HI,
I just took off my front clip today. To get full access of my upperdash. Im thinking down the road when I reassemble the front.I need a LH drivers fender. I could find a nice stock one that has minor bodywork (so they say) for around 250.00ish. Or could just buy a brand new repo with no filler and not 8 layers of paint.
I know I know we all say repo sucks but hey the dude on Overhaulin and funkmasterflex all build there cars from free parts from Classic Industries. So how bad could a repo fender's be?

I wouldn't trade a GM fender for a repro unless I had no choice. The repros are good if you have none, but the "8 layers of paint" will come off, and unless the damage is too severe to repair, stick with the original. Just my opinion.

I'm with Trenton on this. Original fits perfect. Those 8 layers of paint were put on there to protect and preserve it for you. Get some stripper and a sawhorse and have at it.

Stick with the original. What you do not see is how many free fenders they go through to get one that fits close. On tv we do not get to see everything. We never get hear about how a GM fender fit like junk. As long as the GM fender is not rusted and not to beat up I would go with the GM.
Brian

I just replaced my two front fenders with repr from classic. They fit pretty dang good. But I live close and just drive over there to get em, so I save a buck that way. I like the fit.

Tony67SS seem to have gotten lucky! Anyone else put some repo fenders on lately?

I replaced both fenders with parts from NPD and am satisfied with them. They are definately not stock so they do take a little time to fit. Kevin

I bought a pair of brand new ones for another car I had a 67 , one of them fit pretty close (YOU KNOW IT WOULD SLIDE ONTO THE CAR) it would not bolt up and could not bolt the inner fender to it but the seem's were ok , after I redrilled all the holes and got it on it looked ok , the other would not line up at the door up near the windsheild , my current car has two of them ole beat up GM one's on it , and they are gonna stay on it !!

I bought the REPO fenders from Ricks First Generation. I belive they were $190.00 each. Overall they are a very nice piece. The passenger side fit pretty well. The driver side was way off and took some pounding on a mount to get it close to fit. Very little body work is required though.

I recently replaced both fenders using repos from Classic: not too difficult to install but I didn't like a gap that was showing near the windshield. Right when I was basting on my frustration, I had a chance to see a numbers- matching '68, and guess what? It had the same gap. Looks like the General didn't put too much attention there either! Newer repos are much better than the Taiwanese parts available a few years back. One word tho: they are a thinner gauge, they'll dent easier!

My latest experience was 50/50! Repro Goodmark '68 RS fenders. Left side fit nice with about the same amount of fitting you would expect with a NOS part. I actually paid $125 for it 'cuz it had a ding or two in it! Right side, I had to cut off and reposition the tab for the bolt that goes into the firewall behind the door so I could get the fender close enough to the cowl panel for my liking.

All in all, they fit nicely after some persuasion and are of decent quality. Let's face it guys, there isn't a fender in the world that you can just "throw towards the car" and have it fit first time!! (NOS or otherwise) I've rebuilt more than a dozen 1st gens going back to the 80's and even had some NOS stuff from the end of production, when apparently the tooling was getting loose, and the overall quality wasn't great.

For some cars (maybe not a 100 point concours '67 Z28)the repro parts make a good choice. Especially as the NOS stuff drys up and gets more ridiculously priced every day. Personally I'm willing to spend a few hours fitting a new panel if it saves me $500 on the cost of a NOS part.

Okay, I'm off the soap box now! :D

Paul D.

I'm doing repro stuff on my car. The metal is a little thinner and therefore "dings" easier.

Sounds good gus thanks for the info.
Is there any differance between Goodmark and OER?
I notice GoodMark cost a bit more.

This a great thread a lot of questions answered.

Brad