Dennis Carpenter's 40 Ford

Consider this. Buy the body, find a hood, and put it on a tube chassis. Then power it with whatever engine you want. Get it all ready to drive. The DMV is really going to have a ball with you! Not to mention insuring it. There is value in a rusty hulk with a title and a number on the frame.
 
Reproduction sheetmetal for any car is a win-win for everyone as not everyone can find a reasonable rust free affordable body/car - maybe not today but definitely at some point in the future this will be the case. It's only a natural progression on the part of the manufacturer to move to a full body, ie, 55, 56, 57 Chevy's, 32 Fords, early Camaros, Model As, and the list goes on and on. First it was f-glass, now it's in steel.

We can argue the merits and problems with ANY kind and/or point of manufacture for a repro part but the bottom line it that it keeps the old car hobby alive, well, and affordable (meaning it makes the value of some original parts that are now repopped go down in price somewhat but good, original sheetmetal will always bring a premium for purists) for the masses. Perhaps people will not horde parts so much anymore knowing their now available - meaning I may not have to continue saving the very cherry pair of bare 40 coupe doors I paid big money for, the extra hood, front fenders, etc, etc.

And is there anyone out there looking for a really nice 40 Ford p-up hood that is just praying they'd repop it in steel, knowing full well it will be expensive, but still hoping anyway?

We may not agree with all the end results of say a 40 Ford or whatever using repopped parts - but it's their car, their vision, and do you really think any kid out there looking at a car, and they are the future of our hobby, is really going to care if you used repopped parts or not? Getting them in to the hobby to keep it alive is what's important - their opinions will come about later, probably here on Fordbarn, just like they are now.

I've seen the Carpenter/Drake 40 up close and personal. I'm no expert but there are many, many areas that I like and dislike. But, I can honestly tell you, since I drive my cars a lot and for long distances, that I'm very happy I can now get a 40 coupe trunk lid, rear fenders, and rear qtrs quickly should the need arise due to an accident or a restoration need, without having to scour the country and beyond to find them.
 
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Just out of curiosity, does anyone know how Bob Drake made out (financially) with the transfer of the coupe from his realm to Carpenter's?
 
I see nothing wrong if someone wants to buy repop sheet metal or a body. I just don't see paying that for a body. But with there being more and more people not doing their own body work. And shop rates getting higher. I could see a person using one of these.
 
Gumpy said:
A little rust shouldn't scare a person off rather i take it as a challenge and only work within my means, I would only purchase something i can repair myself, besides the new coupe may be for the street rod crowd--- I love to find dusty old original cars with a story to tell!! gump
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I agree! Even though my car is what the Early Ford V8 Club deems a "Modified" (When I bought it in 1974, my car was already modified, incomplete and non-running, and was considered more of a "parts car"!), I feel like I've preserved a piece of history. If only my coupe could talk!

I don't fault anyone who builds a car with a reproduction body, but it can never be more than a "copy" of an old car. Many states allow such cars to be registered as "kit cars" or "reproductions", not requiring any modern safety devices be installed that would not have been in the "reproduced" year of manufacture.

Best regards,


push_rod
 
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