"Body in White"

Lukesportsman · 07-07-2013, 08:37 AM

I know those of you living on West Coast might think this crazy with the cars you have to pick from, but.......

I have seen a few vendors still listing some body styles available in "body in white".

1st do they still exist?

2nd has anyone investigated doing this? It's common place with the more corrosion prone cars like XKE, MGB, and Mustangs. I found listings from as practical as $14k to low $30's depending on body style

What are the thoughts here?

If your wondering the motivation of my thoughts.....DE in rain and near big drama.

Lukesportsman · 07-09-2013, 05:47 PM

Is this a lack of:

*knowledge
*interest
*need

Does it just not exist or do people still prefer to restore rather than replace? I'm not suggesting its not worthy of restoring, or that its truly completely cost effective, but is it an option? People are again and again parting out their 'loves" upon a write off. If it could be rebuilt better than new????

dad911 · 04:37 AM

Pelican Parts - Automotive Parts and Accessories - Porsche & BMW

Available from Pelican for $8700, probably doesn't qualify for free shipping

Edit: I meant to point out that the various bodies, if you can find the part number on PET, are often listed. I don't remember anyone actually trying, or successfully ordering one.

Some day I'll walk into a dealership and try.....

Lukesportsman · 07-09-2013, 06:15 PM

Best price I've seen yet. Value is dependent on which panels are/ are not included. Considering Mustangs sell for $18-20k...... seems like a viable solution to get a "new" air cooled car. Yes I realize you can have a garage full of 996's for this, but that's never the point!

Rich76_911s · Rich76_911s's Garage

I'm really doubting that is a real price. If it is real they aren't available. Too many people have spent considerably more than that repairing rusty 911's. If it is real I wasted a lot of energy and time over the last 10 years.

Elombard · 07-09-2013, 06:36 PM

I would of thought I would of read about a body in white resto in one of the mags. Surely these are not really available?

djwhite · 07-09-2013, 06:51 PM

"body in white" means the factory pulls a shell off the assembly line before paint and drivetrain/trim goes in. This is typically done for race teams to purchase via the motorsports division. Think cup cars and grand am.... You will not get a body in white from prior years unless its a leftover. Can't imagine what an early 911 would fetch....

Elombard · 07-09-2013, 07:09 PM

dj did you click the link? Pelican says they can get them...

boba · 07-09-2013, 07:26 PM

My familiarity with body in white comes from the motorsport world. It was used in two contexts. First was a complete car delivered for motorsport, it would be built without undercoat or seam sealer. It was usually a option delete car, with things left off that only made sense for motorsport. It would have sport purpose options. Back in 1984 we got one of five 944's Joe Hoppen had delivered for the new at that time IMSA Firehawk series.
The second context was also from motorsport, and was a replacement tub for a race car which had been crashed. You would take all the parts off the wrecked car and move them over to the new tub. In order to order one of these tubs you needed to be in the system, send in the vin tag off the wrecked car with your order. The tub would be delivered with the vin tag in place. Evidence of the wrecked tub was also required. Many years ago the process was much more informal. I remember just calling and saying we needed a tub an it would be shipped. At least with Porsche and Audi the process got much more formal, tighter, this coresponded with the time of the GT3 and club racing. Previously the teams were known and incidents documented within a series. With the advent of private country club tracks and the factories selling track cars to non-motorsport individuals the need to better control spare tubs. Don't want people building cars out of spare parts. You would be surprised at the parts that are "used up" and thrown in the dumpster.

I do not know the current state of the "body in white" program but would think there would be some requirements for vin documentation. The part #'s listed do not indicate which models are in the program. Would love it if they did longhoods, but I suspect only newer models.

djwhite · 07-09-2013, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elombard

dj did you click the link? Pelican says they can get them...

I did. They are in the Pelican catalogue becasue they are listed in the porsche parts catalogue. That does not mean they are available or can be ordered by anyone.

porschenut · 07-09-2013, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djwhite

I did. They are in the Pelican catalogue becasue they are listed in the porsche parts catalogue. That does not mean they are available or can be ordered by anyone.

Correct. Pelican also lists a brand new air cooled 930/21 engine for your 84-86 Carrera for only $40,620:

Pelican Parts - Automotive Parts and Accessories - Porsche & BMW

Note that the description says "availability and shipping charges may vary", meaning that listing the part and the price doesn't mean they exist.

Cooper911SC · 07-09-2013, 09:04 PM

When you see parts pricing and info like this it means that was the last *available* price the part sold for, or last listing from Porsche. Hence the part "availability and pricing may differ" disclaimer.

Also, if you have the latest version of PET you can see if the part is *N* Use last of available stock on hand, or *E* No longer available

Nice thought about buying old bodies in white though!

Indeed a chassis is an expendable part with a certain life cycle. Esp. in Motorsport.

Cooper

Lukesportsman · 07-10-2013, 03:19 AM

I did not see any long hoods for sale, LOL. I did run across a few body styles like 87-89 and 964 turbo bodies listed at a few vendors. Some were listed as NLA, but not all the coupe bodies. It just got me thinking and wondering how accurate these lists were.

Since some were and some were not labeled as such, it just got me thinking. Didn't do any calling as I'm in midst of a restoration currently.

GeorgeK · 07-10-2013, 03:49 AM

The factory only sells bodies in white of the current produciton cars.

daleflesburg · 07-10-2013, 04:50 AM

I am of the opinion that GeorgeK is correct. In 1974 my parts book listed a 914 body in white, and they were available from the dealer. They were not cheap, and would only make sense for a race car constructor, or for someone with a basket case. Most of us were better off buying a complete car. By 1978 the 914 body in white was NLA. I know, as I tried to buy one. It would have made my restoration job a whole lot more enjoyable. As you know, most 914s in the midwest which were driven in the winter were falling in half after about 5 or 6 years.