1968 Yenko Camaro RS/SS YS-8035 Barrett Jackson

[FTC]

Originally Posted by SS427

My opinion has always been, and take it for just what it is, an opinion, is that as long as the firewall and the main 'birdcage' if you will is reused, I do not consider it a rebody. I have had cars in my shop that we had to replace every bit of sheetmetal such as quarters, decklid, door skins, hood and fenders but used the original birdcage and firewall, I do not consider that a rebody by any stretch. Again, just my opinion.

I agree for the most part, but I am a body shop manager, auto painter by trade, and in my 45 years being in this trade, I have seen a lot .

I guess my question, or maybe it's an opinion is,.....if a "rare" car, (take that term as you will) meaning not some base 6 cylinder daily driver, is on it's way to getting restored, aka replacing 75% of it's sheet metal, because of rot from sitting in four feet of chicken poop in a barn some where,...and it has extensive damage to the hinge pillar, cowl panel, and firewall, from a side T-Bone hit, and those panels are also showing signs of rust as well....isn't panel replacement not only the correct way to repair those area, but the proper and safe way of restoring the car? If the answer is yes, then there are only two ways to achieve that.

1. After all the work on the frame machine, the pulling and measuring is done, the cowl and firewall and dash panel are cut off and replaced, (which will be joined by rotted floors, roof, rockers, quarters, etc...being replaced later) with new NOS or Aftermarket parts, resulting in the unavoidable removal of the VIN plate, data tag, and partial VINs.

Or

2. The rare car receives a donor body, one in great original shape, with all factory assembled OEM sheet metal, at factory specs, which also will result in the unavoidable removal of the VIN plate, data tag, and partial VINs.