Hudson in fiberglass
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I've been re-reading some threads here and while dreaming on the subject of a future project, was wondering the prospect of a Hudson in fiberglass.
It seems as if marginal tin really isn't worth the money, as you wind up with about as much plastic as metal - and pay for it dearly on both ends. Hopeless sheet metal seems to be getting higher and higher with the end result being very costly.
Cutting up good examples of survivors really isn't something I could bring myself to do - again initial cost is a factor here as well.
It seems as if perhaps commissioning a mold of our favorite Terraplane coupe may be an economicly viable option. If there is enough interest.
Either a 34/35 or a 36/37/38 would be a good choice. When it comes to Rodding or competition use, I'd swing more for the 34/35 body.
I suppose I'd like to know what is involved here, as far as reproduction development is concerned. And, how many of us would be interested in at least a body/grille run of the famed Terraplane coupe.
Just thinking out loud.
Mark
It seems as if marginal tin really isn't worth the money, as you wind up with about as much plastic as metal - and pay for it dearly on both ends. Hopeless sheet metal seems to be getting higher and higher with the end result being very costly.
Cutting up good examples of survivors really isn't something I could bring myself to do - again initial cost is a factor here as well.
It seems as if perhaps commissioning a mold of our favorite Terraplane coupe may be an economicly viable option. If there is enough interest.
Either a 34/35 or a 36/37/38 would be a good choice. When it comes to Rodding or competition use, I'd swing more for the 34/35 body.
I suppose I'd like to know what is involved here, as far as reproduction development is concerned. And, how many of us would be interested in at least a body/grille run of the famed Terraplane coupe.
Just thinking out loud.
Mark
0
Comments
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Actually I have thought about the same exact thing but doing the Itiala body
since there were only 26 made.
This would give me the chance to have one to build as a drag car.
Since I will never be able to own one of the originals this could be a viable
option but a costly one.
Doing a 36-37-38 Terraplane coupe would be just as appealing to me. I feel
there may be more of a market for this body than the Itiala body.
Cost for a small run of bodies may be totally wacked out of reality as I did
see were some guys got together and did a Henry J body in fiberglass. The
starting prices were $10,000 and up.
Excuse me as I can hear my savings account screaming in pain...
PaceRacer500 -
PaceRacer50 wrote:Cost for a small run of bodies may be totally wacked out of reality as I did
see were some guys got together and did a Henry J body in fiberglass. The
starting prices were $10,000 and up.
Excuse me as I can hear my savings account screaming in pain...
PaceRacer50
Uh Huh. Since I'm not in the large end of the monetary scale, acceptable pricing will be a must. The more affordably it can be done, the more likely we are to see Terraplanes anew.
I'm doing some research on it. Seems while I may lack foundry resources in my location, I don't lack fiberglass shops.
Come to find out, the premier copier of '55 chevys in glass - is dang near in my backyard.
There has always been a rather large fiberglass cottage industry here, mainly due to so many boats/lakes in the area.
So, if folks are interested - give me more reason to pursue this.
Mark0 -
Neat Idea! From a styling standpoint I would think a '37 would be the most desireable. If you make a coupe, wouldn't a convertible be a strong possiblity. The ones I saw at Auburn seem to have a lot of trim pieces that could make it very expensive to finish unless you go for a monotone/streetrod appearance. Maybe even the possibility of rebodying a sedan. There's lots of chassis builders out there but that's probably another $10K. I see builders use S-10 ladder frames now that are cheap and even a 4.3 offers good power and economy for a frequent driver. Keep us informed of your findings.0
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The more glass and molds that go into this situation, the more expensive it will become. I'm thinking along the fenderless body-only route with possibly a grille and some modicum of a hood. Fenders start running the price up fast. '37 Grille reproduction would be tedious/costly. Maybe a shell and you provide the trimmings?
If a body can reproduced in the $3500-4000 range and of known quality, the purchaser turning it into a convertible is a matter of a skilled cutoff wheel and some glassing after the fact.
I've also been looking into frame options, they may not be as rediculous as one may think. There are a few frame shops around Knoxville. There is a guy in Portland TN that makes some pretty good frames from tubing and sheet stock that has been CNC cut, then welded. Better known frame builders are building kit frames for similiar bodied cars fairly resonable. I believe even FatMan builds complete frames. I suppose the cost is directly proportional to your taste and pocketbook.
I think the main thing is to get us a body, then leave the finishings to the tastes of whomever is using it. Several frame options out there and many local fabricators as well. But precious few Hudson Terraplane bodies.
For the record, I'm voting 34/35 body.
examples:
I like either, but if I had the choice between buying a '37 or a '34 - I'd be going home with the 34.
Mark0 -
I like the idea of a '37 Terraplane coupe body as it would be such a versatile shape. You could build anything from a '37 to a '47 custom coupe depending on which front you preferred. This could really take off in the custom car world.0
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Model 92 wrote:I like the idea of a '37 Terraplane coupe body as it would be such a versatile shape. You could build anything from a '37 to a '47 custom coupe depending on which front you preferred. This could really take off in the custom car world.
'37 Grilles are getting more custom exposure lately than any Hudson piece of bodywork I've seen in a long time. Most of the time we see Hudson's getting other body work grafted on, the '37 Terraplane grille seems to be making its way onto everybody else's bodywork.
This discussion is good. And encouraging.0 -
I found this link on the subject. Just like any mechanical procedure article - you know there is more to it.
However, it is interesting and very enlightening on the subject of fiberglass auto bodies. This article was written by a hobbyist who decided to copy a '32 Plymouth coupe. Very good reading.
http://www.hotrodder.com/32Blowpar/page8.html
Mark0 -
There's etreamly few '33-'34 Tereraplane coupe out there (especially Terraplane 8's, that would make it worth doing those in fiberglass, although they have some similarities to the Ford Coupes the Bodies themselves aren't physically that big.0
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Mark,
as you know I've been collecting parts to build a 32 Ford 5 window coupe
with a Hudson 308 in it. Right now a body is going to be the biggest part
of the cost here. Well actually its going to be about 1/2 of the build cost
cause none of them are a bargin.
If a early Hudson coupe body becomes reality I would be one be on the
band wagon. Expecially if the price is reasonable. The 33-34 body is one
good looking body.
Right now I'm still gathering the drivetrain parts so time is no big deal
to me. Several of the things like the frame could be based on the 33-34
Ford. This could help keep cost down for the builder since these are easy
to get and limits custom built parts.
The big attraction is not having to deal with 70+ years worth of road-rash
and the toxic chemical induced corrosion. Besides that light weight is a
big plus for our Flathead 6's.
PaceRacer500 -
PaceRacer50 wrote:Mark,
as you know I've been collecting parts to build a 32 Ford 5 window coupe
with a Hudson 308 in it. Right now a body is going to be the biggest part
of the cost here. Well actually its going to be about 1/2 of the build cost
cause none of them are a bargin.
If a early Hudson coupe body becomes reality I would be one be on the
band wagon. Expecially if the price is reasonable. The 33-34 body is one
good looking body.
Right now I'm still gathering the drivetrain parts so time is no big deal
to me. Several of the things like the frame could be based on the 33-34
Ford. This could help keep cost down for the builder since these are easy
to get and limits custom built parts.
The big attraction is not having to deal with 70+ years worth of road-rash
and the toxic chemical induced corrosion. Besides that light weight is a
big plus for our Flathead 6's.
PaceRacer50
These are all the same points I was considering when voting for the 34/35 body. Many things out there already to utilize a Hudson body of this type without it becoming overwhelming price-wise.
It is going to be big and tough to find a body to copy. We need a body, hood, and grille. I'd say a Terraplane grille as the bars could be easily replicated, the Hudson grille would be more difficult.
None of them are a bargain, that is for sure. I'd much rather go with a glass body for a custom Hudson/Essex than doing any damage to a real, steel Hudson.
I think I found a place to help with a proper mold.
Mark0 -
PaceRacer50 wrote:Actually I have thought about the same exact thing but doing the Itiala body
since there were only 26 made.
This would give me the chance to have one to build as a drag car.
Since I will never be able to own one of the originals this could be a viable
option but a costly one.
Doing a 36-37-38 Terraplane coupe would be just as appealing to me. I feel
there may be more of a market for this body than the Itiala body.
Cost for a small run of bodies may be totally wacked out of reality as I did
see were some guys got together and did a Henry J body in fiberglass. The
starting prices were $10,000 and up.
Excuse me as I can hear my savings account screaming in pain...
PaceRacer50
I was thinking the same thing about the Italia body in fiberglass. Maybe with a mold that smoothed out and deleted those 6 "tailpipe tail lights" in the rear. I was looking at some books on how to do fiberglass bodies, could be a great way to have some rare Hudsons or have them as rods without sacrificing the rare originals.....or have them given the fact that the originals are too expensive to aquire. I know there was an outfit that did Merc bodies and 32 Ford Coupe bodies in Hemmings. Think there was even one that did some 40's Chevy bodies. There was an outfit I saw in an add in the back of AOPA aviation magazine that sold Shelby Cobra kit cars starting at $11K. Wish I knew the names of those companies I don't have an old Hemmings here.0 -
Guys,
Here is a link to the body mold for the Henry J fiberglass
bodys.
It shows a pretty good idea for the guys that have never
seen one being laid up.
http://www.henryjcars.com/hjc56/HAmold/mold.html
There is more detail about the fiberglass bodies on
the www.henryjcars.com web site.
later,
PaceRacer500 -
About 30 years ago Rich Vensa, who runs Rod and Race fiberglass in Cumberland Md. discussed this. He was in the HET 40 years ago and is quite knowedgeble on this subject. The subject was my 33 T8 coupe Lots of work ,but possible. Contact him . I think he could fill you in on this. Mine is still all orig. steel.0
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a couple years ago when I was considering a couple essex's, I stumbled across a site that had fiberglass fenders for 27-29 essex coupes. I don't remember if they had front and rear. regardless I lost the link and haven't found my way back to it. So If you would consider that route some of the work is done.
Also rather than building an entire 34 to rod/race. why not just build the hudson hood/grille scaled and tweaked to work with a 34 ford body? that would save most of the mold costs.0 -
I think I found the site, its 30-31 fenders not 27-29
http://www.hotrodssuperstore.com/19hudespar.html0 -
Thats the site I mentioned in my last post. I talked with Rich Vensa by email and he has sold the business, but is still there on an advisery basis. If you really want to talk with someone knowledgable about fiberglass, he is your man and can be reached at the above website.0
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YOu might want to try Rich Venza, Rod and Race Fiberglass http://www.rodnrace.com/
HE is an oldtime hudson guy and has actually made a few fiberglass parts for Hudsons over the years. HE is a good guy and the driving force behind the 19790 and 1980 HET Nationals
IF you do call him, tell him I said hi.0 -
I would build a fenderless '37 Terraplane coupe if a fibreglass body were to be built. As said before, fat-fendered cars are definitely the rage, and you could go '37-'47 with that same shell very easily, I'd think.0
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EssexAdv wrote:YOu might want to try Rich Venza, Rod and Race Fiberglass http://www.rodnrace.com/
HE is an oldtime hudson guy and has actually made a few fiberglass parts for Hudsons over the years. HE is a good guy and the driving force behind the 19790 and 1980 HET Nationals
IF you do call him, tell him I said hi.
Better call him quick. Lew. He is moving to Swanee, Ga. soon to be near his kid. Tomb0 -
Rich was a full fledged fiberglass fellow. He made the rockerpanels I put on my 54 wasp from fiberglass. They were made the from a set of NOS originals. I recently posted the following site ... how DOC Hudson NASCAR was created. I spoke with the owner of the shop that made DOC and he explained how the car was made. The site should give you all an idea of how a Hudson could be recreated....
http://www.gunnarracing.com/Misc/hudson%20build/hudson%20build-062306.htm0
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