Ford licenses brand new steel body Deuce Coupes
For hot rodders, no prewar platform is more sought-after than the 'Deuce Coupe'—Ford's two-door 1932 5-Window phenomenon. Trouble is, after 82 years, getting your mitts on one (much less an example worth building around) can be challenging even for the avid scrapyard dog. Fortuitously, the fine folks from Dearborn have announced that the hotrod icon is officially returning: New 1932 Ford 5-Window Coupe body shells will now be available through the Blue Oval's Component Sales arm.
According to Ford, these '32 Coupe reproductions are exclusively licensed to United Pacific Industries, which rolled out a flawless 5-Window replica at SEMA 2013. Each shell is stamped from virgin metal, then welded and assembled using modern manufacturing techniques. This, along with supplementary rustproofing, keeps the new Deuces from warping and wearing as the decades roll past—ideal for builders, though we do love a good 5-Window rat rod. Each part comes with an official Blue Oval tag.
Ford doesn't have its own prices for the '32 5-Window body up yet, but you can expect to pay around $20,000 for a steel United Pacific Industries shell. Of course, you'll still need a decent frame to build off of, plus a 327-cid small-block should you want to relive all those John Milner American Graffiti fantasies.
Discussion
I just had a discussion with guy at work about something like this. I love cars but I'm not a gear head by any means. I love the style of cars and I love the speed...when it comes to torques, rotors and johnson rods, I'm a deer in headlights.
Anyway, the whole discussion was me wondering why the companies don't re-release older muscle car bodies on new internals. I know there's the new Mustang and the new Challenger (which I love) but I'm talking just them re-casting the as it was in 1972 and slapping it on a modern engine and interior. My gut just says that people would buy them in droves - I would want one!
My friend at work was like "nah, that ruins the fun of old cars" but I don't think it does. For the true car guys that want to restore and build, they'll search for parts and do all that anyway - that's their fun. For the rest of us that just want to see some style on the road, give us the official knock-offs and I'll be happy.
Mrs Fox and I are into Corvettes and there are several companies making Resto Mod Vettes now. It actually started back in the 90's with the C4s and around the 50th anniversary - when GM did not make a production version to celebrate. Now they are using C5s and C6s. Here is a 62 body style on what is probably on a C5 chassis based on the wheels.
That's pretty sweet lookin' (and I'm not a big Vette fan)
Although I won't be happy until I see them on the dealership lot ready to buy. The day I can roll up and buy a car that has a body of a 1970 Dodge Challenger on top of modern tech is the day my bank account empties.
That's pretty sweet lookin' (and I'm not a big Vette fan)Although I won't be happy until I see them on the dealership lot ready to buy. The day I can roll up and buy a car that has a body of a 1970 Dodge Challenger on top of modern tech is the day my bank account empties.
What color/finish do you want it to be?
It mainly has to do with safety issues. Old car bodies will not meet today's crash and safety standards for them to offer complete cars. That is why we see body shells like this 32, or the classic mustang, camaro, and firebird bodies that are also reproduced now.
I agree that the automobile manufacturers will not be re-bodying cars to sell at their dealership, but more and more classics and muscle cars are showing up on modern chassis with modern drive trains. Just like the hot rodders did in the 50's to 70's. Not sure how it worked back then, but in most states if the VIN is still with the car body then you can register it with them as that year and body style.
For the Corvettes they are also making new panels that are just a bit wider and longer than the originals around the cock pit structure, interior and dash board - where the GM VINS are. Thus they may look old, but they are classified as the VINs model and make still.
This is a 2003 Corvette with new body panels to honor the '53 (The one GM didnt do!) (right click on the photo and open in a new tab to see the rear end)
- I find the common vette to be useless and boring. but THIS, I WOULD DRIVE FUDGE OUT OF OMG YES!! — CrzyTrkrDude
- I think I saw one of these blow by me down the interstate at about 120. I wondered for 6 months with it was. lol — CrzyTrkrDude
1938 to 1948 ford/ merc flathead motor.. aftermarket GUIDE [GENERAL MOTORS] headlites... bias ply tires.... right on...