Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22791 Location: UK

Evening all

What are your thoughts on the use of replacement panels made from GRP, when the originals would have been steel?

Where steel replacements aren't available, then GRP is better than nothing I suppose, but apart from on a daily user - on which non-rusting panels might actually be a plus point - I'm not a fan, as they rarely seem to fit right.

RJ
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ukdave2002 · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4242 Location: South Cheshire

The front valance on the MGA is fiberglass Shocked

I do have a couple of steel ones, but fitted a fiberglass one because the valance is very vulnerable to stone chips , the steel ones can soon look shoddy. it's mainly hidden behind the bumper, so difficult to see

No one has spotted it yet or perhaps everyone has been to polite to comment! I woulnt fit a fiberglass wing.

Dave

Bitumen Boy · Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2015 7:04 pm Post subject:

I replaced the front and rear valances on my Herald with fibreglass and will be doing the "sills" likewise at some point, though repro steel versions are readily available. Firstly, I couldn't afford the steel ones at the time, and secondly, they're such salt traps that it seemed madness to fit steel ones on a car that sees regular year round use - the amount of time every year that I spent on trying to keep the old ones looking halfway respectable you wouldn't believe. Rick is right though, the fit is pretty hopeless and they took a lot of fettling to get them something like right, but for saying that I've never regretted my choice. Mind you the rest of the car is far from perfect... Smile

Riley Blue · Joined: 18 Jun 2008 Posts: 1751 Location: Derbyshire

My only concern would be the different way they might behave in the event of an accident. Other than that, fit them if you prefer to.
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David

1963 Riley 1.5
1965 Riley 1.5

clan chieftain · Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Posts: 2041 Location: Motherwell

I have seen fibreglass wings on an Ital which were made properly and you wouldnt have known the difference. Surely fitting fibreglass panels loses the strength of the car especially in the event of an accident. Would you have to inform your insurance company you were fitting fibreglass panels?
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The Clan Chieftain

Ashley · Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 1426 Location: Near Stroud, Glos

Likewise I've seen a few Rover P4s with really good solid fibreglass wings. The only problem I can see with them is concours judges etc getting sniffy about originality.

I love 541s and CV8s too, all except the petrol bill. Sad

peppiB · Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2015 10:17 am Post subject:

If the fibreglass parts are not structural then the integrity of the vehicle should not be affected.

Rear wings on this retoration (9 years since I did it) were non metallic

Rootes75 · Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2015 10:42 am Post subject:

I have grp rear wings on my Ford 7W, you cannot tell the difference. There's no harm in my view if originals aren't available.
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Various Rootes Vehicles.

Riley Blue · Joined: 18 Jun 2008 Posts: 1751 Location: Derbyshire

Here's something to make you think about originality; have a read of this link:

https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-registration/radically-altered-vehicles

Pay particular attention to the 'Keep the original registration number' section in Part 8.

There's a good discussion going on the Austin Seven Friends website:
http://pub25.bravenet.com/forum/static/show.php?usernum=2099944454&frmid=5&msgid=994876&cmd=show

I've read that as a result of this, two Bugattis now have 'Q' plates.
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David

1963 Riley 1.5
1965 Riley 1.5

peter scott · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7215 Location: Edinburgh

ukdave2002 · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4242 Location: South Cheshire

I don't have a problem with the DVLA removing a vehicles identity because its been radically altered, they are not after folk who have made repairs with the odd fibreglass panel, and they specifically accept that repairs to unsafe and damaged components have to be made with components that are not as old as the original vehicle.

What they are trying to filter out is stuff like this Mini Van currently on Ebay that allegedly comes with a V5 Shocked

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Classic-1971-Mini-Van-remains-Tax-Exempt-not-pickup-/221807021482?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item33a4ba8daa

Dave

mikeC · Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2015 11:03 am Post subject:

This is causing concern amongst a wide variety of old car communities; imagine the panic that is being shown amongst the hot-rod boys!

Unfortunately DVLA is not being transparent or consistent with its handling of the situation; many resurrected old cars should come under the Category 5 requirements, which basically means you need to have retained the original chassis frame or monocoque bodyshell, or alternatively Category 10 which relates to reconstructed cars which require the majority of parts to be over 25 years old.

There are now several instances of old cars with new bodies being rejected by DVLA even though they meet the DVLA's own published requirements. DVLA is requiring the vehicles to have their original identities defaced or removed, and a new VIN number applied - which is tantamount to instigating a fraud and is technically illegal! If these vehicles were ever to come on the open market, they would certainly have been rendered unsaleable to overseas markets...

ukdave2002 · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4242 Location: South Cheshire

Penman · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4866 Location: Swindon, Wilts.

ukdave2002 · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4242 Location: South Cheshire

I know of a historic works rally car, that was rebuild around a 12" section of the chassis... It's worth a fortune.

It was rebuilt using donor parts from the right period, as such it would be virtually impossible to prove that it's not really the original car, but the fact remains that bar a 1 foot box section and a chassis plate it's far from the original car , but a cracking replica.

Dave