The time has come for us to make a final decision regarding the completion of this project. We have final production cost figures and must act within the time period for which they are good. Based upon my experience with the reproduction 1970 GS Skylark tail light lenses and the number of people expressing interest in purchasing coolant reservoirs (i.e., the quantity that will likely sell), here are the terms under which I am able to reproduce the Coolant Reservoirs that will fit the 70-72 Buick Skylark and GS models. I am reproducing these ONLY in the EXACT amount ordered. In final discussions with the manufacturer this morning, they have revised their quantity requirements due to the time and effort required to make different pieces (Reservoir, Lid, and O ring). The manufacturer is now requiring a minimum order of 200 reservoirs or they will not even do the project. This is the number that will allow them to fully recover their costs and give them a small profit for their efforts. If the economy were not so bad right now, they would no do this project at all. Of the 200 required reservoirs, I will buy 25 to sell on ebay or through other channels. That means I must have firm, paid orders for 175 reservoirs. No additional reservoirs beyond the greater of 200 or the amount actually ordered will be produced. Because of the manufacturers quantity requirements, I cannot guarantee when and if any more will be produced. Price The price for a coolant reservoir will be $195.00. This price includes the reservoir, black lid and an o ring to seal the lid to the reservoir. I will try to have clear lids also made, but NO PROMISES. You should order ONLY if a black lid is acceptable. Payment Full payment for the reservoir is required up front. This is because the manufacturer is requiring us to pay the full $35,000 production costs up front. Production I have been told that production will require 20 weeks. I am going to tell you 24 because my experience is that theres always some sort of a delay. Quality The reservoir is being produced as close as possible to an original NOS version. Here is the Manufacturers own words regarding what as close as possible means and how close to the originals these reproduction reservoirs will be. I offer NO GUARANTEES that this part will be EXACTLY like an NOS reservoir. "As close as possible" means that our systems will create blended radii and surfaces differently than another system. Depending on the software they will vary. To the untrained eye it will likely not be noticeable. To someone who works in CAD or QC at GM, they MAY notice a difference. These variations would be in the range of +/- 0.015": not a serious issue in my estimation. I just wanted you to know the parts would PROBABLY not pass muster in a GM QC inspection. Refunds NO refunds unless the project does not materialize. If you order and pay for a reservoir, you will receive a reservoir. You will receive a full refund ONLY if a reservoir is not produced. NO EXCEPTIONS! We will know on June 1, 2003 whether production will proceed based on the number of orders received. Deadline Orders (and payment) must be received NO LATER THAN May 31, 2003. No orders will be considered after that date because a final decision regarding production will be made on June 1. I will be at the Nationals with flyers setting forth these terms and which can be used to sign up, or I can email you a form to return by mail or fax. To reach me by email, use alan@carmotorsports.com Thanks, Alan
Alan, Is it possible to order parts of these tanks? I'd like to get a gasket for mine, but don't want to spend $195 for a tank I don't needo No: :beer
Alan, just sent you an e-mail for my order. Hopefully others will get behind this project and lets get some &*($%$^&* parts made for these cars already! NOS last went for 700.00US. later Tim
Yup! :TU: We're nearing 200 views on this thread, hopefully lots of you guys looking in are ordering!
PayPal Todd, We take paypal, but would prefer that you hold on that until I contact you. We'll know by June 1 if there's any need to even go through the process and incur the paypal fees. I've attached the signup form that I plan to use at the Nats. Alan
Thank you. I could have sworn I read that, but I just couldn't find it. Makes sense for the black top.
I won't be posting it due to lack of time, but would certainly appreciate you doing so. Every little bit helps. Alan
Alan, Not to be picky, but if "you" or "they" (whoever they are) can REPRODUCE the "Black" lid, why CAN'T you reproduce the "CLEAR" lid using the same material that you're going to make the reservoir out of? I'M JUST ASKING, because I don't know why you WOULDN'T be able to.o No: There are a lot more guys that want the Clear Top, anyway. We can find the Black Top ones at the junk yards (well, "some" of us can), just as there are MORE of '71 and '72 Skylarks, combined, compared to '70 Skylarks, that had them.
There was a whole thread on this topic a while ago, do the search. The lettering is different I believe so would require another mold to be completely correct. later Tim
I am going to check into having the black lids available in clear, but can't promise anything. They will not be correct though because of the difference in writing and a possible difference in color, although every clear tank I've seen is yellow so its hard to say what they really looked like new. I've always thought the clear tanks and lids were more clear or translucent than the tanks used later with the black lids, which seemed more opaque. Maybe this is just perception and not reality. BTW, on the numbers, there will be more guys that want the black lids (and not the clear lids) because the tanks and lids are being offered ONLY as a complete unit. The black lids everyone has now will probably not fit the new tanks due to warpage from heat. Regardless, the tanks are being sold as a complete piece (tank, lid and O ring) and not separately. So, demand for tanks and lids will be equal. No exceptions as there is no other way to do it. How bad would it be to produce a tank, and then find out the old lids don't fit. BTW, signup so far is minimal. Only had about 12 tanks spoken for at the Nats. Just so you know, the $195 price is the max. It will only go down as more people sign up. For example, if I had 300 tanks sold, I could drop the price to $179.95. If 500 tanks could be sold, then the price would be $149.95. There's power in numbers. But 500 is a lot of coolant tanks. You don't even want to hear the price if we could get 1,000 spoken for.......... (but I can tell you its under $100). So, the $195 can only go down, not up (provided there's enough interest to do it in the first place). Alan Alan
