Reproduction Bronco bodies

[69_Sport]

So the new repro bodies are supposed to be out by now. Anyone buy one yet and willing to offer a review?

 

[rubbman]

9k for a tub is some serious cash!

 

[BroncKrawler]

http://www.thoroughbredgt.com/1968-76-bronco-bodies.html

 

[69_Sport]

9k for a tub is some serious cash!

Yeah, it is a lot of cash, at least for me. It's comparable to what some of the restorers are charging to restore a tub, though. And with the prices that restored and cherry originals bring, you could make the case for a brand spanking new tub being worth the $$.

I'm interested to hear how they look and how the panels line up when doing body work. I understand they have modified inner fenders for power brakes? Probably some other minor differences from the originals, depending on what year you are comparing one to. So a guy should always be able to spot one if you know what to look for. Purists will be happy to know that they are different from an original.

It sure would be nice to know the whole thing was rust free. In my part of the country, they have all rusted away due to road salt and are mostly gone. I don't remember the last time I saw one on the street. Unless you dip one, there is always the possibility that all the rust has not been removed and will resurface some day. I'd love to restore my chassis and drop a shiny new tub on it with no hidden secrets by previous owners.

 

[Broncitis]

$9K is cheaper than what I have seen many pay a body or restoration shop to patch up a rusty tub that they took into them. For a higher end build, this could actually save money.

I saw the debut of this body at the Fall Carlisle last year which was then taken to the Hershey show and then off to SEMA. There is a thread on here with pics and some comments somewhere.

I thought it looked pretty good overall, but I would like to see one in the raw, as shipped.

 

[half cab]

That $9,000 is gonna sound cheap one day. There are some fair looking Broncos around here. for that price til you peel the mat/carpet /bed liner back and the Broncos that are not rusty will not be for sale or $25.000 and beyond.

just my 2 cent.

 

[nick1975bronco]

I too live in the rust belt and there are no almost broncos around I was debating on a bronco design glass tub or a steel kit from bronco grave yard. but either way its a lot of cash and I would like to see one that was shipped to someone on here with reviews and pictures of it. they always will make the show piece perfect for sales.

 

[69_Sport]

I too live in the rust belt and there are no almost broncos around I was debating on a bronco design glass tub or a steel kit from bronco grave yard. but either way its a lot of cash and I would like to see one that was shipped to someone on here with reviews and pictures of it. they always will make the show piece perfect for sales.

Ya I'm hoping someone here would buy one and could give us an honest review.

I know the Dynacorn Mustangs, Chevelles, etc., require quite a bit of fitting and messing to get them to look right. A Bronco body is much simpler, though.

If everyone here would chip in $100, I'd volunteer to drive to Ohio and pick one up for review......

 

[red hot71]

To me 9K is cheap if you have a rusted out body and want something that's going to be top shelf in the end.

A few weeks back a thread was started about the TV show extreme 4x4 and how its all Jeep this and Jeep that, and why? Because of the aftermarket Jeep bodies. One that pops into mind is the WD-40 Jeep build there doing, its all aluminum how can that be less than 9K it isn't, but you can buy one today and have it in 6 months or less.

I can't wait for the day when 2 to 3 different companies out there are building new Bronco steel bodies and these TV shows embrace custom Bronco builds all based on aftermarket parts. There's people out there that will spend 150K+ on all new broncos because there not rehashed bodies on rehashed frames, and have modern running gear. Other wise Broncos are going to be like WW-II vets in 20 years there not going to be any left or non anybody can afford at any cost.

 

[Whoaa]

I have been into Piper Super Cub airplanes all of my life. It's common to restore and rebuild these old airplanes, add mod's and make them stronger, lighter, faster, safer. The fuelage is made from chromoly steel tubing, the outside is fabric. For years and years everytime one got rebuilt the rusted or damaged tubing on the frame was cut out and new tube welded back in place. About 15 years ago a company started making "new" replacement fuselage's. Now just about every high-dollar "rebuilt / restored" Super Cub you see has a new frame.

Its great that new bodies and body parts are being made! Try to imagine the collectability of these old Bronco's in another 20, 30, 40+ years....

 

[69_Sport]

Back to the top.....

Has anyone actually bought one of these bodies yet? We'd all like an update on quality, any differences from an original, any problems encountered using one, etc.

 

[DirtDonk]

Another question to ask might be, have any shipped yet? And the answer to that is I don't think so.
ETA's come and go, but the proof is in having them ready to ship. And at this point, even if they have shipped some, I doubt anyone has had time to put it into actual use in their projects yet, even if they're a shop already working on one.

I don't know if the only one existing is the sales model that's making it's way around the shows and such, but I'm not aware of even any "prototype" or "pre-production" models out in circulation either. Doesn't mean there aren't any of course, and that's kind of a standard practice to make sure it's all going to work. Just that I haven't heard of any.
Would that there were though, so someone would be able to comment.

Per this thread, I just got off the phone with DC and the story is the same as far as the person I talked to is concerned. No known sales and no known available bodies, with a good number already spoken for on backorder.

Maybe they're waiting for some imported steel to make their USA stamped panels out of? Don't know, but that might be what we've been running into with our rear leaf springs lately!
Hopefully they won't fall into the same pit that Dynacorn did. They've been semi-promising a production body for three years or so now. It's fully imported, and maybe they ran into licensing issues if Thoroughbred and DC are the only authorized manufacturers. There are made in the US, but that doesn't necessarily streamline anything really.

Paul

 

[1owner66]

Has anyone completed the tub kit from JBG?

 

[fordguy]

does anyone know how much bronco connection gets for just a tub, I have seen pics of his stuff and it looks good. take a look here http://classicbroncos.com/forums/showthread.php?t=188757&highlight=it's+official+build&page=5 (post 61 or so) I have about 3K in the strip, dip, and metal replacement, not counting the original cost. I would say without even seeing the tub, it will need "massaging". I seriously doubt it will be "plug and play" type deal. expect to have 12-15K in it by the time you get it painted (conservative estimate). by know means am I against them and this is not meant to be negative, just informative. do your homework. I like all cars, trucks, etc, glass or steel, repop, original, keeps our hobby alive.

 

[Tom Dummer]

OK, I'll offer to set up a Go Fund Me account so I can get one of these tubs and build it at your expense. Then I'll tell you if it fell apart or not.

 

[rydog1130]

I practically need a new tub, but I'm stubborn and semi frugal. I bought all my replacement panels during JBG's black Friday sale and picked them up personally. This saved me some cash but now I have to figure out how to disassemble this thing and replace those parts and keep everything straight. Trying to find body specs for the front end. I have all the door measurements but any other body specs would be great. A new pre assembled tub sounds awesome but the price would only be worth it if you didn't like building things but that's half the fun right?

 

[Prizefighter]

Has anyone completed the tub kit from JBG?

Not that I'm aware of. I've seen several ambitious threads started but have yet to see someone complete it.

 

[Bajabrewer]

http://www.midlifeclassics.com/swampthing.shtml


This one looks to be almost complete.

 

[lowbush]

Not that I'm aware of. I've seen several ambitious threads started but have yet to see someone complete it.

There was a thread on here where a shop scrapped the body in favor of welding up the JBG Bronco in a box. I think the shop said the final bill to the customer before paint was 11K. I know there was another guy that Bax knows that had a guy "try" to weld one up and it ended up being a total scrap I think Roger is putting a Bronco Design tub on that project IIRC, my understanding is there is a lot of measuring and jig'ing to get the Bronco in a box to line up. The one that shop did was the only one I saw completed into a driving Bronco that is on the road today but at 11K it's a fairly expensive option and it's not a beginner body work project there are a lot of body shops out there that could not pull off doing it either so it's a pretty risky endeavor.

 

[rydog1130]

Some one had mentioned the tub kits from JBG'S. I saw they're about 4K, I'm wondering if it would profitable to make your own set of jigs and weld them up*yourself and sell them for 7-8K? hmmmmm