new 1970 challenger body

[Scat Pack Fever]

I still can't believe that with today's technology, they cannot make an exact replica of a N.O.S. panel. Maybe I'm looking at it wrong, but they can't make it as good as they did in the 70's? That sounds a little backwards to me.

[brads70]

I still can't believe that with today's technology, they cannot make an exact replica of a N.O.S. panel. Maybe I'm looking at it wrong, but they can't make it as good as they did in the 70's? That sounds a little backwards to me.

I'd say you have take into account were it's made.....

[Cuda Cody]

Please give me a break if you think these cars were the best thing ever made since sliced bread.  The build quality of these cars new back in 1970 was crappy at best.  That's part of the problem, you're chasing a moving target trying to make new parts.  Each one of these cars was a little different from the factory.  I'm sooooo thankful companies like Goodmark and AMD give it a try at all.  And the amount of work needed to make any of these panels work is a far cry from what would be needed if they didn't exist at all. 

[elitecustombody]

Please give me a break if you think these cars were the best thing ever made since sliced bread.  The build quality of these cars new back in 1970 was crappy at best.  That's part of the problem, you're chasing a moving target trying to make new parts.  Each one of these cars was a little different from the factory.  I'm sooooo thankful companies like Goodmark and AMD give it a try at all.  And the amount of work needed to make any of these panels work is a far cry from what would be needed if they didn't exist at all.

QFT. I agree 200% , it's funny that some people who have never done any bodywork or replacing panels expect aftermarket parts to just jump out the box and install themselves,even some of NOS parts don't fit all that great, just ask some of the resto shops that work on GM cars,they have better luck with aftermarket parts than new OEM parts that were done in old worn out dies and these parts were sold at a premium price too.If anyone needs confirmation, I can forward contact information of a shop that would rather use AMD parts than NOS on Camaros

[pywell]

Im replacing 2/3rds of the challenger I have and AMD and GOODMARK have been very good for me so far I have been very impressed so far. I have used a lot of chinese parts before and they have been scary at best for fitment but these have been great! But ignoring the debate of import steel and domestic, how are these bodies put together? I have to see them in person I want to know how they are welded and is the entire thing e-coated before shipped?

[Cooter]

I think people have gotten too far into the "Perfection" side of things along with the money side of Musclecars...They are simply putting down something that is clearly better than buying a rusty hulk of a car, even IF it's a chinese copy...I can tell you right now, I know full and well going into these cars that they will be rusty..Period..to expect anything else is, well, crazy..I wouldn't know how to act, and probably have a heart attack if I bought a car that "only" needed a repaint and "fun" things done to it...I cannot see doing a car to the level some here on this site seem to think a car should be taken down to..I refuse..I tend to do what's known round here as "shoebox" restorations and Have some fun with the damn thing...To hell with having to do 12 years worth of work for about 1 week of pleasure before the freaking thing gets T-boned by some idiot on a cell phone..I can remember when there was a time when people had to go find a suitable replacement/patch panel in a junkyard...Now, it seems this would be considered "Hacked" by todays standards...I WISH someone would come up to my car at a car show and tell me that it was "Hacked" because I didn't tear it all the way down to nothing and let it set on a rotiserie for over 6 years working on it, or because I didn't weld that seam just right, or my "chinese" panels don't have the crisp lines like a factory or AMD panel does....They'd be embarrassed REAL quick..Bottom line? it doesn't matter if it's a Chinese copy or not, people have gotten WAY too picky because of money and what these cars are worth...As stated, they weren't as perfect as some of these things are being made today when built BRAND NEW..

[mojavered]

I still can't believe that with today's technology, they cannot make an exact replica of a N.O.S. panel. Maybe I'm looking at it wrong, but they can't make it as good as they did in the 70's? That sounds a little backwards to me.

I have heard that the steel used then vs. the steel used now is not as thick and does not come from the good o'l USA.  I have no personal experience with this though.

[pywell]

I have heard that the steel used then vs. the steel used now is not as thick and does not come from the good o'l USA.  I have no personal experience with this though.

The steel used is as thick or thicker then stock depending where. DOT panels must meet requirments to be CAPA certified and both AMD and GOODMARK meet these standards. We know the steel comes from taiwan... said in many posts already. The question is not of the guage of steel we know its good, its not if it fit likes OEM we know it all depends what day of the week it was made on and how many beers they had, JUST like everything else we buy there are always lemons and so far all of mine have been great (knocks on wood). The question also isnt how great the new bodies are finished, it says right on the website that the product you purchase is roughed in, not something you can just go and put paint on and call it done. The question is, at the steel plant where they are getting there metal, is it conditioned properly, is it a laminated steel or solid steel. Unconditioned laminated steel is what was used in the late 70's and early 80's when everything seems too rust if you sneezed at it. If the steel is processed good then its not a question of quality, its a question of why everyone likes to hate on it. << Im thinking thats the answer myself. There has been a lot of lot of disapointment from cheap chinese parts over the years and I am one who has been worked with the product many times with extreme cussing. I honestly thought these parts were USA made the way the metal was fitting. Welds were good and packaging was OEM too. I think before anymore love hate comments are made. We will have to see how it is when someone buys one. I know I will buy one, the shell I am restoring now has already costed 12000$ and if you go and check the progress Im still ripping it apart.

[HP2]

I know I will buy one, the shell I am restoring now has already costed 12000$ and if you go and check the progress Im still ripping it apart.

...and this, IMO,  is the heart of the matter. Yes, some of us score very good cars that need very little work. Most of us do not. If you buy the basic basket case for $1000-2000 and end up replacing every major panel at around $400 each (some are more, some are less) you can easily be at $12,000 to $16,000 if you do all the work yourself. Pay someone else, and the pice could easily triple. Or you buy one of these, do the most basic work, and then can work on the fun stuff. Sure it does not have the original pedigree, but if yo'reu inlcined to regularly drive, use, race, or physically enjoy the cars, as compared to the pro parking, fender tag comparison group, these body can be a great benefit.

[pywell]

...and this, IMO,  is the heart of the matter. Yes, some of us score very good cars that need very little work. Most of us do not. If you buy the basic basket case for $1000-2000 and end up replacing every major panel at around $400 each (some are more, some are less) you can easily be at $12,000 to $16,000 if you do all the work yourself. Pay someone else, and the pice could easily triple. Or you buy one of these, do the most basic work, and then can work on the fun stuff. Sure it does not have the original pedigree, but if yo'reu inlcined to regularly drive, use, race, or physically enjoy the cars, as compared to the pro parking, fender tag comparison group, these body can be a great benefit.

[Challenger III]

...and this, IMO,  is the heart of the matter. Yes, some of us score very good cars that need very little work. Most of us do not. If you buy the basic basket case for $1000-2000 and end up replacing every major panel at around $400 each (some are more, some are less) you can easily be at $12,000 to $16,000 if you do all the work yourself. Pay someone else, and the pice could easily triple. Or you buy one of these, do the most basic work, and then can work on the fun stuff. Sure it does not have the original pedigree, but if yo'reu inlcined to regularly drive, use, race, or physically enjoy the cars, as compared to the pro parking, fender tag comparison group, these body can be a great benefit.

Well put. This would be an option for those who are building a driver and have already learned what it's like to bring back an old one. Too many of those pretty "driver" cars out there for sale need a bunch of work. I passed up quite a few $10 - $12000 drivers and bought a $1000 titled rust bucket. I'll Know it's right when I'm done. I don't know if I'll have the motivation to do my next one.... yet!

[Scat Pack Fever]

I wonder if they will make a 70-71 barracuda convertible shell?? Then what? I bet a lot of people would jump at that one even if it's from china.

[femtnmax]

My challenger was originally an Idaho car with vinyl roof.  The windshield was original and still had a 1975 parking decal on it.  The second owner was in Montana.  I'm the third owner.  Title work confirmed the history of the car. 
The car needed the roof and lower rear quarters (ahead & behind rear wheel) replaced due to rust. There was a little rust thru on one rear corner of trunk lid, I went ahead and replaced it due to cost of shop to fix it.  I put full rear quarters and a roof skin on it. The rest of the car including trunk floor, interior floorboards, and frame rails had surface rust only...no surprises found.

[HP2]

That's a sweet score.

The last one I picked up needs quarters, trunk extensions, trunk floor, trunk rails, rear frame rails, rockers, rear interior floors, front floors, cowl, fenders, and a few firewall and inner fendr patches. The doors were decent.

The one I got before that only needs quarters and extensions and a cowl, but every thing else on it is bent, dinged, or dented to some degree. Some times you get good stuff, sometimes you don't. These bodies give you a chance to at least start with good stuff.

[pywell]

My challenger was originally an Idaho car with vinyl roof.  The windshield was original and still had a 1975 parking decal on it.  The second owner was in Montana.  I'm the third owner.  Title work confirmed the history of the car. 
The car needed the roof and lower rear quarters (ahead & behind rear wheel) replaced due to rust. There was a little rust thru on one rear corner of trunk lid, I went ahead and replaced it due to cost of shop to fix it.  I put full rear quarters and a roof skin on it. The rest of the car including trunk floor, interior floorboards, and frame rails had surface rust only...no surprises found.

Did you blast it? If not your surprises stayed hidden, cant argue that. You wont find anything if you dont pickup the stuff laying on top of it.