Fiberglass fenders and reduced vehilce value

[Don S]

I too have fibreglass fenders,have had since 1985. Always kept an eye out for steel ones but only found junk. A fellow a few miles away took a coupe like mine and widened the original steel fenders for huge tires. When he heard that mine were fibreglass he said that he wished he had known cause it would have been easier widening glass than steel. I wished I could have traded for his steel ones. On the subject of value,I had my coupe appraised a couple of years ago. The value was decreased by $2000 because of the fenders. Nothing to be concerned about. I have enjoyed my car for all these years and fooled a lot of people and judges,and have the trophies to proove it. By the way,I have quit looking for steel fenders.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

If my car had glass fenders & the "CROWD" pi**ed about them, I'd find a PERMANENT NEW "CROWD" for me & my DOG (Bitem'Dog!) Bill W.

[sturgis39]

I thought reproduction metal fenders and fiberglass fenders are about the same price.

[jdfinch22]

i have a late 31 bud steel top that all i have is the chassie and cab, i'll have to find fenders aprons running boards. i wanted to put repo steal on it but now that the wide bed is available i would be almost stuck with fiberglass or section narrow bed steal to make them fit. either way i'll probably never find origanal steel and deffendatly not for the the wide bed.

[Smurkey]

I found a "new"-uninstalled glass set on eBay for $200. That made my mind up for me.

The ones I got, though, don't have the flange around where they meet with the splash apron...hard to get a good fit there.

I would suggest if going with glass look for hand laid mat vs. sprayed-chopped mat.

[5window]

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Originally Posted by james.heider

Thanks for all your replys. My town sedan that I purchased in 1967 and sold in 1999 had original steel fenders and there was never any thought given to fiberglass. Since this is going to a nice driver, non show but well done car I think I will go with the fiberglass and when they put me 6' under then someone else can worry about the fenders.

Thanks Guys.

Wait, you're not being buried in the car?

[Ross/Kzoo]

Originally Posted by 5window

Wait, you're not being buried in the car?

Why? Is fiberglass carcinogenic?

[MikeK]

Buried in your car:LINK

[Flatout]

If glass fenders will reduce the value of your car, and you don't have steel ones, perhaps the value reduction would be less with NO fenders. My 31 roadster has nice welled fenders, but I want plain ones. In the mean time I'll run them without spares in them until someone wants to trade plain ones to me for them and the related hardware.

[H. L. Chauvin]

James,

One way to look at it.

Just suppose you met one of the most beautiful young girls in the entire State, got engaged, & planned your wedding.


A little later, you found out as a child she fell, broke most of her upper front teeth, & she now has false teeth instead of originals.


After knowing that she no longer meets "Original Human Anatomy Standards", would you ditch her?

Think about it.

[amodel25]

Only if I had planned to show her in points judging.

[MikeK]

Originally Posted by amodel25

Only if I had planned to show her in points judging.

Most girls in judging competitions are highly modified not stock!

[5window]

Originally Posted by Ross/Kzoo

Why? Is fiberglass carcinogenic?

Not post-mortem. In fact, it will hold up a lot longer underground than the steel, even Henry's.

[5window]

Originally Posted by H. L. Chauvin

James,

One way to look at it.

Just suppose you met one of the most beautiful young girls in the entire State, got engaged, & planned your wedding.


A little later, you found out as a child she fell, broke most of her upper front teeth, & she now has false teeth instead of originals.


After knowing that she no longer meets "Original Human Anatomy Standards", would you ditch her?

Think about it.

On the Ford barn it's teeth. On the HAMB,it would have been breasts! Is that the difference between restorers and hotroddders?

[hardtimes]

Originally Posted by MikeK

Most girls in judging competitions are highly modified not stock!

Ha, ha...just like most cars here,eh !
IMO, he should just use the fiberglass if they suit him and please himself. Like some here say..heck they even fooled judges !
BFB (before ford barn) I tried to be Flop...with a pair of early '30 henry front fenders. Well, most here probably know that I was also dealing with the fender extension on that year/model , which did not lend to making it easier. Not knowing what I was getting into and not having Fordbarn assets to help, I did these fenders...off of the roadster !
I thought about fiberglass back then and I found some and they were available cheap. But I thot...what would Henry do ...and I plowed on.
Hindsight being 20/20, I should have and now would use the glass fenders.
Yup, it's a driver and a fun one at that! Most of the guys rap their knuckles once on the top of the metal fender and by the sound...nod approvingly and they aren't even 'official' judges

[james.heider]

Thanks everybody for all the replys. Since this is going to be a nice drive it around town and have fun with it Victoria I have decided to just go ahead and use the fiberglass fenders. I am 65 years old, don't know how many years I have until I assume room temperature, so I will let the next owner deal with the fender issue
When my attorney son liquidates my estate he can list it however he wants to.

It has been a great discussion on the plus and minus of fiberglass and well worth the post.

Thanks
Jim

[Richard Wilson]

"Most of the guys rap their knuckles once on the top of the metal fender and by the sound...nod approvingly and they aren't even 'official' judges" quote hardtimes

I have a friend who had this happen while his Model A was on display at a local car show. The "rapper" told his friends "Listen to that. Ford sure used good steel back then." Idiot never had a clue that the fender was fiberglass.

[Mitch Bunkin in PA]

I have NOTHING AGAINST fibreglass. However, I'm getting a kick out of trying to include as many original things on my car as I can. For example,I finally found a restored pop-out ignition switch to replace my perfectly good non-original switch. No-one can see or tell, but I get a kick out of knowing it's there. For the same reason, I'm looking for an original dash light which no-one can really see!! Even though I'm happy I have metal fenders, I certainly have nothing against fibreglass.

[hardtimes]

Originally Posted by Richard Wilson

"Most of the guys rap their knuckles once on the top of the metal fender and by the sound...nod approvingly and they aren't even 'official' judges" quote hardtimes

I have a friend who had this happen while his Model A was on display at a local car show. The "rapper" told his friends "Listen to that. Ford sure used good steel back then." Idiot never had a clue that the fender was fiberglass.

Hey Richard,
LOL...and I've seen it happen myself, can not help but smile,eh
And, I see why some guys put signs on their car....'look but don't touch'...'how would YOU like me putting my hands on your lady' !

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by james.heider

Thanks everybody for all the replys. Since this is going to be a nice drive it around town and have fun with it Victoria I have decided to just go ahead and use the fiberglass fenders. I am 65 years old, don't know how many years I have until I assume room temperature, so I will let the next owner deal with the fender issue
When my attorney son liquidates my estate he can list it however he wants to.

It has been a great discussion on the plus and minus of fiberglass and well worth the post.

Thanks
Jim

Jim, Dog here, "ROOM TEMPERATURE" Now that's FUNNY! Maybe at 77, is why Ole' Bill keeps the house so HOT! WHEW! Buster T.