1970-73 tailpanel repop
 

I spoke to a well known vender last week who was looking seriously into getting the '70-'73 tailpanel repopped. One of the hangups is trying to guage the demand for this. He is concerned since he will be putting up the money to get it done and have to give up an NOS panel to be used as a model for the tooling. He figures if there is enough demand to do a run of at least 500, the price could be around $300-$400. If not, a smaller run would make the price much higher. If the demand isn't there, it likely wouldn't be done, at least by him.

On the surface, it seems like a high demand product, however, only about 100 of the '74-'78 tailpanels have been sold so far. Those appeared to be high demand at the time they were done too.

He doesn't frequent these boards much, but I mentioned I would put a post out there to get some feedback. Also, I am adding a poll to try to get a count of how many here need one and would be buyers assuming it is a correctly done, high quality product. Vote each time for each panel you would need (if you need more than one).

Do you mean the metal structural panel with the rear valance or the plastic panel between the tail lights?

The metal structural panel with the rear valance.

The cost of this could be cut considerably by only doing the panel from the bumper attaching bolt holes down. If your car is so shot that it is rusted up to tail lights the car most likely needs way more than a tail panel.

I would probable buy three or four of them for some of my project cars.

I would buy one if the quality was good!

The lower panel below the bumper is a good idea as it should work for the Camaro guys too (= more sales). :Peace: The inner panel below the bumper should be done also since they both rust out together. The inner panel should be an easy part to repop.

It would only let me vote one time. I would buy two or three. I think it would be a very worthwhile venture and I cant understand why it wasnt done before the 74 up style. I would be happy to pay that much if it was good quality. A cheaper partial panel to replace the area below the bumper would also be a big hit. Please keep us posted.

I did ask him why he did the '74-'78 style before the '70-73s. He said he thought the demand would be bigger since there were more years covered and more cars made = much bigger audience. IMO - I am not sure that translates 1-for-1 into demand.

I'd buy one if the quality was good as the other members have suggested. I have a hard time believing only 100 of those 74-78 panels have sold. I will be buying one for my '76 now that I have it stripped down to bare metal.

As much as I would like to have them make the complete panel I think if they made a panel for under the back bumper they would sell more and be cheaper and they are different than the Camaro ones.

I'm with Norwood & weranc55:
The lower rear valance ( mid-bumper to tailpipes)will outsell the complete tail panel by 10 to one.
Proceeds from the sale of the "short" lower panel will offset the cost & smaller sales potential of the "full" panel.
90% of the 70-73's out there could benefit from a NEW lower section & the RAM AIR IV guys can buy the FULL panel.
This keeps everybody happy!

I would not put a repop on a ra4 no matter how good it is. Then again I would have a hard time putting a NOS one on a ra3 especially if it was a non # matching car.

It appears there's TWO of these panels on Ebay currently & they are BOTH claiming to be NOS.
One of the sellers deals in repro parts,but emblems,not sheetmetal.

Reproductions? I wonder?

Perhaps just a coincidence.

http://cgi.ebay.com/NOS-GM-70-71-72-...QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/1970-1973-70-71-...QQcmdZViewItem

The first one is at 1000.00 & reserve is not met.
Will be interesting to see where it ends. 4 days left!

I need two, if anyone cares.

Agreed-

I'd be interested in one also and i know of 2 other guys here in The Netherlands who would like one also.
When will you know if he proceed's with his idea?

Daan Holman
The Netherlands

He would like to find a partner or two to go in with. It is an expensive venture for one individual to take the risk on, not knowing what the ultimate demand will be. I will probably call him in a few weeks to see if there is any progress on initiating it.

Ended today at over $1900.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NOS-G...36663558QQrdZ1

My car does not need the whole panel, just the lower section. But I would probably buy a complete panel for a spare it they were nice, considering what the NOS one just sold for on ebay.

I'd much rather replace a body panel at the spot weld seams than hack'in and tac'in a patch panel in.

Rear panels
 

I would buy one.Maybe what we need to do is put are money where are mouths are and help this project out financially.I know we all have money in vested in parts just waiting to be used "someday".By the way the problem with the 74-81 rear panel selling slow is that you also need the rear cross brace as this rusts at the same time as the rear panel.If anyone has an NOS rear cross brace for 74-81 or a back section of a 74 Firebird that is clean or knows of anyone reproing this part (I was sure someone was making these and saw it in a Camaro catologe) please PM me.

I think there is a real market for the 70-73 tail panel.

The reason the 74-81 is not a big seller is because so many used/junked sources are available.

If I keep my 72 TA I will need one to fix it as well as it deserves. so I would as of right now buy one, 4 of my cars will go due to an upcoming army deployment.

Another reason for the early car panels
 

My lower panel is not rusted, but the poor thing has been hit several times. It will require removal to pound the damage out. Many folks may just replace a beat up one, instead of to trying to save one that's as ugly as mine. The later cars the panel is covered and it can be patched up without being pretty.

68bird, I sent u a pm.

Replied to your PM. thanks.

It's been about 2 years so I take it this is not going to happen... :(

Yeah, as far as I know, it never got off the ground. Hopefully someone else will see the light and git 'er done.

I need a lower panel as well- got rear ended by a ricer, insurance paid me, but all the body shops wanted to do was pull the dent out and bondo. Been waiting for a replacement panel ever since.

Geno

OK. So how much does this cost to tool this up?

My 70.5 needs just the lower part, it seems Stevie Wonder learned his back up skillz in my car..
The panel has those screw holes all the way across it from pulling the dents and had over and inch of putty it it..
Id like a new lower but SEMA is getting closer everyday..

Id like to see the drop offs done also.. mice made a nest in my car in the dr side rear lower quarter panel and the drop off rusted out..
I have made a panel for it and its real close buuuut Id like the real thing..
Mine has the 2 drain holes in each side..

Allright next question...Who has an NOS one?

I do, but I need it for my 73......unless It can help get new ones made, But don't it ruin the part making new dies? :oogle:

Figures. I just spent 8 hours today digging out about a gallon of filler our of mine and you guys are now talking about a repo. I figure I have about another day with the stud welder to go. FWIW, I would only be interested in the lower half as many have indicated.

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/h...oneypit113.jpg

I've spoken with jorge; he would do a rear panel or quarter panel just needs an nos one to start off of. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MGA-N...Q5fAccessories

Partial quarters are already being done but the quality is very low, as is the price. I'd seriously pay as much as $600 for a partial quarter that was just as good as cutting the same material off a factory car. It would be worth it for the time saved and better end result over the current $150 POS.

Ok lets put WWilder9 together with Jorge.....

I have an NOS tail panel as well, but I would have to be absolutely assured that it would NOT be damaeged or lost if it were to be used for a pattern.

[email protected]
(713) 664-5118

Craig-
I have a NOS one as well.. Same as LLoyd.. I need if for future project, so would have to be absolutely assured no destruction..

the other question, (jorge) and one i didn't ask him, is how much would one cost?? i was talking quarters panels with him. He's a nice guy, answers the phone himself would be worth a follow up to find out what would happen to the NOS one and what he would charge for them if it were to happen.

I still think that if they just did the lower portion he would selll all he could make for the first couple of months. The Upper part will be the hard part to do, the lower ( bumper bolts and below) I think would be no problem and probobly a third of the cost. SOMEONE CALL JORGE

If these were made with quality in mind , I would buy at least 2 and have one for backup. I myself would buy inner panels too if available.

heck,,just a lower[beneith the bumper] skin would be great! the camero one runs about 40-50 bucks.to bad it doesnt fit.

I might have bought one this week if it it was repoped my tail lamp openings and sides by the trunk gutters were completed rusted due to long time ago leaks. My trunk however is mint.

I am forced to cut out some sheet metal, cut, bend and piece it together.

My lower panel and lower inner is perfect.

That was the only surprise on the whole car

Some how there has got to be a way to reproduce this panel. Luckily the tail lamp areas on these cars are not real intricate Or I would have been dead in the water

Kinda like the 65 GTO rear body panel would be easy to do but they do not do it, but they do 66, 67 kinda wierd

I'll take one from the rear bumper bolts down. I need it in the next few weeks. The lower section would be a easy sell. I agree with Norwood that if the upper section is gone, your car is pretty far gone. I have 2-'73 bodies, and 1-'71. All of them need the lower section. Also, you can get by with some imperfections on the upper section since it is covered by the fiberglass panel.

Go Ahead Make One....I will buy it.

-Later

I would buy the whole thing if it was available even though all I really need is the upper section (tail light area)

I'm heading to SEMA in the next few weeks and I'm considering looking into possible panel production as it sounds like there is a demand for the product......

However, I'd like to play devils avocate here and ask the following:

Is all this back and forth about how to make it cheeper (by doing a half panel) showing framentation of a limited market exactly why manufactures are nervious???


They likely see us paying approximately $1,500to 1,800 for NOS then questioning $600 for new parts...If we're paying mid to heigh teens $$$ for NOS,,, or buying cars for the panel..... Are we second guessing the true demand & value/s of the panel if we're questioning 1/3 of the current cost is an acceptable price for a "brand new" part?????

If we're going to get anyone invest in this biz venture,,, how can we show them they'll be supported (at the $600 level guestimated minimum price given the thread poll).....

Many of the very bodies these panels would be produced for have been tweeked or hit over the years (or plain twisted from hp and time),,,is this a factor/reluctance on manufactures part given likely fit issues???

Also how is someone going to guage quality???? Will it be fit on your specific car (your car,, tweeked or otherwise) ,,,,,,, or will it be guage of steel???? I guess the biggest question is what will constitue quality/value to each buyer???

lastly, Would it be cause for concern if someone really considered produceing a part for roughly 1/3 of the current NOS market replacement cost and found out the market was questioning the percieved value,,,would "you as an individual" have the fortitude proceed to invest and take the chance???

Anyways, all interesting food for thought and impute...

Some good points Tazz. Is it your guestamate that the panel would fetch $600 or did I miss something in the posts. $300-$400 is what I had in mind. Even then, when a quarter skin is only around $100 they should be able to Repop the tail panel for less than $300. That being said, For $300 I would buy one.

My appology,,,, I thought it stated $600 in this threads "members poll" as the target price. I have no current idea of what a tail panel will cost.

The main focus of my trip to SEMA is to meet with wheel and rim manufactures to discuss the 17" Honeycomb style wheels and limited production runs...

The secondary focus was going to be discusing the manufacturing of a 70-81 Trans am fender/s,,,, so I guess discussing a tail panel wouldn't be a reach given the companies I'll be sitting with....