Will the Chinese make new E30 bodies?

[Vincenze]

There is a Chinese factory that makes entire bodies for popular classic cars like the AE86.
Apparently, their body parts are less rust-prone compared to original ones.

Will it make parts for German cars too?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBBZrjwqWZc

[Vincenze]

I heard that import tariffs on classic car parts should be low according to a special law, not what the president set.

[82eye]

the big time youtube guys bought an ae86 body from them and put it on the road. loads of fitment and panel / part aligning issues, and i don't think they were ever able to get a windshield into it. the final verdict was it is doable but be prepared to rework a bunch of stuff.

[rturbo 930]

From what little I've heard about these, it reflects the post above, they're not very good quality.

[Lovespeed]

I watched that video as well, pretty interesting, very controversial. It seems they've nailed the classic ford bronco body as one of them sold at auction for a hefty price. Would be a good option to chop up and use as a racecar instead of chopping up an original car.

[litu]

I hope they will start to make those and for good price so i can make my own custom widebody kit little easier, when i need whole rear side panel

[MrBurgundy]

Probably going to be way more expensive and shittier than a bmw roller

[varg]

I'm curious if these new bodies, particularly the Nissan Z bodies, are any better from a steel and coating perspective than original Zs, which are gorgeous but absolute crap when it comes to corrosion resistance. Even the california/desert cars wind up with hidden rust inside the hatch, rockers, etc, because they're so poorly corrosion proofed. If they do make E30s, I'd bet they're less rust resistant than the originals unless you get the new body dipped which is probably extremely expensive. Not that E30s are particularly rust resistant, from what I've seen.

[Vincenze]

the big time youtube guys bought an ae86 body from them and put it on the road. loads of fitment and panel / part aligning issues, and i don't think they were ever able to get a windshield into it. the final verdict was it is doable but be prepared to rework a bunch of stuff.

Kids have fun cutting and welding a $10,000 AE86 body, installing a Honda engine and transmission.
It seems that many aftermarket parts are available.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SXjEyasbBc

[Vincenze]

I'm curious if these new bodies, particularly the Nissan Z bodies, are any better from a steel and coating perspective than original Zs, which are gorgeous but absolute crap when it comes to corrosion resistance.

The video shows how they zinc plate body panels.

Making press dies and panels for Chinese cars is their main business.

[rturbo 930]

I'm curious if these new bodies, particularly the Nissan Z bodies, are any better from a steel and coating perspective than original Zs, which are gorgeous but absolute crap when it comes to corrosion resistance. Even the california/desert cars wind up with hidden rust inside the hatch, rockers, etc, because they're so poorly corrosion proofed. If they do make E30s, I'd bet they're less rust resistant than the originals unless you get the new body dipped which is probably extremely expensive. Not that E30s are particularly rust resistant, from what I've seen.

Part of the problem is just the design. Water and/or debris can get in, but not out, so it gets wet and doesn't dry out.

[varg]

The video shows how they zinc plate body panels.

Making press dies and panels for Chinese cars is their main business.

Yeah but just because they do it doesn't mean it's any good.

[lukeADE335i]

If they do, they should start punching out new e30 M3 bodies that incorporates a slightly rejigged firewall & front subframe to allow for rear sump engine fitment Would be great for building restomods without needing to carve up original e30s.

[82eye]

If they do, they should start punching out new e30 M3 bodies that incorporates a slightly rejigged firewall & front subframe to allow for rear sump engine fitment Would be great for building restomods without needing to carve up original e30s.

they use 2 unmodified cars to 3-d scan the original bodies. everything is based off that, they don't do any re-engineering, you'd still have to do any mods for the swap.

you wouldn't get the subframes with the shell. the subs have to be supplied by a donor car. the same as the big time guys had to do with the ae86.

[amarino]

He mentions in the video that Porsche 964 is next and rumored Mercedes 300 SL "Gullwing" after that. I bet if they were to do a BMW it would be a 2002 first. Also the chassis that Big Time got was the rushed prototype for SEMA.
It seems they are more established in the Bronco / Land Rover / Land Cruiser so wonder what those groups are saying about them: https://www.carbody.com/product/classic-car/

Also they do make some 3 Series body panels. Anyone have an E90 or newer and see how they fit after a fender bender? https://www.carbody.com/product/repl...-series-parts/