I've had this growing desire to rescue and restore old fenders. Before I start a hobby that will wind up filling my home with restored parts, I want to see if there's any potential for finding rides for those reborn beauties to get them back out on the road.
Dave, my answer would depend on the prices of the two options. I would gladly pay $300 for sheet metal that you rescued, if the new repros are $1000. If the repros are $300 and the rescued fender is $1000, then again, the lower cost option would probably be the one I would choose, as long as the quality of the repros is reasonably good. It gets trickier if they both cost the same and the quality of the metal is roughly the same. I would probably choose to rescue old metal for sentimental reasons, if everything else was equal.
Take a look the parts wanted thread and try to guage how many people are actually looking for fenders. I don't think many. Shipping is always an issue on larger parts. I wouldn't fix them and wait for buyers. I would just watch the wanted ads and see who is looking and repair sell as requested. I really don't think it would be a definate source of income. Allot of time wasted and no return. Unless you just want the practice.
And this is the reason I am in no hurry to sell the fenders I have. I have 3 sets of 70-72 fenders but don't want to deal with the hassle of shipping the dang things.
Well if you wanted to do the work for enjoyment, you could do more than Buick fenders also. If you look at old cars ( 20's and 30's ), they nearly all have wrinkles in the fenders and there is no inner fender to hide the work. People would pay for those being re worked. If it interests you, I would get some Buick fenders to restore and go for it. See where it takes you.
Love a set to a 62 skylark. Should you happen to spot a set worthy, tie panels included. I rebuild chainsaws and the shipping is always the responsibility of the buyer. I could see the hobby taking up some room in a hurry!
Depends on the quality of the repros, if they were ever to produced to begin with. There's something to say about brand new, straight sheetmetal if it's an accurate part (and not just close enough.) If it's not accurate, it's useless. Would I pay good money for a repro? Absolutely, if it's as good as OEM. Would I pay good money for a repaired fender? Absolutely, if it were 100% rust free and laser straight.
I'd love to have a good set of repros if they were like the OEM that comes on the car and not the oddly bent replacement fenders GM sold. I have decent fenders but they need to be patched in the usual place below the body line. I know these fender fit, have the emblem holes in the right spots and I already own them. What do you think it would cost to repair said fender? Ignore actual shipping costs for the moment other than the additional cost of making sure it crated/packaged and arrives undamaged back to me.
