out a car, just like repro parts and sheetmetal can be spotted if you look for it. I also don't think it'll do much to the value of "real" 69 Camaros, except for the $8500 plain jane putty bomb project cars that will get passed on in favor of fresh shells for a bit more coin. Those cars may never get the restoration or revival that they otherwise may have received, because the pickings will simply never be that slim with reproduction bodies in the works. There were over 243,000 Camaros built in '69, they're hardly obsolete as a model in particular. The SS, Z/28, RS and so on will continue to be the cars people seek out and restore, while these crate cars will undoubtedly open the door to new project ideas for the pro-touring/custom/drag racing crowd. I think both parties can live harmoniously, if anything the purists may have been spared a few good cars from the cut and hack gang. Only time will tell I guess...

[camarojoe]

I know they say they have tons of orders and interest, but does anyone know of anyone actually planning to buy one of these if and when they are made readily available? Most guys I know won't even put a taiwan fender or doorskin on their car, let alone an entire body for 12 g's.

[Turbo Regal]

The article also said 67 Mustangs and possibly early 70's Cudas are next. With Hemi cuda converts going for over $1 million and good 318 cars going for $30k, many folks might go for a repop.

[firstgenaddict]

I tell you what they would be great for.
A reproduction Trans Am spec series. Like the Factory Five racers. Now how many of you would be interested in that?
I have been thinking about this since there was first talk of repoping the bodies.
4 wheel disk brakes, crate 350, Jerico, roll cage, Sunoco Paint job..... SWEET!

[77Z28]

The items that caught my eye in the Hot Rod article were the cost of kit body Earlier hipe had the cost at under 5k, now there 12k Second they do not have licensing yet from GM to market it as a Camaro. You can bet if GM agrees to license it they will not do it for free, therefore price will go up.

Regarding who may be buying one of these kits, I have a friend who's nephew is very interested in the kit to serve as a patform for a drag car, however I think he was interested in hardtop version.

I think the whole kit idea is great and I for one would love to see more 69 Camaro's on the road.

Todd

[camarojoe]

I think its pretty ironic that it will soon be possible to own a 69 Camaro with less american parts than an 04 Honda.

[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.

[Steve_Hoog]

Joe you would be hard pressed to find American parts on the current showroom floor new GM cars. It makes me sick.

[Hylton]

Company who is manufacturing the body is called Dynacorn International. They just updated their website to include the new body information! Go to: http://www.dynacorn.com/site/04home/home.html and click on the Circle on the right that says "Dynacorn Classic Bodies Inc."

[jg95z28]

Well, my issue of Hot Rod finally arrived and I got to read the full article. What a load of crap! The article makes it sound like the main intention of the 1969 convertible body is for new turn key custom musclecars. Give me a break! They admit in the story they don't have GM licensing yet. They also suggest that the new bodies will have special VINs but that's never clarified. Furthermore, go a few pages further in the same issue and there's a huge picture of a rusted out 69 Camaro coupe. Read the caption of where the car is located? CARS, Inc. in NC.

They fully intend to mainly use these for complete rebodies using existing VINs.

Or maybe I'm just overly cynical.