Stainless Steel body panels

[Mopar Nut]

Why isn't anyone repro stainless steel body panels? Wouldn't cost that much, wouldn't rust out and paints well. I just had TTi bend me a complete exhaust system out of 304 stainless steel.

[JB400]

Stainless steel cost more to manufacture with.  It's some tuff stuff.  Doesn't bend easy.  One reason the DeLorean did not last too long production wise.  You can still buy those brand new

[Mopar Nut]

Stainless steel cost more to manufacture with.  It's some tuff stuff.  Doesn't bend easy.  One reason the DeLorean did not last too long production wise.  You can still buy those brand new

What about patch panels out of 304 stainless steel, like lower fender pieces. The 69 I have doesn't have that much rust, would it weld to the original metal?

[FLG]

In all reality, if you do the resto correctly theres no reason to spend extra on stainless. We dont drive em every day, dont bring em out in the rain really, not to mention they get taken care of much more as were not talking about just a normal car. I see no need for stainless unless its something not getting paint.

[Ghoste]

Stainless would require more work in the use of it as well (for the same reasons its more difficult to make into a panel)

[Cooter]

People are complaining about AMD panels not fitting correctly....I can already hear folks complaining about Stainless panels and how you cannot get filler to stick to them/body lines won't line up/etc....

[Troy]

Stainless is harder so the tooling would have to be beefed up to match ($$$). Finishing the panel would be a lot more work as well. Stainless is much harder to weld - although I'm not sure about welding it to regular sheet metal. Stainless cost more to begin with. Overall, you end up with a much more expensive product that takes a lot more effort to install. People already complain about the cost and labor with the current panels so I doubt there's a market at all.

Troy

[Ghoste]

Although a 69 Charger (or any other classic year Charger) would be an amazing sight to behold all done up in polished or brushed stainless like a DeLorean.

[plum500]

@Ghoste...I think that would look sharp.

[Dino]

Just buy a Delorean, saw one this weekend, gotta have me one of those but not now.  Maybe in 10 years.  Never heard the production end had anything to do with the SS skins though.  Apart from the coke deal I think the drivetrain AND the cost of the car killed it. 

You can't just mig ss to plain steel by the way.

If you want to really protect the car, have it galvanized when the metal work is done. 

[resq302]

I agree.  You would have a major problem with rust / corrosion and electrolysis due to the dis-similar metals.

[Mike DC]

         
We're still years/decades away from just getting aluminum versions of the bolt-on sheetmetal, and the appeal of that is obvious.  No way will we ever see stainless parts in production.

[Cooter]

Although a 69 Charger (or any other classic year Charger) would be an amazing sight to behold all done up in polished or brushed stainless like a DeLorean.

Go for it Ghoste. I can almost see your thread title now....

"And now, for a look at my $500,000 DMCL tribute car"...

[Ghoste]

What,  you do't want me to do a GL?

[Cooter]

What,  you do't want me to do a GL?

Nope......Reason being, It takes a special person to build/own a GL..You are only DMCL special.

[Ghoste]

"Only".