Let me just start by saying that if someone does make an (ACCURATE) reproduction hood, congratulations! What took you so long?
That being said, here's what I'd be looking for as a customer:
#1. Accuracey (having an NOS hood to copy is one thing, getting it done accurately is quite another).
#2. Type of steel, 99% of the reproduction parts comming in from Asia are made with the hydroforming process, this is done with resin molds and softer steel than OEM (same gauge, but dents ALLOT easier!).
#3. For those of you who care about 100% accuracey you might also consider that there were two styles, one with crush wrinkles, one without (1970 and some early 71's). Which will they be?
#4. Budget. If you already own a flat hood it's going to be accurate and made of the right steel when done ( that is if you use our kit parts and don't mind spending a day doing the conversion work) and it's likely to be less expensive.
#5. Just so you know, there is more than one vendor in the process of reproducing complete hoods, Ben is one, Goodmark is another, and I hear there may even be a third! Be sure to shop for the best one before you buy because there are bound to be differences in price and quality.
#6. Don't count on a Challenger hood anytime soon, everyone I have asked have basically said it's not going to happen in the forseeable future. Til then we (Harms) makes the only ACCURATE Challenger specific parts available anywhere at any price.
I'm sure they will sell, and I have no doubt we will lose some business to them, and that's ok with me, we still have a niche to fill if you consider what I have noted above. That being said, I doubt anyone will be getting rich selling a bunch of them. There will be several vendors fighting for the business and since are'nt many cars left that haven't already had one added since they were first available in kit or conversion form over 20 years ago or so. They will all be fighting for a thin slice of the small market pie.
