Salvaging or installing new panels depends on the car and the quality of the parts available

In the collision repair environment, the subject of whether to repair or replace panels or components is a critical one, since it can make a big difference to the outcome of the repair, as well as vendor and customer satisfaction, not to mention revenue for the shop. In the realm of classic cars, specifically restoration, whether a panel can be repaired or replaced can also be applied, though it depends on a range of factors.

Vehicle condition
At Howe Motor Works, a prominent Canadian classic car restoration specialist facility in Burlington, Ontario, proprietor Cameron Howe says whether panels can be repaired or need to be replaced boils down to firstly, the condition of the vehicle and its bodywork, secondly, whether replacement panels are in fact available, and thirdly the quality and types of parts available.

“Often, with aftermarket reproduction parts, you need to be careful as some are better than others,” says Howe. He notes that there are often cases where a restoration shop will order reproduction parts only to find out that they don’t fit properly. Then the decision has to be made whether it is worth spending hours to modify the panel to fit properly, or whether it is worth trying to salvage the original or trying to obtain one from a southern or western parts car that’s solid. Sometimes, NOS (New Old Stock) items can be found, but they tend to be very expensive and often bring with them their own set of issues.

Market demand
Also, the type of vehicle being restored tends to have a big impact on whether panels can be replaced or need to be salvaged. Howe notes that vehicles like Tri-Five (1955-56-57 Chevrolets and American muscle cars from the 1960s and early 1970s tend to be very well represented in the restoration aftermarket. “You can buy all kinds of parts for these vehicles,” he says, “anything from patch panels to full quarters, fenders, doors, hoods, even full reproduction body shells in some cases.” For these types of vehicles, it tends to be far more economical to buy replacement parts than trying to salvage the originals. Wes Nielsen, Sourcing and Parts Manager for Original Parts Group (OPG) concurs.

OPG, headquartered in Seal Beach, California, has been around for 43 years and currently offers more than 85,000 reproduction parts, including its RESTOPARTS line, of ultra-high quality General Motors restoration parts designed specifically to meet the needs of the classic car restoration market.

Expanded range
Nielsen says that while the 1964-72 Chevy Chevelles (OPG’s original and still most popular line) continues to have very healthy demand in the restoration market , OPG has expanded its range to cover a wider range of classic GM vehicles, including Buick, Oldsmobile and Pontiac muscle cars such as the GS, 4-4-2 and GTO, as well as full-size GM cars such as classic 1960s and early 1970s Cadillacs, Buicks, Oldsmobiles and Pontiacs, plus the 1978-88 GM A/G-body cars and most recently the rear-engine Chevrolet Corvair.

Nielsen says that over time, reproduction parts availability has continued to improve, driven by market demand as well as new manufacturing techniques. “We’ve seen a big increase in the last few years due to 3D scanning and printing technology which has enabled us to bring new parts to market and reduce the time necessary at the R&D stage.”

A good starting point
Back at Howe Motor Works, Cameron Howe says that even when it comes to muscle cars, the restoration aftermarket is often the best place to start when bring them back to life. “Many of these cars are now more than 50 years old, and it’s just very difficult to find an original, rust-free example. Many of them weren’t put together that well and were only designed to last around five years, so body panels and rockers weren’t properly rust proofed or protected and that’s only gotten worse over time. So, often, your best option today is to find good quality reproduction parts.”