The time has come and you have made the decision to try your hand at building your very own street rod from the ground up. There are any number of ways you could go, but one way is to start with a body of your choice and the appropriate chassis. The commitment here means four to five years of building time for the average rodder who will be building on a budget. In the end, you have a car of your choice and it is detailed, appointed, and represents exactly what you want. No settling here.
Back in the late '60s, your choice was resurrecting old steel or, hopefully, you would find a body that needed little work before prepping for paint. Then along came fiberglass and all of a sudden rodders of all levels of building expertise could build any number of cars. The roadster was the most common choice for fiberglass manufacturers to start with, and then came the coupes, followed by steel. While there are numerous fiberglass alternatives out there (open or closed cars and trucks), the late '70s brought steel reproductions.
Something to remember: You will want to check to see that the body will fit the chassis you have in mind before purchasing it. Many times, going with a body manufacturer's chassis package is a "safer" route, especially if this is your first effort in a complete ground-up build. Once you know what body manufacturer you wish to go with and you have confirmed that it will fit the chassis of your choice, the fun begins. One thing is for sure--don't be in a hurry to purchase accessories (wheels, tires, gauges, or even paint) until you actually need them. Being in the magazine industry, we have seen car owners many times who have purchased the latest wheel/tire combo only to realize styles have changed and so have their likes--and dislikes--when their ride is completed! Be forewarned to purchase only what you need at the time of the build--there is a reason why professional builders have rollers, and dummy engine and tranny combos (wheels/tires and engines/transmissions that are used just for the building process and for no other reason).
Nowadays, there seems to be as many steel body manufacturers as there are fiberglass manufacturers. Each offers advantages to the builder and owner. Both can be equally made into one-of-a-kind street rods that make their owners oh-so happy. Both have shown similar building costs, and where one may prove more cost effective in one area, the other will have a similar advantage in another. When it comes down to it, both can be turned into viable building material with the same end result, as well as being rewarding to build and plenty of fun.Take a look at what is offered here in the 2007 Body Buyer's Guide. There are plenty of options and lots of ideas to help you make the decision on just what you want to drive in for an upcoming summer's worth of fun.
1933 SPEED33 ROADSTER (steel)
American Speed Company has unveiled the latest in steel street rod building material and has funneled its design, engineering, and manufacturing experience to create a new concept--the Speed33. Based upon the 1933 Ford roadster, the Speed33 is equipped with structural components tied to high-quality body panel stampings that stay true to the original design.
The Speed33 features a number of industry firsts, including: the first modern, fully integrated convertible top in a '33; the first full-substructure design for maximum body rigidity; the first integrated windshield stanchion and windshield frame; and the first body design to compensate for both fenderless and full-fendered treatment. Top up or top down, this body is a real beauty! For more information, contact American Speed Company at (734) 246-0330, or visit www.americanspeedcompany.com.
1932 & '34 FORD THREE-WINDOW COUPE & ROADSTER (fiberglass)
Bebop's Glass Works is offering a 1932 roadster body package with a starting price of $5,650. Bebop's also offers a '32 and '34 three-window coupe body package starting at $6,550. All of Bebop's bodies are reinforced with steel and wood, with door, decklid hinges, and latches installed, while the body is finished in a black gelcoat.
There are also fender packages available for all of the cars Bebop's offers. Additionally, there is a rolling chassis package, which starts at $6,800, with chrome upgrade packages available. It should also be noted that Bebop's is preparing a '41 Willys for use in building a street rod. For more information, contact Bebop's Glass Works at (423) 263-9594, or visit www.bebops-glassworks.com.
1932 BROOKVILLE- FORD THREE-WINDOW COUPE (steel)
Build a brand-new Deuce three-window coupe with a totally new All-Steel '32 Ford coupe body and chassis kit from the steel body manufacturers at Brookville Roadster.This fantastic new USA-made, all-steel body is made from the exact same gauge steel as factory original bodies, and features correct specs for fit and finish. You can even use OEM fenders and other sheetmetal, which will fit perfectly. Or better yet, get brand-new steel fenders and other body parts from Brookville.
Every body panel or component is totally interchangeable with an original 75-year-old Ford body built by Detroit. They feature all proper braces and brackets, and work equally well in street rods or restored cars. Brookville also offers its own chassis to ensure proper fit and function for its all-steel bodies. Choose from an economy All-Steel '32 Ford body and chassis kit with limited accessories, or a fully-loaded kit with fenders, hood, grille, and just about everything you need for a great head start on a steel '32 Ford three-window coupe. For more information, contact Brookville Roadster at (937) 833-4605, or visit www.brookvilleroadster.com.