Expert: William Forster - 4/1/2007

Question
I am dying to purchase a new car.  But, I am reluctant because new car bodies are made of fiberglass.  Minor accidents cause them to tear or fall off the frame. Is it possible to custom make the same model I want out of metal?  What are the pros and cons of fiberglass vs. metal?  

Answer
Latosha, most cars are still made of plastic and steel. I don't know where you got the idea they are all fiberglass, fiberglass is seldom used in car body construction these days. Plastic is here to stay because of it's light weight, and ability to be molded to just about any shape. To try to custom make panels out of steel to replace, say, plastic bumper covers, would be next to impossible, and cost a fortune. To give you some idea, hand made cars like Ferraris', START at over 100,000.00. They contain a truck load of fiberglass and aluminum, because of it's ease of use, light weight, and ability to be shaped. Unless you are independently wealthy, and are good friends with a world class builder like Chip Foose or Boyd Coddington, no way are you going to be able to find anyone to even  ATTEMPT what you suggest. You will wind up walking away with the body shop staff shaking their heads and snickering as you leave. About the closest thing to what you want would be a pickup truck, they are mostly steel, even the bumpers. There is still some plastic to be found, though. Bill