5 Companies That Build Classic Car Bodies When Automakers Won’t

Restoring a classic car is a labor of love, but finding replacement panels or complete bodies can derail even the most determined enthusiast.

While some automakers like Jaguar and Stellantis still stock heritage parts, many don’t—leaving restorers to hunt for aftermarket solutions.

Fortunately, a handful of specialist firms have stepped in to fill the gap, reproducing everything from single body panels to full monocoques for iconic models that have long since vanished from official catalogs.

The aftermarket now offers a lifeline for everything from American muscle to British sports cars and even exotic Italian exotics, with a surprising number of Chinese companies joining the fray. Here are five standout firms leading the charge in classic car body reproduction.

GTO Engineering is a British specialist that has carved out a reputation for recreating some of the most revered Ferraris ever built.

The firm’s Revival series includes faithful recreations of the 250 SWB, 250 TR, and 250 California Spyder, all powered by modern drivetrains but wrapped in period-correct bodywork.

While GTO Engineering has paused production to focus on servicing and restoring original Ferraris, its recreations once commanded around $1 million—a fraction of the $10 million to $20 million price tags attached to original 250 models.

Superformance, based in the U.S., is another heavyweight in the classic car body space, specializing in high-end American performance icons.

The company reproduces legends like the Shelby Cobra, Ford GT40, and Daytona Coupe, offering two distinct paths for buyers: faithful replicas or modernized versions with contemporary tech and more powerful engines.

Superformance handles every step of the process in-house, from CAD-engineered composite body panels to hand-laid construction, oven baking, and multi-day polishing.

Prices start at $90,000 for a basic MKIII Cobra replica, but enthusiasts willing to splurge can spend over $200,000 on high-performance models like the GT40 or Daytona Coupe.

Real Deal Steel, a Florida-based firm founded in 2011, takes a different approach by focusing on classic American body panels and complete bodies.

The company offers an extensive lineup, including Chevy and Firebird models from the ’50s through the ’70s, as well as classic Jeep bodies.

Real Deal Steel’s bodies are built with spot welds that mimic original factory finishes, and the company also provides individual panels for restorers who don’t need a full body.

Pricing varies widely: a race-ready ’57 Chevy two-door sedan body starts at $11,000, while a standard body for the same model doubles that figure.

For restorers seeking something truly unique, Jiangsu Juncheng Vehicle Industry Co. in China offers an eclectic mix of classic car bodies that are otherwise impossible to source.

The company’s catalog spans a broad range of models, though buyers should factor in potential tariff complications when importing from China.

The aftermarket’s growing role in classic car restoration underscores a critical reality: even as original parts become scarcer, enthusiasts now have more options than ever to breathe new life into their prized machines.