Original vs Correct,, New Body Acceptable?

[68TopStock]

This is a crucial point, a rebody is done mainly to save money, and or time, which to most is money. Extremely valuable cars (original shells) have been thrown away because of the "rebody" philosophy. We all know and agree most if not all cars can be saved, given time and meticulous work. To replace an entire floor and quarters on a rare piece can take 200-300 hours, if you perform it with factory spot weld removal and factory seam panel placement. Why do GM NOS panels cost so much? Because there is value to originality.

To all members:

I will gladly come pick up the remains of all the rebody ZL1's, COPO's, Yenko's, Motions, Harrell's etc. and will even come and pick up all those worthless bodies free of charge. Even without titles. [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[Stefano]

It seems that even just proof of ownership or interest in a particular rare/desirable/historic vehicle , sometimes with no regard to originality ,is and has been accepted by the "Hobby' as a whole, just to varying degrees.

In my opinion the rebody phenomenon became prevelant with Vintage Road race cars many years ago, where the chassis numbers and tags were needed to establish a pedigree for a certain venue, Such as Historic Auto Racing. Some of these cars were resurrected with just a tag and no title and visa versa and this became acceptable as it secured the vehicles "spot" in history.

Questions arise when a Rebody is missrepresented and when market values are taken into account.

We have referred to 'The Shelby World Registry' which has long ago found it necessary to define various types of similar situations , which we are currently discussing.

I for one, feel betrayed when a particular vehicle is held out in the public eye as one thing, but in trun is actually something else. [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/confused.gif[/img]

[T Billigen]

Hey SS427, I would sure love to see that "Red Tail"!!!

[SS427]

http://www.cafsmw.org/smw-images/aircraft/p51c.jpg

Sorry, I said P51B earlier when it is actually a P51C. Sleep deprivation again. [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] The B/C configuration is the same airplane, just depended on which plant is was built in as well as some other minor details. Off topic but definitely a piece of historic value no different than our cars.

[NEW]

Rebody, is not acceptable to me.
However changing welded panels is okay when done correct
and using correct parts.
It is 30 + years old cars, and i think that you just have to live with the fact that the wear and tear on most of the cars still alive sometimes make you have to change a quarter or some other body parts.

But a rebody is a big no no to me,

[MotownMadman]

SS427,
Would love to see that plane, my brother does that for a living, he recently finished restoring a 1947 Hawker Sea Fury which I had a ride in.... What A Rush! Motown [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

[Leonard]

Original vs Correct? ..take a valuable car such as a 69 ZL-1 or Yenko Camaro. Its a basket case. If This car is going to be restored, it is no longer original. So, we must restore it to be correct. With restoration cost not being an issue, how should we do this restoration? A) a complete body panel replacement restoration except firewall using GM panels (not installed or assembled at the GM assy line) or B) a re-body (a 69 rust free body assembled by GM at the assy line). As for the donor car for the re-body, it was a assigned a VIN and body # also. IMO the VIN and Body # is not exclusive to the body they are applied to. As far as the COPO being restored, the body is not a 1 of 1 built for that drive train. What if.. Don Yenko submitted his order for the first 50 COPO's 2 weeks later. Would these cars have the same VIN and body #s ? I am not for or against a rebody being acceptable. I am stating my opinion on what i would be comfortable with if i should purchace a car that i knew had went thru a complete body restoration. I would much rather have a re-body. I feel it would be more correct. Just my opinion.

[MotownMadman]

I find this entire thread to be absolutly amazing. In the hobby of the art world all the experts and collectors agree on how art should be restored. In the antique world, for the most part all the experts and collectors agree on how and what is acceptable in a restoration, In the stamp and coin world and on and on....Most of all hobbies are in agreement. In the collector car world... we have experts and collectors at both ends of the spectrum, and both ends present a worthwhile and justifiable argument... Hmmmm....
Thanks, Motown [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

[hvychev]

Wow, Rick Nelson I have never thought about this subject in relation to the way you compared it to the WWII veterans. Im sure that it was an emotional thing for them due to the circumstances. Good point.

I guess it is a situation like when my father sees a 55 Chevy done in a late 60's "day 2" fashion. It stirs memories of a better and simpler time when he had one back then. I guess he wouldn't care if it had the original pannels or not. It would just be the point of seeing somthing that was an importiant part of your past. [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[68TopStock]

The rebody phenomenon must have started with some young 20 something begining auto repair guys, who did not know how to trim, fit, and weld. It has just grown now into an accepted practice, and sold as a clean bill of goods to the unsuspecting general musclecar buyer. This will gaurantee the original body cars will become more valuable as time goes on.

GM perserved our cars with lots of anti-corrosion processes, to help the major internal structures survive. It is these internal structures that make the car usually restorable. Has anyone received a call from the FBI?