won't sell

won\'t sell

I have a question about the dealers/ manufactuers of GT-40s . Why is it that most (I could be wrong) of this part of the industry will not sell individual items to the regular folk, who have not bought a complete car or components. I have looked and have asked for some parts or possible
replacement parts for my GT and have found only a few , very few that will sell you anything. Am I missing something here , if made parts for a car you would be sure of me selling those parts to who needed them i.e. windshield, body panels etc... the best to all , Kevin

 

Re: won\'t sell

Because most are not in the replacement part business. They sell cars.

 

Re: won\'t sell

Smith, that is true but so is Ford and Chevy and so on. They make gt-40s to make money.. Fact. My question is why not sell parts to the customers that want what they have?????? I'm just a consumer that is asking ??? Why not, with out us all distributors and manufactuers would be out the $$$$. Kevin

 

[Brian]

Re: won\'t sell

I find this to be rather odd as I have had good luck with the various manufactures I have spoken with regards to purchasing parts for my GTD. Now figuring out how to pay for the parts and getting them into the country may be a different story. If you are having trouble with parts, perhaps joinging the UK clubs and engaging in some networking may be in order.

Brian

 

[40 Bud]

Re: won\'t sell

I don't know the answer, but consider that if you were to buy your chevy in pieces from the parts man, it would cost a gazillion dollars. As they only sell completed cars this does not present any conflict to their marketing. GT40's are being sold as component packages and the manufactur's are trying to be fair to their customers and make it possible for them to complete their cars at a reasonable cost. They expect to sell their customers most of the components needed. If they also go into the parts business, as GM etc., they would have to establish a completely different pricing structure to make it worth while. Then how would they diferentiate between the car buyer and the parts buyer? Rememmber that he is already buying many of his parts over the counter from major manufacturers. You would find that prices would go up and units sold would go down.There is also the reality of the capacity these guys have to supply outside customers and still keep their regular customrs happy!

 

[Peter Delaney]

Re: won\'t sell

Kevin, I think a lot of the problem stems from manufacturers not wanting their parts copied. It has happened in the past with anonymous people buying bits, copying & selling them - not an ethical thing to do when the original manufacturer put in all the hard yards with R&D.

However, if you establish a good rapport with the manufacturers & lay those fears to rest, you should not have a problem with most of them.

I didn't buy my car direct from DRB, but part-started from a DRB dealer who took this car as a trade-in on his own finished DRB. So Peter Ransom at DRB hadn't made any money out of me directly, but he has been more than helpful with advice & extra parts that I have needed since.

I have also bought a lot of parts from Robert Logan at RF, and again, he has been really helpful with advice & parts supply.

Over time, I have got to know both these guys quite well, and they know that I will not copy or on-sell anything I buy from them. I would be quite surprised if other manufacturers were all that different, once they are confident that you will respect their "intellectual property" investment in the parts.

Kind Regards,

Peter D.

 

[Joe T]

Re: won\'t sell

I think this is an interesting point, one aspect I find a bit strange is in most other business diciplines you would actually supply parts to someone who is using a competitors product to demonstrate your product, because it is most likely he will buy again in the future, and if you served him well when the time to replace or start from scratch comes round guess who will be top of his list. Very basic business principles.

This is a specialist market someone with a GT40 Replica in any form has already signed up to the dream....

The aspect of copying or replicating exists with every potential customer not just someone who wants parts.

Cheers

 

[Bill Musarra]

Re: won\'t sell

Kevin,
My car was bought as a "rolling chassis" from an owner who just gave up. I have had "conversations" with most of the mamufacturers. I can state that all but one has been more than willing to sell parts to me even though their brand was not what I have. Each manufacturer has a "parts" list for each part of their car. I have recieved their pricing list on request and each has been more than willing to discuss how their parts would work on my car.

Point in fact, I changed my car from right hand drive to left hand. In sourcing a dash, more than one manufacturer asked for the dimensions of my dash to see if theirs would fit. I talked personnaly to Peter at DRB about getting the "rest of the parts" to the hold down clips and door closing mechanisms that the original owner had lost or not bothered to include with the car(he had it for four years). I needed bits and pieces, not whole parts. All Peter wanted was a list and a credit card number. Another time it was for just the weatherseal for the rear clip and the doors.

When I first "wrote" to these different guys, they were "a little slow" in responding. So I then called and talked personaly to them and that got the ball rolling so to speak. You have to remember, these are small operations, and they have a lot to oversee, and their prime objective is to sell their product. That is what keeps them in business. Yes, customer support is important too. Remember, just because they publish a parts or breakdown list, somebody has to stop, go and pull the parts, package it deal with the payment info which can take hours, and ship it. That takes away from whatever he or she was doing unless they have a dedicated parts person. Your email may get lost in the shuffle.

I personnaly think need to so several things. First, you should take the time and talk to the various manufacturers about your needs and whether their "parts" will work on your particular aplication. Next, if that doesn't reap rewards, then you need to network with people on this forum. Find out who the owners of your brand are and talk to them via email or phone call. Most all the cell companys long distance calls are free and international calls are from free to about .05$ a minute. Then, get to know your fellow members. They are a wealth of information on parts, sources other than the manufacturers, and especially, alternatives to them. Just my thoughts.

Bill

 

[Ian Anderson]

Re: won\'t sell

I am glad some people have had success and found manufacturers to be helpful across brands.

Yes I have had a positive response from Tornado and will be purchasing some parts from Andy - his comments were along the line it's business and I try not to turn any away. (this was a conversation when I visited his operation and not in writing)

Then I also tried other sources and got a complete brick wall. I quote
Hi Ian,

I hope you are well.

Sorry - it is RF's policy not to supply parts for other manufacturers cars. I can understand that.

You might try Frank Catt on 01323 843839

Good luck,

Rick
----- Original Message -----
From: Ian Anderson
To: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2005 11:06 AM
Subject: GT40 Parts


Rick


Hello Again

I talked to you a while back and discussed a car with you but then decided that with my height and weight combo that I would probably fit into a Dax easier than others. (6’3” and 18.5st) (OK call me a fat git!)

I bought a Dax in December and am putting it together, however I need some bits and wonder if RF will supply to cars not of their making?

So will you supply and if so what about prices for

Door handles, locks striker plates and inside release levers?

Radiator?

Radiator fans

Light buckets and adjusters (I have Valeo 470078 headlights with the kit but no fixing devices)
Possibly more bits but this will keep me going for now

Thanks
Ian Anderson

Now considering how much people support RF and the good name in the market I considered this very bad form but accept their policy.

I have not approached DRB but will be doing so in the hope of obtaining a set of their body locating pins.

Also Frank Catt has been very easy to approach for knowledge - even though I have not purchased anything from him - may be different in a few weeks as he mentioned he makes up some rear body louvres etc. Also to get the suspension etc. checked by Frank I will consider money well spent.

Other than that the Clubs have been fantastic for helping source parts and give information.

Lastly the GT40s forum - ask a question and someone will answer and assist - yes the forum is not a manufacturer but what a resource!

Ok my 0.02 worth and as I see it!

Ian

 

[Fran Hall RCR]

Re: won\'t sell

Mike Starling

Fran,

Are you going to provide parts to those of us that are building other kinds of kits? (Things such as wind shields, side windows, headlights, tail lights, clip closures, gas tank caps and so on.)

Thanks,

--------------------
Mike Starling
Sabre 6210
351W 4bolt SVO block
Luntati crank, Oliver rods
T&D tubes and rockers, internal balance
506 fwhp@6500 rpm, 481 ft-lb@4200 rpm

G50/52 ;>)

REPLY

Mike.
sure thing ...we are all in this to build the car of our dreams....
Just ask and if I can help I certainly will..
cheers

--------------------
FRAN HALL replica manufacturer.....
www.race-car-replicas.com
RCR-40..Mk1,Mk2 & Mk4
RCR-70 Mk3b
RCR-P4
917 coming in '06

Posted here...
http://www.gt40s.com/ubbthreads/showflat...=true#Post49818

 

[Chris Duncan]

Re: won\'t sell

I hear you Kevin. Parts are harder to come by in the US that's for sure. Probably cuz only ERA is the only one building cars in the US up to now, and they aren't in the parts business for whatever reason.

I really think there's a market in the US for individual parts and anyone that steps up is going to have business.

Overseas I think it's a different story. Toronado has a really nice website that breaks down parts and prices. They had a distributor here but he folded, the market must have been slow at that time.

 

Re: won\'t sell

kevin Ian Clark of CAV CAnada has been selling some parts and upgrades that he produces himself. I know for a fact he has sold a bunch to both Canadian and US owners. Try emailing him or posting here for a response from him. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Hershal Byrd]

Re: won\'t sell

Ian,
I'm not sure what the policy is for the UK on RF cars but I have and will sell certain generic parts to customers of other manufacturers. There are many parts that are unique to our cars and will not work on other GT's. You mentioned door locks. These I know will not work with some other manufacturers cars. The locks used by others will not work in our cars. We use a different locking-latching mechanism because the other type interferred with the safety bar inside our door. If I sell a part like this to a customer and it doesn't work then he's not going to be happy and he will surely want his money back. Also our headlights are totally bracketed differently because our inner panels are placed differently so our brackets that hold in the headlights are not likely to work on other cars. I am happy to sell you any generic parts that will fit most other cars. I won't sell items that I know will most likely not fit and may be returned. I believe this saves a bunch of agravation for the customer and myself. I'm happy to take the time and discuss a certain application with a customer and if he feels that he can adapt something and wants to try to make our part work then I will sell the part. Another thing is the price of shipping is the killer here not the part. I add that cost in which makes the part so high.
I can't speak for Rick but here in the States I try to help as many owners of other cars as I can. I know they are in a very precarious situation and they need a little help. The more GT's on the road the better.. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Hersh /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Chris Martino]

Re: won\'t sell

MDA has been supplying parts to the GT40 community for many years and still do. Some parts are not as easy to keep on the shelf due to demand and lack of suppliers. Some of those hard to stock parts are usually reserved for MDA customers who purchase a build package but if they are plentiful, they will be sold.

Chris

 

[Mike Dozier]

Re: won\'t sell

I have purchased parts from Tornado and RF even though
my car is a DRB. I believe ERA is the only major exception.


MikeD

 

Re: won\'t sell

WOW, what a response. Yes the parts are hard to come by here in the US. Andy at Tornado is the best I have talked to him and parts are not a problem for anyone wanting some. Fran at RCR was very fast to mail me info on gulf flares for my car. Customs fees and shipping is the reason
I posted . I was looking for any supplier to come forward to sell parts. A very simple request, you have something I need and you have it.. how much. the check is in the mail. Supply and demand the american way, or it use to be. I realize that some are afraid of copying their stuff, but anyone with a brain can copy anything these days . Example of needed parts ... driving down the road ,or running some time on the track and you get hit with debris from the road and crack your windscreen. What then where is a quick fix ,or at least reasonable price to fix? I realize that not all GT-40 Manufactuers have the same dimensions that will work on All cars , but let the consumer decide if they want to buy or not. The best to all ,Kevin

 

[Howard Jones]

Re: won\'t sell

Kevin sounds like we could use USA GT40 Parts .com You know the more I thing about this if a guy had some capital and the manufactures would play ball then it could be done. This would work out for everyone. The manufactures could plan production of a know numbers of spares with a sure end sale locked in and in a prodution sequence that doen't interfere with their timetable. The carowner would be able to get parts without waiting for them to be built and shipped accross the world. And someone could make some money.

The problem of course is the loss of use on capital. This would be determined by how long a give part sets on the shelf. If we assume that a given part waits for a buyer for 18 months then a $100 part is worth at least $100 plus a fair rate of return on the money. Lets say 7% per year. That makes it $110ish. Then we have taxes. Here in Calif. thats about 8% or $119. If we can operate in a low tax state then it would be less of course. Now we have shipping. The plan would have to include shipping parts in quanties that make sense. Lets say we buy 10 front lower A arms from RF or CAV or somebody. We get them shipped in a container with a car comming to the US anyway and pay a handleing charge of 5%. We are now at $125 for our example.

Ideas?

 

[Howard Jones]

Re: won\'t sell

The hell with it. I already have enough to do.

 

[Mike Dozier]

Re: won\'t sell

Kevin

If you're looking for a spare windshield for your TS-40
(without having to import from the UK), I suspect Fran Hall
or Dan White can set you up. Whether it will be an exact
fit to your TS no one can say.

Body panels are a totally different duck since there is no
common mold everyone uses, not to mention the difference
between manufacturers in mounting methods, etc.
You might be able to "adapt" another manufacturer's panel
to your TS-40....but nobody will guarantee that...
so don't crash your car.

MikeD

 

Re: won\'t sell

I agree to most of the replys. Howard it would be great to have in the US a supplier. That is what this post was about. I have not oedered my Gulf flares from RCR but I do say that Fran did respond to my question earlier and I did find my source for them. And as far as windshields and body panels ,yes I do agree that they all will not fit the different manufactuers out there. But it would be nice like I said for the consumer to decide if that particular part would fot or not. I do believe that most ,if not ALL the forum members are of high quality and can biuld a car from many different sources. The best To all, Kevin