Image Auto Works

Havasudude · #1 (**permalink**) 12-27-2002, 10:00 PM

Anyone doing business with Image Auto Works/Boyd Coddington (Don Borders)?
Paid my deposit for a complete body approx 5 months ago after eyeing John Pfaffmann's silver snake at Knotts. Quality was superior, but I think I smell something starting to turn rotten!
Anyone placed orders?

bmalone · #2 (**permalink**) 12-27-2002, 10:44 PM

Do a search on this topic. Should make you feel better.

NRP/MN · #3 (**permalink**) 12-29-2002, 09:18 AM

I've been trying to get a price for a body and have no luck! I have a bare Contemporary frame and would like a high end body for it. If you gave a deposit, you must have an total price-how bad is it?
Supposedly the bodies are built in Austrailia.

Tom T. · #4 (**permalink**) 12-29-2002, 10:25 AM

Mike,

Supposedly Factory Five is selling Contemporary bodies now.

TT

computerworks · #5 (**permalink**) 12-29-2002, 10:28 AM

http://www.factoryfive.com/table/wha...temporary.html

NRP/MN · #6 (**permalink**) 12-29-2002, 11:16 AM

The body Peter Bayer offered (former owner of Contemporary) had full floor pans, foot boxes , trunk and the doors, hood and deck were hinged and fit. The shell offered by FFR is not complete enough to be mounted on a Contemporary frame. The frame is very much like a round tube Mid-states or an Everett-Morrison. I think the simililarity is more than a coincidence. Both Mid-States and Everett-Morrison are a very heavy body. The original bodies from Peter also had a 270 degree wrap on the edges. The new Cobra vendor in Iowa also has a body that fits this frame. I do have his phone number and was going to call him about a lighter composite body for this frame.

wtcobra · #7 (**permalink**) 12-29-2002, 12:20 PM

What is the name of the new Cobra vendor in Iowa that makes a Contemporary body. FFR just makes a outer skin, with no doors, hood , trunk or sub structure glassed into the tub. I also thought FFR skin was rather pricey compared to what a complete body from Contemporary used to sell for new. Try Bill Connolly at Upstate Replica cars he may be able to help you or perhaps splash new Contemporary bodies if the interest was there, and if Borders is not doing them after all. Don Borders does do fantastic work and his Contemporaries were as good as any replica done in glass.

wt

A Snake · #8 (**permalink**) 12-29-2002, 02:18 PM

I wouldn't worry about Image going sour. Boyd Coddington has plenty of money for such a venture.

As to Don Borders, I've talked to him. He is serious about what he is doing. If there are concerns about delivery time, I'd suggest calling him and finding out what's up.

I'd also ask about the bodies he does. since he's doing a round tube Contemporary type chassis, I'd be willing to bet one of his bodies will fit that Contemporary frame with little or no changing.

The picture above makes me wonder a bit about how FFR is doing the knockoff bodies. When I got mine, it had the head lights and park lights cut out and the mold lines or seams had no work done. Mine also had the floor pan, trunk bottom, front inner fenders andfoot boxes. Methinks the FFR piece would be tough to do much with, unless the buyer has deep pockets.

Keep in mind, the Contemporary body doesn't fasten to the frame on the extreme outside edges. Without the internals already glassed together, there is no way to even use the FFR body. To me, it's a joke.

Talk to Don

Al

Jeff Frigo · #9 (**permalink**) 12-29-2002, 02:43 PM

A Snake:

Boyd Coddington has gone bankrupt once already. Hopefully it won't happen again.

NRP/MN · #10 (**permalink**) 12-29-2002, 02:55 PM

WT- The company in Iowa is Power Performance. Mark, the glass man used to lay-up Everett-Morrison's bodies. They advertise in Kit Car.
A-Snake -The bodies are actually assembled from various molded parts( i.e. the floor pan, trunk). What FFR is offering is only the outer shell. This will service anyone who needs crash parts for a Contemporary but is only part of the original body Peter offered.

A Snake · #11 (**permalink**) 12-29-2002, 08:38 PM

Jeff,

Shows how much attention I pay to the hot rod industry. Didn't know they had gone TU before. I retract my assurances based on financial strength.

I do think that if Don gets a fighting chance at Image, the car he's producing will be very welcome in the market.

NRP/MN,

I'm well aware of how Peter did his bodies. I had one. Yours is about 1 to 2 years older than mine. (note # in my byline) Nice as they are, I still spent 15K fixing what he DIDN'T do right and putting a Concours quality finish on the car. I also scrapped his junky seats, steering wheel and crappy stainless bumpers in favor of OEM type pieces.

I also argued with the dummy about putting the door latches on upside down! The silly A$$ told me they wouldn't stay closed mounted right side up!

My comment on FFR's body stands. Crash parts? OK. Other wise it isn't good for anything without the internals. Worth less with out doors, hood and trunk lid. Any crash serious enough to wrinkle up the nose or rear quarters beyond the abilities of an expert fiber glass repair shop, is going to take out the hinged parts too.

I just don't want to see someone new to Cobra replicas, think they can make a car out of it.

I also want to see Don get a fair shake with the superb new car Image is putting out.

BTW, Don has fixed most of the little buggaboos that Contemporary had.

Al

Havasudude · #12 (**permalink**) 12-30-2002, 01:58 PM

Just talked to Don Borders, My body will be in on Thursday AM, I will P/U by noon!
Life is good again!

wtcobra · #13 (**permalink**) 12-30-2002, 07:56 PM

Havasu-please post some photos of your new body when you get it. I would like to see what it looks like.

wtcobra