"The Chinese already make parts for the '47-'55 First Series Chevrolet trucks and it would be just an easy step to reproduce the entire truck."
If you do not mind the fact that the parts are very thin and do not fit without serious work. I'd rather spend the hours beating the old stuff out.
Unfortunately, most of the fenders that I found for my First Series were rusted in various places and were in serious condition. By "cutting and pasting" from four trucks I finally got fenders for all sides, the spare wheel fender being the hardest to find along with the spare tire apparatus. Since I restored my '55 there has come on the market parts from Taiwan that are decent, especially the gas tanks, and I have replaced them on my truck. I have a dandy 55' First Series that made a photo piece about four years ago in
Classic Truck and since it has been four years since restoration, I am having to replace little things like screws that rust and pay special attention to the original brake setup.
I would have to think real hard if I were to wreck my truck. Would I search out old fenders again or just buy the new reproduction steel ones from the little people? I hope I am not confronted with that dilema but in the meantime, I buy up old rustbuckets in barnyards for little when I am doing farm calls in the hopes I will have the spares when I may (hopefully never) need them.