Hi All, hoping this is acceptable post as I am more keen to understand people's feedback than directly trying to promote business. I am based in the UK.

We have been working on this idea for a number of years and have successfully cloned a really straight C2 coupe body. noting that the frames are different from C2 to C3 (various changes over the generations), our bodies have been crafted to account for the differences and essentially fit directly onto a C3 Frame (custom floor, firewall and body mounts). They do not have a complete birdcage but we are working with fabricators to reproduce the metal framework to support the dash and door pillar mounts.

Overall feedback has been really encouraging. Idea being that there are a slew of affordable, running C3's in need of serious body repairs (one seen last week for $1800!) and this presents an opportunity to have a C2 styled / hot rod / restomod / race car at a more attainable price and without such a significant up front capital outlay.

Bodies are complete and built to fit all OEM parts like glass, lights, dash (although we remanufacture glassfibre ones) etc.

Here is a link to our site, welcome this group's feedback, positive and negative so long as constructive. We are a family of Corvette enthusiasts (we own C1, C2 C3 corvettes) trying to do something a little different.

www.thecorvettefactory.co.uk

Have a nice day and thanks.

 

I think it's a fantastic idea. What is ballpark minimum cost, shipped to the USA?

 

Great idea but shipping costs???

 

Great idea I would like it more if there was a way to hide a semi roll cage in it that replaced the birdcage to further stiffen the frame up and at the same time supporting the windscreen etc.

 

hi guys, we have figured out pricing for UK market -
£8,000 for the kit that includes body, double skinned hood, inner fenders, double skin doors, rear valance, firewall, custom floorpan and custom body mounts. (Not including dash/ door frame).

we think that’s a fair deal. Translated into dollars, shipped with duty etc were $13k ish. Extras (dash, bumpers, 63 upgrade kit) might push that up to $15 and change.

it’s a question of whether that keeps us competitive.

we are investigating efficient means of shipping etc to try and keep costs down.

 

Such a brilliant idea. On a side note, have you finished the rear filler panel for my side pipe 71 yet?

 

Great idea, but two concerns:

1. The cost to finish with original C2 parts may be prohibitive. Things like original interior and exterior window moldings, instrument cluster, steering column, wiring, seats, glass, carpet, door panels, door handles and hardware, bumpers and braces, etc. are not terribly expensive by themselves, but they really add up. And how do you find all those parts? It's a long list of parts.

2. Since C2's have the VIN tag on the body, how will your bodies be titled?

There's a huge demand right now for people looking for non-original C2's with good bodies to build restomods. A lot of them will use custom interiors so having all those original parts is not as important. Most of them use a custom aftermarket chassis such as SR-III. If you can supply high quality bodies with a way to title them, that will fit those custom frames, you may be onto something. Good luck!

 

Big smiley indeed!! I”ll have our template / pattern in my hands tomorrow. PM on here with your mobile and I’ll text you with updates. Easier that way!

thanks

 

I think that is totally reasonable. Find a thousand dollar 78-82 with a blown engine, and build a wild split window racer without cutting up a rare car.

 

That makes sense, wel thought out. Thats a lot of work and for once yours looks right, not out of proportion etc.
Best of luck!

 

yes we have been thinking about that. Perhaps a steel core that can be bonded into the windshield surround.

The body does fit to a standard mid year birdcage but clearly you aren’t going to find one of those at Walmart so we are looking at options. It has been mentioned but not something that would put people off the build.

 

Good feedback - indeed, with parts I think we agree that NCRS enthusiasts need not apply, but we have been working to reproduce some of the more desirable parts that would at least make the car look correct to period. E.g complete moulded dash (incl dash pads) bumpers etc. They can use original hinges or adapt to more modern type kit car hinges. It depends on who is building for what purpose.

just this week we have refined a really neat gauge cluster replicating an original even down to the leather grain pattern all in fiberglass. The bezels are separate so could accommodate original gauges or the panel could take autometer (or even C3 gauges) were you so inclined.

on titling. In the UK it’s a bit like the Porsche scene. Early 80’s SC’s are frequently ‘backdated’ and sport bodywork more closely resembling 70’s RS. In this case it’s a change of body style from the same brand and same material to period spec, even if not correct to the year. Others in the US have advised that re-bodying a car is permissible but again I’m not a DMV expert.

 

I am not sure why anyone would want to ruin the beautiful lines of any C3 Corvette with a C2 body......???? Sorry, you posted this on the C3 forum, so don't be surprised. But,......its a cool idea for those who prefer C2 bodies

 

This isn't like backdating a 911 because you're doing more than replacing individual body parts. When you remove the C3 body you remove the VIN with it. Could you take the C3 VIN tag and attach it to the reproduction C2 body and call it the same car? I'm no DMV expert either, but I'm pretty sure that's illegal. Now, there are zillions of Cobra replicas and other owner-built cars which are titled and registered. But those are kit cars, and generally their titles reflect that. I'm sure you could go that route. But what's the market for a C2 kit car? I don't know. Generally replicas and kit cars aren't worth as much as the real thing. So if you did that, is a C2 kit car/replica going to offer value over buying the real thing by the time you buy the body, ship it to the US, source a C3 donor, buy all the necessary parts, paint it, and assemble it? Maybe, depending on what the buyer is trying to achieve. As I said, a restomod builder may well be interested in a new body he can simply drop onto his custom chassis IF owning a car titled as a replica is acceptable.

You've obviously given this a lot of thought and have done some great development work; I really hope it works out!

 

that’s pretty fair! I do own a 71 big block race car with L88 flares 10x15’s and FIA headlamps so I get what you’re saying !

 

I really dis-agree. You wouldn't use a '69 big block as a donor, but an '82 with a blown Crossfire engine, busted up body, and a rusty birdcage? I sure would. Aluminum panels on the interior, lightweight racing buckets, an LS out of a wrecked Camaro, I bet you could put one together for $25-$30K and have a blast. Can you even get a running C2 in any condition for 30 grand?

 

Marvelous, fantastic and other affirmatives.

My only comments are;
1. The only difference between say a C-2 '67 frame and a 69 C-3 frame is the gussets at the rear kick-ups. These can be added to any C-2 frame.
2. What I'm not seeing is any 'split windows'...whereas they might be the more profitable in the C-2 line.

Richard D, I'm going to tweak your nose a bit, insofar as an 82 C-3 frame has a metal thickness of .090" vs those of say a 79 with .110" thickness, not to mention the much heavier duty rear end. They pulled some 250 lbs out of the car by 82 and not necessarily conducive to hi-hp custom applications...so I'm going to say 74-79 would be the sweet spot.

Very interesting in the Typical UK 'boffin cottage industry mold'...hundred of years of tradition there!

Signed Unkahal, formerly of Berks. (as I drink a Newc. Brown in your honor!)

We say " a C-2 is a C-3 frame with a bath-tub on it" . {Paraphrasing Zora....'The C-2 has all the aerodynamics of an up-side-down bath-tub' lolz

 

Any new developments?

 

hi Richard,

Yes! We have been busy. The our first few 63 Coupes have emerged from the mould and we have been working on refining them. Fitment is great and we now have a demo car that is pretty well assembled.

all original parts like lights, glass, trim, chromework etc fit nicely.

the body seen in the pics is mated to a worn out frame from a 76 that we use for mock up purposes.

the rear windows are poly laminate and we are exploring whether they should be bonded in or traditional rubber.

we have also been working on our one piece dashboards and glass front/rear bumpers.

here are some pics to whet the appetite...

 

As Blackbird pointed out I see value in this from a restomods perspective providing someone didn't have to rely on too many C2 parts to do a build. Reasonable entry price point but a high finished cost point is what I see.

I like what I see.