Many of the steel bodies and chassis are made to order on a first come first serve basis. When you place your order, expect a 90 day wait period. Once you place your order we will be able to inform you of the expected delivery date. For parts and other smaller items, shipping should be much quicker if the item is in stock, around 1-2 weeks. For custom work and restoration projects with Palm Beach Customs, it depends on what you are having done and where you fall in line.

You can reach us in a few different ways. The easiest way to fill out a contact form on our contact page. You can Click Here to Contact Us and it goes straight to our inbox!
You may also send us an email at [email protected] or call us directly at 239-281-6754. We do our best to reply or call back within 24hrs.

The short answer is, Yes. We are now dealers for Real Deal Steel, Art Morrison, Omix-Ada, and shortly, Dynacorn. All of the steel bodies on our site are licensed by GM, Ford, Chrysler, and Mopar. Palm Beach Customs is also offering parts for some of the steel bodies on our site – depending on availability from the manufacturers. Read more about them in our services. You can also order them right off of our online store, located on our homepage to the right. Contact us through our contact form for any additional questions.

Ford, GM and Chrysler now inspect reproduction bodies and follow-up with spot inspections. GM actually works very hard to address and help correct problems that consumers have with any substandard licensed products. But some substandard products do slip through. Buyers should always do their own research – particularly something as expensive as a car body – before making a purchase.

Any item that does not carry a logo, name or script does not have to be licensed. Similarly, any reproduction body that does not violate “trade dress” (does not appear to represent an original manufacturer’s design) is not required to carry a license. There are also body styles that the manufacturer may not enforce a license on. For example: bumpers, bumper brackets, steering wheels, fenders, doors, wheels, weatherstripping, upholstery – does not require a license to produce and sell.

Products (parts or apparel) and bodies must be licensed when they are seen by the licensor (GM or Ford in our case) to represent a trademarked design or logo (use of “Mopar”, “Chevrolet”, “Camaro”, the Chevy bowtie, “Ford”, etc.). The licensee (one of our manufactors [Real Deal Steel, Dynacorn, Omix-Ada, Art Morrison]) is obligated to “officially license” the item before it is offered for sale. Simply, this means that “if it looks like a ’57 Chevy or a ’69 Camaro”, then it has to be licensed. A product does not have to be licensed if it does not look like an existing car. For example a ’57 Chevy skeleton does not have to be licensed because it does not look like a ’57 Chevy car (yet). BUT the second parts and features are added where the overall body design (quarter panels, top skin) begins to resemble a ’57 Chevy, the car must be licensed. Some manufacturers will voluntarily license a product, even though it is not required, just so the item can carry the “officially licensed” logo.

Does the fact that a product is licensed make it superior in any way to one that is unlicensed? In some ways, yes. When “the Big-3” actively became involved in licensing aftermarket products some 20+ years ago, it was Ford Motor Company that led the charge, followed by GM and Chrysler. When the Big-3 (Ford, GM, Chrysler) first began licensing their products, licensees were expected to produce only very high-quality items to be sold. The Big-3 promised that they would maintain strict standards and quality control on all licensed items. But as time wore on, they began to license just about anything regardless of quality for revenue. That is when licensed products began to lose credibility with both manufacturers and consumers. Fortunately, within the last few years, GM has realized that lax quality standards on products has hurt the consumer, who expects to be “protected” by the license, and the GM brand name. GM is beginning to return to tougher quality standards when offering product licenses and is now engaged in a more rigorous follow-up and correction when consumers or fellow manufacturers have concerns about the quality of licensed products. This increased concern helps all involved, most importantly, the customer, who is now more assured that the license program provides them with better products.

Billing is done on a weekly basis for all parts, labor and services rendered for projects that extend beyond 30 days, and due within 10 days
Invoices not paid by the billing date, the 1st, of the following month will result in a work stoppage until paid.
Invoices may be paid in US fund by personal check, certified funds, wire transfers, PayPal, or cash.

Unfortunately, we cannot give you an exact number for any restoration work. But when we discuss with you your project we will be able to give you a ball-park amount. Please understand that even that number is going to change and shift depending on what we run into while we work on your car.
For your convenience, here are the hourly rates we do charge in the shop. Some jobs are 500 hours while others are only 100…

CHARGES & FEES
Mechanical $125.00 per hour
Body & Paint $125.00 per hour
Upholstery $125.00 per hour
Fabrication $125.00 per hour

We DO NOT suggest using the VIN plate from an original car transferred onto a Real Deal Steel body. Particularly if you are a shop building the car for a customer. This practice can get you into a ton of trouble. However, if you hold clear title to an original frame to be used under your steel body, you can have the state inspect the frame and verify the VIN before assembly. In most cases, your state will issue you a readable VIN plate/tag that matches your frame and title that may be displayed on the body.

An MSO or MCO is short for a manufacturer’s statement (or certificate) of origin. Steel body manufacturers are not the same as vehicle manufacturers. Because they are body assembly companies, they do not issue an MSO or MCO. However, they do issue a body number and invoice (to the selling dealer, like us at Palm Beach Customs) that takes the place of the MSO when registering your vehicle in your state

A reciept or invoice from the seller/dealer will be sufficient if you do not have an MSO from the manufacturer. A notarized affidavit which explains that the vehicle is safe to be driven on public roads. This note must also advise which repairs have been made to the car. A completed Application For Certificate of Title from your own state. Your documents must also have present the name and address of the dealer/seller. You will also need the license plate number and/or a declaration of non-use. Plus the relevant title fees. DMV. information For each state Click here

Palm Beach Customs are happy to ship orders worldwide directly to your shipping consolidator, agent or border representative. Please contact us to discuss your requirements.

Steel bodies with no additional customization (Stage 1) and all other parts are shipped through Fedex Express/Ground or Truck Frieght. For international orders, we are happy to ship directly to your shipping consolidator, agent or border representative. Palm Beach Customs does not ship to PO BOX addresses. Please contact us if you have any other questions or would like to speak to us directly about shipping for these orders For Shipping on Stage 2 (paint only) steel bodies Palm Beach Customs will pick up your order or have it delivered to the shop – depending on the manufacturer – for free. Delivery to customer will be at the customer’s expense once the steel body is ready to leave the shop. We are more than happy to help you find a reputable shipper, so give us a call if you have any questions before and after ordering a Stage 2 steel body. On Stage 3 (full builds) orders Palm Beach Customs is more than happy to provide free pick-up of steel body and delivery of complete builds to all customers who are creating their dream car with us. For Florida residents we will personally deliver your car right to your driveway!