Which repro unibody would you choose?

evildky wrote:

Knurled wrote: http://www.frpautomotive.com/frp_240z_shells_clubs.html They make Mk1 Escorts too.

to be clear they make fiberglass replica shells, you'd need your own custom home built chassis then fab a way to bond the 2, if they made a real steel replica series 1 chassis I'd own one.

Read it - the shells they make have a steel frame bonded in, you use the original running gear.

Which is what is making the Mk1 a bit of a SNAFU - they have to make them with mounts for leaf springs, and mounts for the Group 4 style 4-link setup, because some people will want it one way and some people will want it the other way.

ShadowSix wrote:

NOHOME wrote: And while it might get me tossed under the bus like it did 8 years ago when I said GM was going bankrupt, you wont believe what the 3D printer technology is going to do for this niche. Yes, you can already print metal. Not cheaply yet, but you can.

^This, 3D printing is eventually going to totally change the restoration parts business. I don't know what it's gonna look like, but it won't be anything like what it is today.

I can't wait. Seriously. You'll be able to modify it, too, before it prints. Just think of the opportunities for awesomeness. What's the strength of the printed metal parts as opposed to traditionally made ones?

Geez, I'm fashionably late as usual, so no one will read my post

But I would say Late Model Corvair.

Coupes and Convertibles only, though sport sedans would be awesome.

I am waiting for the 3D to catch up so I can get an e36 with an interior beyond seats and a dash. The e36 is still a collector in my eyes.

That being said, I am class of '96 and I always keep my eye out for a clean, original fox body. I could see needing repros of the EG civic hatches, short run of years and not many original or unwrecked ones left.

I am waiting for the 3D to catch up so I can get an e36 with an interior beyond seats and a dash. The e36 is still a collector in my eyes.

That being said, I am class of '96 and I always keep my eye out for a clean, original fox body. I could see needing repros of the EG civic hatches, short run of years and not many original or unwrecked ones left.

Long after Fox-body 'stangs have ceased to be a bargain, especially notchbacks, there will be a market for clean Fox-body 'stang bodyshells, especially notchbacks.

The Fox-body 5.0 was THE attainable, aspirational car for many children (boys and girls) in the '80s and early '90s, and the notchback is today the one that most people want.

I also think we're going to need E30 M3 shells pretty soon, if not already, but I would expect those to be $$$ for the high-dollar build folks.

still waiting for a spec fox series

Both of the below are "obtainable exotics" and not likely to give off the kit-car stigma

356/911 - Plenty of aftermarket engine/suspension and customization options that are looking for a rust free shell. The 356/550 speedster fiberglass body industry already exists. There could be enough demand for hard top bodies. Also in the case of the 911 a single shell is multi generational (911, 930, 964, 993 et. al.). The platform also accepts a multitude of drive trains.

Corvette - C1/C2, other gen? People love them, could be an easier way to get the body generation of your choice with a better drive train underneath (existing collector market supply could hurt demand)

As far as VW Beetles, Buses & early Golf's most were in production until fairly recently (Mexico, South America, South Africa). If an enthusiast really needed relatively fresh sheetmetal or components it would likely be more cost effective to import for parts than to set up production for a re-production.

former520 wrote: I am waiting for the 3D to catch up so I can get an e36 with an interior beyond seats and a dash.

sorry I don't understand, what do you mean by an interior beyond the seats and dash?

E30 M3 190E 16v mk1 and mk2 escorts mk1 and mk2 gtis evo3 22b subarus delta lancias and stratos (in fact I think a large number of group b cars will be redone, especially with the updates to modern forced induction and engine management)

DanyloS wrote: Corvette - C1/C2, other gen? People love them, could be an easier way to get the body generation of your choice with a better drive train underneath (existing collector market supply could hurt demand)

Works the other way - you can build a nice restomod without cutting up an original car.

DanyloS wrote: As far as VW Beetles, Buses & early Golf's most were in production until fairly recently (Mexico, South America, South Africa). If an enthusiast really needed relatively fresh sheetmetal or components it would likely be more cost effective to import for parts than to set up production for a re-production.

Yup, I doubt we'll see a nice driver grade bug go past $3000-$4000 today dollars for at least another 30-40 years, there's just too damn many of them in south America and Mexico, where they aren't rusting too much, ready to be imported when it becomes cost effective.

When gas prices last spiked, there were several nicely done daily driver bugs selling in the $5-7k range around here. My vote would be the Renault R5 Turbo as well.

Kenny_McCormic wrote: Yup, I doubt we'll see a nice driver grade bug go past $3000-$4000 today dollars for at least another 30-40 years, there's just too damn many of them in south America and Mexico, where they aren't rusting too much, ready to be imported when it becomes cost effective.

Man, when the NB came out in '98, rusted out bugs that used to go for $100 were suddenly being listed for $1500 and moving off just as quickly.

How ironic would it be if the original fiberglass Corvettes came back in shell form but in all metal?!

It'd be like the reverse of the kit-car world!