It's happening: complete fiberglass 69 Charger bodies being produced.

[JR]

https://m.facebook.com/groups/601742459860632?view=permalink&id=2157913254243537

Quote from County Line Rods Facebook post:

"Next on the agenda for County Line Rods is an all fiberglass 69 Dodge Charger! Stay tuned here for updates! www.countylinerods.com or 864 208 4425."

[bakerhillpins]

Help me understand the point when the outer sheet metal is now available?  Is it just a cost consideration?

[JR]

I'm just speculating here, but I'm guessing the audience for them will be the hardcore performance guys who like the looks of a Charger, but want a body that weighs 1000 lbs less.

Or maybe the crowd that likes the look of the car, but doesn't want to deal with 50 year old car headaches.

I'm not planning on buying one, but I definitely see the appeal in a stiff tube chassis, IRS, a modern drivetrain, and other advancements you can build in from the ground up. Instead of retrofitting to an old chassis.

If nothing else, maybe Hollywood can start crashing these and leave originals alone for a change

Here's their Camaro body for example.

[bakerhillpins]

I'm just speculating here, but I'm guessing the audience for them will be the hardcore performance guys who like the looks of a Charger, but want a body that weighs 1000 lbs less.

Or maybe the crowd that likes the look of the car, but doesn't want to deal with 50 year old car headaches.

I'm not planning on buying one, but I definitely see the appeal in a stiff tube chassis, IRS, a modern drivetrain, and other advancements you can build in from the ground up. Instead of retrofitting to an old chassis.

If nothing else, maybe Hollywood can start crashing these and leave originals alone for a change

All good points! 

[DAY CLONA]

Help me understand the point when the outer sheet metal is now available?   Is it just a cost consideration?

Basically a replica/kit car to be retrofitted to a donor/tube chassis, if they're smart they'll make it with a 120" wheelbase, rather than a 118" WB so it can drop over a cut down modern Charger/Magnum/300 chassis, the kit car industry has been doing this for decades, the advantage here is the readily available glass/trim/interior and assorted other panels/parts/dodads to help build and complete a kitcar Charger...

[70 sublime]

So is this going to make all the 1969 Charger paper ownership cards floating around worth a bunch more ??

[krops cars]

Ok not to sound dumb. How do you put doors on it? Dash floor trunk lid. Do you build steel braces all over to keep it from flexing? I could see building this, but it is just a fiberglass shell with nothing else.

[JB400]

It'd be good for drag racing or  autocross, where you want a light weight body and stiff chassis.

[Mytur Binsdirti]

I'm just speculating here, but I'm guessing the audience for them will be the hardcore performance guys who like the looks of a Charger, but want a body that weighs 1000 lbs less.

Or maybe the crowd that likes the look of the car, but doesn't want to deal with 50 year old car headaches.

Maybe, but who in their right mind would want a car that rattles and squeaks like a kit car....because it is a kit car?

[birdsandbees]

I sold the wife's "plastic junk" Vette for a reason... 

[Stevearino]

 Well there are lots of Crown Vic's out there to make more GL jump cars. This is a perfect fit . Also other than the super tall rockers that black Charger is a pretty nice SRT-8  body over build in the original post. Looks like they widened the front fenders to accommodate the wider track width.

[wingcar]

All I see is......FUNNY CAR Drag car material.......

*After all is said and done, it would be cheaper to build a rust bucket Charger and save an original.....

[TheAutoArchaeologist]

 

[doctor4766]

So once there are hundreds of these on the road, will they affect the value of a real Charger?

[hemi-hampton]

They won't rust

[Dano 1]

Time to pickup a used NASCAR chassis and be king of the track day/autocross.

Also I agree 110% with Steve,

Well there are lots of Crown Vic's out there to make more GL jump cars. This is a perfect fit ....

[RallyeMike]

If they look like the Camaro example don't worry about these flying off the shelf and competing with the real thing.

[BrianShaughnessy]

Based on website prices for the Cuda and Camaro...  I'd expect these to be at least $10K for the kit and $20K hung and latched. 

And if they look like what Ryan posted... no.... no..... just no.   

[Bronzedodge]

Ryan's post should be in the wing car section.  Look at the back window.  500's will now be worthless.   

Fiberglass blows.  You'll get the fun of running a ground return harness.  Then wait till the weatherstrip dulls the gelcoat, or the quarter stress cracks from shutting the door.   

[JR]

The pic Ryan posted is a funny car body from the 60s.

I believe the black one is a finished version of the actual body, based on the steering wheel position, and the interior door panels looking different.

And Brian, your exactly right on pricing. The Cuda and Camaro bodies are listed at 9k for the bare bodies, and 18k for the bodies with doors hung and latched.

After thinking about it some more, if they ever do a Daytona version, I'd be seriously tempted to build one for a performance build. Assuming it has a competent chassis under it with IRS, and a proper roll cage for structure, I'd be interested. Replicate the shortened nose and wing that the Fast 6 Daytona had and I'd have to go for it.

[Dino]

So once there are hundreds of these on the road, will they affect the value of a real Charger?

Yes the value of the real one will go up because there's so many fake ones on the road.   

[djcarguy]