I think glas act was 30 or 31 anyways.....and not the best bodies to buy.

I believe Hortons carries Wescott - not Canadian

Interesting to hear Sarnia may be expanding from go carts and small parts. Have to give them a shout and see what's happening. Thanks for the tip.

A-Glass act, yeah I visited him after his last relocation and wasn't excited. Neat concept making the Model A three window "concept" car though. That was pretty cool idea, just wasn't into the molded drip rails, flush rounded doors...just a little to 80's for me. He treated me very nice so it was a nice visit. Not sure what happened to all the molds, etc. though. Anyone know?

I was just told Bear is now defunct aswell. Ramrod in Trenton was mentioned as well but I heard they are now the above mentioned Rod Action, truth or fiction?

My interest is more market research related then procurement.

Bear made a very good body as did RamRod. There was another lad in BC making glass bodies and pickle fork boats. The car bodies were not that good.

www.salespider.com/auto/ba-136266026/ramrod-fiberglass-reproductions

32 fords died when boyd did

If your research involves maybe putting one of these together some day you should have a look at what the boys at nova have been putting out .Different end product but a layup next to none . Just a few doors down from the ELTA boys in London. Impressive stuff. I have looked at whats being put together in your area unless they have stepped up in the last bit they don't come close.

After some phone calls and other info provided here's where it sits at this point

Glass Act - gone

No answer or VM available at Hiboys so I emailed them for info. - Pending

Rod Action is done - not sure who is supplier Speedway once the inventory runs out

Ramrod is Done

Bear moved to US but now done- sold molds to JW in the states

Sarnia - phone isn't working there. Tried the number listed and double checked. Out of service the recording said.

 

So that leaves us with not only zero confirmed manufacturers in Ontario but also Canada at this point. Interesting.

 

Sniper wrote:

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I just checked the phone book, and that is the number. If something happened, it must have happen quite recently. I'll see what I can find out.

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 Cool thanks!

 

I just heard from Speedway regarding Rod Action. Speedway has purchased all their tooling and will be producing them in house moving forward.

So that's another one officially gone from Canada.

Had to go into Sarnia late this afternoon so I made it a point to go by Sarnia Speed Center. One of the shop doors were open, seen a 23 T body in grey primer sitting outside. Didn't see anyone out or about though. All closed up when I was heading home at 5:15. Didn't appear to be as much action as there has been in the recent past. Didn't talk to anybody so that's about all I can add for now.

What he said !!^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

I stated before I was doing some market research, Guess I should elaborate a bit at this point. I have the molds to reproduce a '32 3w and wanted to see what the industry position was right now.

I've been in the restoration/repair business for quite a while but also spent almost 10yrs in the boat business including running a glass shop in the heart of Muskoka. I was VP of operations and spent a lot of time travelling to many manufacturers and seeing what works and doesn't (everything from Donzi-Correct-Craft-Tiari and quite a few others), spent too many hours on planes visiting factories in fact.

I've seen many bad reproductions and also some quite good ones and have a few ideas I feel which will produce an exceptional product. But I would love to hear any suggestions, perspectives and ideas, (Modfather ?!) We should have the first series pre-production model out by the new year, I'll let you know how it goes.

The Kijiji ad is a perfect example of what I do NOT want. A piece of glass with no structure, unassembled, not mounted to a frame sold to someone as a dream.

P.S. I miss Boyd too. ;o)

58Chev wrote:

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Reg,
I have read that Aussies make teriffic glass bodies. Apparently very heavily Gov regulated. Lots of structural components in them.

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 These seem to be the boys making headlines right now eh?

http://www.deucecustoms.com.au/index.html

 

Ram Rod folded years ago. All there molds were sold off in a bank auction.

 

 

Playin Hookie wrote:

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I believe Hortons carries Wescott - not Canadian

Interesting to hear Sarnia may be expanding from go carts and small parts. Have to give them a shout and see what's happening. Thanks for the tip.

A-Glass act, yeah I visited him after his last relocation and wasn't excited. Neat concept making the Model A three window "concept" car though. That was pretty cool idea, just wasn't into the molded drip rails, flush rounded doors...just a little to 80's for me. He treated me very nice so it was a nice visit. Not sure what happened to all the molds, etc. though. Anyone know?

I was just told Bear is now defunct aswell. Ramrod in Trenton was mentioned as well but I heard they are now the above mentioned Rod Action, truth or fiction?

My interest is more market research related then procurement.

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 Rod Action is in Quebec city. They make a really good body and guarantee a 3 week delivery from date of order or at least they used to. 

not as drunk as you thinkle peep I am wrote:

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Anyone making glass '32's in Ontario anymore?


now that youre getting answers to that question i think the next obvious question would be - why are all those companies no longer in business?

if there is no or very little demand for the product it might not be a business worth getting into. if there IS a demand for a 'quality' product (unlike 'A Glass Act bodies IMO), the cost to create the product (time, materials, overhead, profit) must be competetive with the american produced bodies that are available or canadians will simply purchase from the states.

the fact that so many ontario based glass body manufacturers are no longer in business isnt very comforting ......

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 The status of ALL Canadian manufacturing is not comforting at all. Let's face it, free trade moved everything a little south, our stuff to the US and the US stuff to Mexico BUT what I have found in my inquiries to each of these now defunct or relocated companies seems to be age. Owners were either small production, sole proprietor operations with little to no staff, no succession planning, etc. Now whether this is a statement of the growth potential of the industry or the business experience of those generally entering this industry is unclear.