[jims69camaro]

awesome, attention-grabbing headline, right? i thought so too, but i've seen how the mags tend to hype even the smallest detail on a new idea that i've become accustomed to them and even ignore them to some extent.

this changed with the new issue of Hot Rod, however. the story behind the headline is huge. complete firstgen bodies in a crate, available for worldwide shipping. the article isn't available online yet, or i would include a link.

think about that for a minute. no more searching endlessly for a near-rust-free body. no more searching endlessly for NOS rust-free replacement body parts. no more worrying about 35 year-old sheet metal - you just know rust is lurking somewhere under the paint.

they haven't begun shipping yet, but as i understand it there are over 100 orders for a body in a crate already. this is going to change how firstgens are builtup. now, all you need to do is find a car with some semblance of an interior and drivetrain and you're off and running. the potential for this is huge. imagine getting a clean, epoxy-primered '67 mustang (next on the list) or a '70 'cuda. it literally will change how restorations are done.

a small note: the current bodies are convertibles. not that it's a bad thing. but full roof cars are a ways off. and it won't take much to turn them into firebirds, or even prior year cars ('69 is the current body style). the bodies are going to ship without a front clip, as most cars get improvements of some type in the front suspension anyway. i think it will be offered in the future - to receive your body with the front clip intact with the improvements you want to make, kind of like having your order tailored to fit your needs. and the price tag, a modest $12000, is a breakthrough, as well. you cannot find all of the body pieces, including floor pan, NOS or otherwise for that price. there is even talk of a turn-key car being available in the neighborhood of $40000.

further, they are in negotiations with GM for licensing. as of right now, they cannot call the bodies "Camaro" due to the licensing issues. they want to be able to deliver the car to you with a VIN - saves a lot of hassle when you go to title/register/insure.

i feel that this will bring new people into the firstgen world. those that gave up on finding a clean car to work with will have it, those that know what's involved in rust replacement won't have those worries. and being able to just drop in whatever drivetrain you want with little to no hassle will open this up to people who never even thought about owning a firstgen.

this changes everything. indeed.