Alfa Romeo Forums banner

Wolf steel floor pans

7.4K views 11 replies 10 participants last post by  Jim G  
#1 ·
My 72's front floor pans need replacement. I have found a company called wolf steel that makes them but they are rather odd
looking. Anybody here use these and can comment on fit and quality ?

Image
 
#6 · (Edited)
Wolf Steel has been around for quite a while. Their panels are hand beaten over wooden patterns. .... If you can work with sheet metal, these are a good value for someone on a budget.
I have used Wolf Steel panels, though my bodyman did the installation. My sense is that ossodiseppia's comments are accurate: the Wolf panels definitely look like they were made in a simple sheet metal shop, not by a big factory with sophisticated tooling.

A few things in Wolf's defense:

- Some of their panels are a bargain (though some are priced comparable to more the sophisticated panels from Classic Alfa and others in Europe).

- If you live in North America and are cost-conscious, Wolf will be able to ship at a lower cost relative to the European suppliers. Factor that in when comparing prices.

- Wolf's parts are intended to be inserted into assembled cars, patching rusted-out areas. So sometimes their shape differs since they aren't duplicating the way the factory built these cars from scratch.

- Upon seeing a Wolf panel, my bodyman said "I could have fabricated a panel of this quality myself, but given the # of hours it would have taken me, the cost from Wolf was an OK deal".
 
#3 ·
I found their product to be unacceptable. The panels from the usual suspects in Europe and the UK were much better.
 
#4 ·
Well...

I`delivered a `63 Spider to the "Owner" back about 1995, who`s shop was south of Montreal. His metal work was done in Montreal at a metalsmith`s shop and all done by hand. No stampings. But the bodies (custom not Alfas) were really beautiful. I assume the Shop in Montreal is still doing the fabricating, but that owner (I understand) is now living on the northwest coast and in the pot raising business, helping keep the West coast goofy!.
 
#5 ·
#7 ·
If you are a stickler for detail (and quality)....avoid Wolf steel panels. They're inferior in all respects.

IMO....the absolute best quality reproduction panels come from BiondiLamierati (manufacturers)...second would be the European & British (suppliers ....manufacturers are unknown).
 
#10 · (Edited)
#11 ·
Wolf steel has its place - unfortunately floor pans are not that place. There are some parts that are not available anywhere else (eg, the upper plate behind the seats in a Duetto), there are parts that they don't make but willing to duplicate if you can give them a sample (eg, Berlina rockers), and there are parts that they do at a far better price then others that are equivalent quality (eg, Duetto rear wings for thousands less). Then there are the floors. I've spoken with the current owner (who is a great guy and is eager to support the community) and suggested that he either upgrade the floors or drop them. To date he's done neither (not that he's obligated to listen to me). In fairness, I believe Wolf was providing panels before anyone seriously considered importing them from Europe. So you could thank Wolf for providing a cost effective option for cars that we're worth so little for so long.
 
#12 ·
Wolf steel was the first to offer any type of rust replacement panels. I believe they started in either the late 70's or early 80's. They were the only ones out there making panels until the cars actually started climbing in value and others entered the market.

To be fair. Yes. Their panels are not perfect. But many, many Alfas were saved from the scrapyards over the years when they were not worth much.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 81gtv6