While the Dennis Carpenter reproduction 1940 Ford coupe took center stage at this year’s SEMA show, it wasn’t the only reproduction Ford body to debut last week. Over in the Dynacorn booth, the company best known for its reproduction Mustang and Camaro bodies introduced its new first-generation Bronco reproduction body shell.
While work on the reproduction body shells has been in progress for the last year-plus, and Dynacorn has already developed an extensive line of reproduction Bronco sheetmetal, it wasn’t until late last month that Dynacorn received its first fully assembled reproduction Bronco body. According to James Liapis, who handles the reproduction body shell program for Dynacorn, the company’s reproduction Bronco parts sales have been strong, so releasing a full body was the next logical step.
“Ford initially asked us to do this about three to four years ago, and we’re going through the licensing process with them right now,” Liapis said. “This body we have now is our prototype, and it’s now out with RNA Motorsports in Missouri, which is making sure that everything fits on the body, something we need to do to get it officially licensed.”
Liapis said that Dynacorn, working with Muscle Car GT in Taiwan (the same company stamping the panels for the reproduction 1940 Ford body), developed all new tooling for the 1966-1976 Bronco body, incorporating the best features from the various years. For instance, the removable hardtop roofs will feature the wider braces used on early first-generation Broncos, while the fender aprons will include the notches for power steering systems as used on later first-gen Broncos. According to Liapis, Muscle Car GT will handle all the stamping and assembly work in Taiwan, using slightly thicker sheetmetal (between 16 and 18 gauge) than originally used (18 gauge).
The bodies will include the folding windshield and removable hardtop features seen on the 1966-1968 Broncos, but will not include fenders, doors, or hood. Liapis said that Dynacorn is currently working on the half-cab pickup top as an alternative to the full wagon top. He expects that it will take about a year to finalize all the details and then offer it for sale alongside Dynacorn’s other reproduction body shells. No price has been set yet.
photo credit: 2012 Marc Langsam
text credit: 2012 Daniel Strohl via 2012 hemmings.com
