Nissan displays new technology for making replacement body panels for older models without using dies

[Namerow]

While the Z community is well served by a couple of specialty manufacturers of replacement body panels, there remain certain large panels that can usually be sourced only by taking a replacement panel from a donor vehicle.  Examples would be the hood, roof, hatch, outer and inner door panels, firewall, inner front fenders, rad bulkhead, and the tail panel. 

Nissan has recently previewed a new technology that permits large, complicated-shape panels to be formed without a die.  While it's probably intended to serve the collision repair industry, it's conceivable that they might be talked into doing short runs of panels for older classics like the Z and Skyline.  Here's a video from the auto industry daily blog, Autoline Daily: 

 

[CanTechZ]

This is very cool technology, here is a link to a post from @Mike a couple of years ago when it was first announced. The video shows the process in a little more detail.

 

Edited October 18, 2021 by CanTechZ