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What do YOU need in parts or service?

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NWbritfan

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First of all I’m new to this BB and currently without a British car to share stories, boasts and similar lies. I will say my first car in college was a rusty TR-4 and my wife and I owned a couple of MG 1100s and a Sprite. But with college, careers, kids (and more college for kids) we moved from the LBCs to a minivan, although as rally enthusiasts we now drive a Subaru.

Our interest in British cars was renewed when my wife and I visited England this past fall. We are now looking into possibly purchasing one for restoration. However, while reading various classic car magazines, BB posts and the like it became apparent some of the current replacement parts are not very reliable or well built. If I correctly recall one British magazine article, a group of Triumphs participating in a road tour were sidelined due to failures of "new" parts.

So why am I am placing this post under “Vendor”? My question is more marketing then personal. I am an entrepreneurial type of guy and it is of great interest to determine whether there is a specific product demand that needs to be met. In short - what parts or services are currently missing from the British restoration community? OR, taking this further, what parts or services are currently being provided that can be improved upon (e.g., greater reliability)?

Any ideas would be helpful – who knows it may develop into a business that helps out everyone and allows us to restore a classic!

Thanks in advance – I’m looking forward to your comments.
 
Hi, and welcome to the Forum.

It would be helpful to get to know you, and you'd probably get more input, if you posted a short introduction in the "New Members" forum. As for what's lacking in parts and services, there are lots of things we could use - parts, parts, and more parts!

Mickey
 
Mickey

Thanks for the comment - I'll post some info today!

So what parts, parts and more parts are necessary? Is it just the item or a quality issue?
 
There are a lot of complaints about modern reproduction parts, from ill-fitting components to short lifespan. Many don't take into account the fact that the original parts didn't always fit either, as each car was hand assembled. Lifespan is definitely a problem, but you will find that while most people complain about quality, they complain louder about prices. Unfortunately they ignore the fact that the best parts for old British cars are still a fraction the cost of an equivalent new Toyota or similar part.

What could actually use work? Anything rubber. All rubber parts for our cars, no matter who the supplier, are junk. Bushings that used to last 10 years and still look good now disintegrate within one year. The list goes on throughout the range. Other than that I think we're in good shape overall, but there is always room for improvement and there is a market for top-quality parts, even for cars which were once sold a modest vehicles.

Chrome quality would be another improvement, but that's an environmental battle with the government.
 
What Steve said...

Also, since I've a particular axe to grind, there just aren't many choices (if any at all, in some cases) when it comes to parts for the Triumph Wedges - TR7's and 8's. Particularly the trim pieces. Granted, it's a slimmer market than some of the other cars, but it is growing, as these cars are becoming more appreciated.

Brad Wilson, with Wedgeparts, lives here in Clarksville, and has been very proactive in addressing some of the issues. But it's not something one will get rich doing, by any stretch.

If you've the resources and the drive, the market is out there. And this Forum is a good place to get ideas.

Mickey
 
Steve

This does beg the question - do you beleive British car owners will pay a premium for a top quality part?
 
I believe that some of them will, including myself, but not all. The hobby seems to be divided into two groups... those who own these cars because they are fun little toys that are cheap to buy and maintain, and those who own them because of what they are as part of automotive history, and appreciate the merits of the engineering put into the cars in their day.

That is a very narrow-minded statement of course, but I'm just trying to draw some sort of line between the two types of owners... those who will pay $100 for a part when there is a Chinese version to be had for $20, and those who won't. If the majority of classic car owners were willing to pay for top quality, no matter the price, then that is what all the parts houses would be selling. Sadly this is not the case. Instead, the quality of the parts we buy is dictated by price.

Since I drive nothing but MGs daily, I am always willing to pay as much as it takes to get a part which is at least equal in quality to the original it is replacing. Perhaps in 25 years when there are no more ratty old classics on the road, but rather all restored examples, and the people who own them have learned their lessons about cheap parts as some of us "veterans" have, then the quality of parts will go up. I look forward to that day!

Just my 2.34 cents USD. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif
 
Adding to Steve's list of owner types, there is a 3rd group who will take any replacement part that will fit because of the relative rareness of our cars. It is one thing to buy bits for an MG or TR, with choices of suppliers and quality, and quite another for a car that only saw about 2,600 produced over a 5 year span ending in 1964.

But I digress...yes, the rubber pieces and chrome are a problem that looks to be getting worse, not better.

FWIW
/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/driving.gif
 
Not to mention the "Dont fit" repro parts and cheap quality chinese parts. Get parts catalogues from the big three, {Moss Motors, Victoria Brittish, and the Roadster factory}. Take a look at the N/A Parts for our cars. MOST of us would LOVE to have a reliable source for good quality replacement parts. AND to be able to purchase an otherwise N/A part would be one big feather in our hats.
I myself would be willing to pay a premium price for the parts I need that seem to made of unobtanium! = {not to be had at any price}
 
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:] I myself would be willing to pay a premium price for the parts I need that seem to made of unobtanium![/QUOTE]
I agree, but the parts typically listed as NA are in very small demand. To make a small run of them would make them REALLY expensive and they would sit in a supplier's stock for a long time. Low profit items that sit are bad for business, which is why they are still listed as NA to this day.
 
Of course, it all coes down to profitability. The manufacturers and suppliers have to be profitable to stay in business. Failing that, we would have no replacement parts, regardless of quality or price.

As my sig shows, I also have an old Volkswagen. Unlike most of our beloved Brit iron, there were some 25 million of those critters built. I can buy any part for the VW from several sources. And prices typically run 1/3 what they do for my Sprite. I'm not really complaining here as I love both cars. For example, new, original vinyl seat covers are about $120, excellent quality, matches original almost exactly, and that includes a back seat! Interior panels are about the same and a high quality carpet kit is a little cheaper.

With 25 million beetles built, there are a lot of them still being maintained so a pretty large market. With fewer than 1 milion Sprites (I think that may even include Midgets too) costs have to be higher.

Sorry for what might seem like a small rant. I really don't mean it that way. A few years back, I owned 3 Fiat 124s. They were great cars but not long after Fiat abandoned the US, the quality of parts (Chinese, I'm sure) was so bad that I had to give up and quit Fiat entirely. I had a set of ball joints last les than 6 months and a new clutch on the other car even less than that. Changing the clutch takes many hours and a very accomplished contortionist on those cars too.
 
So, maybe I should raise my prices?
 
NWbritfan said:
Steve

This does beg the question - do you beleive British car owners will pay a premium for a top quality part?
Click to expand...

I think I would pay a premium for certain things that I knew were superior quality...I have an acquantance in the Jag parts business and he also manufactures (well, probably has manufactured) certain parts for my EType. His parts are far and away better quality than anything I could get from any of the usual suspects. He has his own brand of things like shocks (they are billet aluminum and frankly are works of art), torsion bars, ball joints, etc. I have bought a few items like this from him and am very glad I did.

Basil
 
DART

Excuse my ignorance on these issues - but I thought all you needed to do for chrome trim is to re-chrome the existing parts. Is there something else I am missing?

Walt
 
NWbritfan said:
AweMan

N/A parts? You mean supply the parts that are "not available" through these catalogues?

Walt
Click to expand...
Yes Walt:
Here is a for instance in the spring/summer 2007 Moss Parts catalogue page 68 Parts 5, 6, 7, & 8, {The chrome surround trim for the front apron of a smallmouth TR-3}. There are MANY {including myself} Smallmouth owners that would LOVE to be able to purchase these parts. These parts are rarely seen on ebay and even when they are, they are in such sad shape they are of little use to anyone. {although they do sell} {most times for wayyyyyyyyyy more than they are worth because of thier condition.} The second issue is when these parts are auctioned on ebay they are NEVER complete I have yet to see the joint covers {Part# 7} included. Or the mounting hardware for that matter. {part #8}
Kerry

P.S. IF ANYONE has these parts and IS willing to sell, By all means contact me! Tony?
 
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]P.S. IF ANYONE has these parts and IS willing to sell, By all means contact me! Tony? [/QUOTE]

None, sorry....
 
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