Jimmy Price of Hi-Tech Automotive & Superformance

[Ron Earp]

Hey, the pics have the phone number of a reality company. We could just phone them up I suppose and ask them if the building is for sale. Anyone want to give them a call?

Seems one fellow using various IP addresses is posting all sort of misinformation about the CAV deal basically saying they are out of business. I've been trying to help trace the guy(s) via IP logging but to no avail. I don't believe that CAV is out of business but any information we could *independantly* get to dispel this rumor would be valuable to the community as a whole.

 

[Brett James-McCall]

Rick Chattrell at Thruxton maybe able to help us??

Brett

 

Re: Jimmy Price of Hi-Tech Automotive & Superforma

Happy New Year everyone!!!!
Andre thanks for the info. It sounded like you were involved. I didn't know that you changed your position until you cleared that up. Unfortunately not all things go as planned.
I wish you luck in your potential venture with JP. He will be one heck of a partner and I'm sure what he does will not fail.
As for the ex CAV employees, I thought that it was the other way arond and that CAV employees were ex SPF. And now those ex SPF guys are all gone. Maybe back to SPF?
As for the building being sold, that's very very interesting. I understand that CAV is moving buildings to their marine plant (as posted before). Now ,this past Wed, I've heard that plant is too small and can't handle car production. So now what?? I guess we'll all have to wait to see what is actually announced by both CAV and SPF. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Bill S.]

Re: Jimmy Price of Hi-Tech Automotive & Superforma

Ron,

Feel free to email me with the various IP addresses. I've got access to some nifty private tracking search engines.

Sincerely,

Bill Silvershein
aka:mrmustang



[ QUOTE ]
Hey, the pics have the phone number of a reality company. We could just phone them up I suppose and ask them if the building is for sale. Anyone want to give them a call?

Seems one fellow using various IP addresses is posting all sort of misinformation about the CAV deal basically saying they are out of business. I've been trying to help trace the guy(s) via IP logging but to no avail. I don't believe that CAV is out of business but any information we could *independantly* get to dispel this rumor would be valuable to the community as a whole.

[/ QUOTE ]

 

[Rick Muck- Mark IV]

Re: Jimmy Price of Hi-Tech Automotive & Superforma

Bill,


CHILL!!!! You can't be guarding both CulbCobra and this site at once, you will wear out your keyboard!!!

As they say in the ENQUIRER, Inquiring minds want to know!

Peace out, dudes....

Rick /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Ian Clark]

Hi All,

Where's this string going? Seems everyone approves of the entrance of Superformance into the GT40 market. Point made.

What's refreshing about the GT Forum is the relative lack of bickering, flame wars and rumor mongering in comparison to say, the Cobra forums. Let's have some class here folks.

CAV has planned the move to larger facilities for more than half a year. Properties change hands all the time.

The best thing we can do is build the GT40 of our dreams, and tell everyone we can know how fantastic these cars are. Then you'll see even more companies come on line and the calibre of cars continue to rise.

I cannot support anyone who prefers to undermine the tremendous investment made by all manufacturers in the GT40 business by instigating or perpetuating useless, counter productive comments.

Happy new year, take care and have a great day!

 

[Bill S.]

Re: Jimmy Price of Hi-Tech Automotive & Superforma

Rick,

You would be surprised just how many different forums I either moderate in the background, or do these little "in depth" tasks for.......... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif . Besides, "da bunnies" like GT40's (then again, so does my 12 year old)..........


Bill S.




[ QUOTE ]
Bill,


CHILL!!!! You can't be guarding both CulbCobra and this site at once, you will wear out your keyboard!!!

As they say in the ENQUIRER, Inquiring minds want to know!

Peace out, dudes....

Rick /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

 

Hi Frknfast,

To set the record straight three people moved from Hi-Tech Automotive in Port Elizabeth to CAV in Cape Town.

The one person moved because his wife has a serious health problem and I believe that the reason for the move was that Cape Town has more sophisticated medical facilities than Port Elizabeth for the treatment of her condition. He brought with him his son, with good overseas automotive experience, also to join CAV. All three are no longer with CAV and have also not joined the new GT40 project.

The New GT40 project is run by 15 ex-CAV employees and I've never in 45 years, in the mean ol business world, seen a happier team and that is why they will be successful.

Just before the Christmas shutdown I was invited to a barbeque by the new GT40 team in the forest adjoining our townhouse (condo) complex. This was lucky for me as walking home there was no chance of being caught for being over the legal limit, which is more than two beers!

The barbeque was attended by family members, some friends and suppliers, about 50 in all. With beer in hand I surveyed the scene and realised that there was not one dissenting voice, not one personality clash. In fact what touched me was to see, given South Africa's racist past, the kids of the white and black staff playing under the trees with their toys and plastic trikes in peace and harmony.

When I got home I phoned Jimmy to tell him he has the best damn team in the world under the management of Robbie Senekal, general manager and chief engineer.

On a humerous note Robbie and Rory Byrne, Ferrari F1 designer, were at school together in a Johannesburg suburb where Robbie's father ran a dairy farm. On a daily basis milk was delivered to the Byrne household and in a recent telephone call to Italy Robbie told Rory that it is no doubt thanks to the Senekal milk that he's such a clever race car designer and part of a World Champion team! I still can't figure out who has the better sense of humour, Jimmy or Robbie.

As mentioned earlier the whole Cape Town team hired a mini bus, at their own expense, to visit their Hi-Tech cousins in Port Elizabeth.

Ian Clark, you are right, even if we have different dreams, ambitions, opinions in our small world of specilaist car building let's keep the peace. As you said earlier there is room for everyone!

Peace, brothers!
Andre 40

 

Thanks Andre for the update. I guess "Got Milk?" makes a real difference. hehehe
No problem . Keep the peace. Great! But I think both SPF and CAV should make some announcements to keep the peace. Even if that means stating " Things are in the works (indepently or otherwise) and an update will come forward soon. Or simply tell all of us what's happening. "We've sold the building because of XYZ, We are doing abc etc. All this uncertaintity is not helping anyone. Not a prospective buyer looking to buy CAV, SPF dealers are confused,(is SPF buying CAV??) CAV dealers I assume are also confused if not simply irritated from all this unknown.
I think it's only fair that all of us who have fulfilled our dream of any type of GT40 and those contemplating a purchase simply want to know the facts. No question there is more than enough market to go around as we all have different requirements for our cars. We all have great taste as we all want/have the GT40.
Peace out.

 

Hi Frknfast,

You are absolutely right, there must be confusion out there and it cannot be doing anyone any good.

Right now as I'm not officially attached to any of the companies I can only give my personal opinion and above all I have to be careful to state facts and not be guilty of rumour mongering.

When I recently bumped into one of my former CAV partners I suggested that they should use the GT40s Forum to far greater effect as CAV is a main player. I suggested that they could do constant updates, post pics, etc, to keep their own customers and members informed. The Forum is in fact a tremendous marketing and PR opportunity for any GT40 builder as has been proved many times in the past and is being proved on a daily basis. I thought I knew the GT40 well, but boy, have I learnt a lot! Even though I had left CAV about two and a half years earlier I told my ex-partner that for their sake and for South Africa's sake I hope that they succeed and continue to grow, as in Ian Clark's words there's room for any GT40 builder. It would appear, sadly, that my well intended advice fell on deaf ears.

To clear the air I will now ask both parties to come clean and say it like it is, even if they do it through me and ask me to post.

best wishes,
Andre 40

 

[Frank Catt]

I have been asked to make this post by Rick Chattell of Thruxton Sportscars in the UK to clear up the situation as far as the UK market of the CAV GT is concerned. From this date all cars marketed as the CAVGT will be supplied by CARCRAFT SA, a company run by John Spencer and Jean Fourie in Capetown. It is our information that they have now taken on the construction and development of that car and will supply both complete and kit form GT40s. I cannot make any comment officially from either company, but in the interests of continued confidence in the car Rick felt important to make this statement. We cannot make any comment on the worldwide situation, but understand that Carcraft are likely to supply this car globally. Frank

 

Interesting Frank - It is refreshing to see a statement of intent going forward for the UK at least.

As the South African agents for CAV, the Carcraft SA website previously included Rick's details as the UK agent, and I've heard Rick's cars, in kit form at least, called Carcraft GT4TRs before.

Although I'm an outsider to all things CAV, if I was a prospective purchaser, I would want to be kept informed. It's a shame that there's no mention of this latest news either on Carcraft's website above or Carcraft's other website. Apart from Rick/Frank's statement, any positive - and factual - PR seems to have been forgotten, and rumour and speculation don't help anyone. It still leaves a lot of questions about CAV unanswered, and speculation will run and run (especially among the Shelby Cobra guys...).

Rick, I hope everything works out. Does this mean you will be selling Cobras and Speedsters as well? (Er... sorry, more rumour and speculation...)

Rob

 

Hi All and F Catt,

Good positive news. Both Jean (Jhan as in male French) and John Spence are friends of mine and run their clinical operation close to where I live. Jean was in fact CAV's production manager and is a superb perfectionist car builder with several Cobras and Porsche Speedsters under his belt. John is a clever and competent young engineer and specialises in the design and development of medical equipment. He was also involved with the development of BP's Fuelmaster system a system whereby the fuel supplied is automatically recorded on the customer's account without any paper work, presenting credit cards, signing of docets, etc.

Room for everyone!
Andre 40

 

[Ron Earp]

[ QUOTE ]
I have been asked to make this post by Rick Chattell of Thruxton Sportscars in the UK to clear up the situation as far as the UK market of the CAV GT is concerned. From this date all cars marketed as the CAVGT will be supplied by CARCRAFT SA, a company run by John Spencer and Jean Fourie in Capetown.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks for the information Frank, that is good to know. Good to hear the car will continue to be built though. Still doesn't answer the question of what Shelby will do with the agreement that was supposed to exist with CAV and as posted eariler the rumor mill is in full production on that one.

Andres, Rick, and Ian are doing the right thing and putting out whatever information they have on the situation. I think it helps clear things up and I know perspective buyers would be nervous given recent info and postings. I seriously think Shelby and CAV need to make statements on the Cobra Forums so that folks can know the real story.

I've read some comments over there that indicate the companies should not release information and do not "owe" internet forum groups any sort of explination. However, I find this mode of thinking self-destructive - where else can you find so many potential customers? Most of the customers for GT40s and Cobras will be tuned in on Club Cobra, Cobra Club, FFCobra, and GT40s. It doesn't seem to make sense to allow this large potential group of customers to languish without solid information.

Anyhow, that is my opinion and I do try and show restraint so as to not influence threads or discussions.

Ian, with respect to thread direction I think Andre was just simply trying to post what he knows about the situation. He is involved, sure, but the information he has provided is helpful is learning what is actually going on. I don't think his intent was to start a fight here or push a product, just to help out a bit when no real information seems to be coming from anywhere - especially not the manufacturers.

Best,
Ron

 

Happy New Year everyone!

My computer has been down hence Frank's statement on my behalf - cheers Frank!

I can confirm that Thruxton Sports Cars are continuing with the CAV through Carcraft and that it is great news as far as I am concerned. They are also continuing the ongoing development of the car (The Spyder option among others) and unlike CAV are concentrating on the GT40 only.

John and Jean are very switched on and easy to deal with and so the move is extremely positive from my pespective.

As the car is now available in Kit form in the UK it is onwards and upwards! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

I am obviously happy and available to answer any questions or queries. UK landline is 01428 664276.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Rick Chattell

 

Dear Members

CARCRAFT GT40

We do not want to get involved in any back and forth on this web page and we will not defend our position every time a new rumor finds its way onto the web page. We are running a business and want to concentrate our efforts and energies there. That having been said, it is important that we clarify our position. Carcraft has a working relationship with CAV which allows Carcraft to sell the CAV GT in kit form as the Carcraft GT4TR. This is still the relationship and we plan to continue in this direction. Rick Chattell of Thruxton Sports Cars is our appointed UK agent for the GT4TR kit. We will be shipping a number of kits to him over the next few months. We have delivered a number of kits locally and encourage any interested parties to look at our web page for details of what we supply.

Should anyone be interested in a kit we can be contacted via e-mail: [email protected]
or via our UK agent, Thruxton Sports Cars, e-mail: [email protected]

Yours sincerely

Jean Fourie and John Spence

 

[Lee]

Curiouser and curiouser.
I quote from Jean's earlier post from April 3rd 2003

"we have just completed the developement work of our own GT40 replica.It is of a spaceframe design with porpose made suspension,etc.NO donar parts are used"

original post

If they had completed the development work on their own car back in April why have they ditched it and started supplying knock down CAVs. All in all the CAV/ GTD/ Superformance/ Hi-Tech Automotive fiasco of the last 2 or 3 years has left me very confused, and continues to do so. Hence my reason for staying away from SA when investigating my new car (even if there had been a kit available at the time). I am sure there is a good car there somewhere, but there seems to me to be FAR too much confusion about who is doing what with who, with which bits of kit. EXACTLY how many DIFFERENT, MANUFACTURERS are there of 40 replicas in SA. Is there just the CAV monocoque which is being sold on in various guises through various third and forth (and fifth) parties, is the CAV spaceframe still being made by a third party, is the completely different car developed by Carcraft now being made by someone else?

Jean, I thank you for posting on here, but please can you help to clear up the confusion. How difficult can it be for these companies who want customers, to be open and clear about the lineage of their vehicles. As far as I can tell, none of the SA manufacturers has been completely open about this subject yet, and until they do, I suspect the Australians (and Tornado) will continue to corner the market for availabilty of well made kits, from open, established, manufacturers.

I hope that this is resolved soon because the CAV (or is it the GT4TR) is a very nice car from what I have seen of it at Goodwood and elsewhere.

 

[Rick Muck- Mark IV]

Lee,

I would propose that you do not lump Hi-tech (Superformance) in with ANY other manufacturer. They have proven themselves with an excellent track record for both quailty of product and quality of customer service. That they are in South Africa is secondary to what they do. Such reasoning would question the intentions of Morgan since they are in the UK with such recently failed ventures as Lea-Francis, Jensen and others.

Lee Noble certainly has given them a huge endorsement by having them build the M12.

Whatever problems (if any) CAV has are unrelated to Hi-Tech.

I do question why no one from CAV has related what is happening there if indeed they are only relocating to larger quarters or some other such "innocent" type situation.

I assume Andre may know more but being the gentleman he is he appears to unwilling to add to the rumour mill...

Rick /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Mike Inglis]

If I was considering buying a new GT40 replica, the arrogant attitude of the post from Jean Fourie and John Spence would put me off having any dealings with them at all. This forum is the biggest window on the potential market. A 40, whether kit or turnkey costs a very great deal of hard earned money, and the attitide of the manufacturers/suppliers to their potential costomers is of paramount importance. Carcraft and CAV.....you guys fail completely.

 

[Lee]

Rick
I'd love to be able to leave Hi-Tech/ Superformance separate. Their Port Elisabeth operation building Nobles and Cobras (if I have picked up properly) has a good reputation. That would make it easier to understand. But they appear to have set up a 'new' project team in Cape Town (the rest of the company is in Port Elizabeth?) according to Andre using entirely ex-CAV staff. Cape Town, presumably because of the local experience of CAV. To me that sounds like a deliberate decision which ever so fortunately allowed Hi-Tech to buy-in knowledge and experience from a competitor. If this was without CAV blessing, then it is a deliberate ploy to undermine CAV. Or maybe it was with CAV blessing?

Carcraft are also in Cape Town and announced a 'new' car early last year. Now they are supplying CAVs under another name. Where did the carcraft car go? Hi-Tech have now appeared with a 'new' car. You see my query? Hopefully when it is seen in public, the experts will be able to work out if it is new or a rework of someone elses. Perhaps CAV are pulling out and have sold the rights to Carcraft. Perhaps Carcraft have sold the rights to their car to Hi-tech / superformance. It would just be nice for the people involved to be open. I am sure there are many people here who know the real stories but choose to keep quiet, perhaps because they have their own financial gain to worry about. This cloak and dagger approach does nothing for the industry. I don't think telling the facts has to involve slagging competitors. But perhaps there is a conspiracy out there?

Perhaps Carcraft (or anyone else) could explain what happened to their 'new' car? and why they switched to supplying CAVs?

I am no longer on the lookout for a new car. I did my research and made my decisions, but unfortunately this does not do the 'replica car industry' many favours. Any new company (or operation) has to start somewhere, but why do we seem intent on hyping things up so much before a car has even been seen in public? It seems cars often masquerade as cars which they are not. There are many examples of this, even if it only to get something on the brochures or websites in the early days. I found these examples during my research. There will always be people willing to take a chance on an unseen car of their dreams, but I'm afraid I'm not one of them. Sure, sometimes it will pay off, but tell it how it is. If one is selling a car which is newly developed with the associated risks, for a cheper price, fine. Why not just say so. If you want top dollar for the same, and hide behind lots of flowery words, or glossy pictures of someone elses car, expect to get some questions asked. How the questions are answered, if at all, will help the informed decision.

I would love to know for example that the superformance car has nothing whatsoever to do with the CAV car, but until it is seen, it is mere speculation.

It is easy to stop the current rumours. Tell the whole story - without flowers, without gloss. This certainly currently applies to Carcraft and CAV, and perhaps, when they are ready for orders, Hi-Tech will also be open about their Cape Town car.