disclaimer ......dont care if I hurt your feelings ok? Just a few years ago a company went out on a limb to make buick skylark parts. as of now...today I just found out they are done. they made 150 pairs of 1/4s and sold only 60 they also made several other parts and now because they did not receive the sales they wanted/needed to make any further parts..... guess what people its over they are discontinuing any further parts for us. That means NO HOODS NO FENDERS NNNNNNOTHING. Heres the part you wont like. People listen you want parts buy whats available and do it now. People like me that make parts need them sold as fast as they can. dont wait because they are available buy them now. Stock them up whatever. These parts are going away forever. You are about to see NOS parts double again in value. Those people that have cars that need parts you better buy them right now or forever hold your peice its over. Some people might as well sell their car because restoring a buick just went up about 150% count on it! I wondered if the low performing sales on the sheet metal would kill the deal and I was right. These companies will move to the brand of car that gets them sales why waste time on buick owners they dont buy anything when its available. So there it is, I had better not hear anyone ever cry about no parts being made again. This is the same reason I hold back making parts myself. So good luck on that restoration you got that coming up.
I've been talking with two different groups that used to do aftermarket work on the OHC Pontiac six engines I've been playing with. One group sunk some serious cash into developing parts and getting them made and the market wasn't strong enough to support what they built (headers, valve train, etc), and the other guy was on the verge, and didn't take the risk of investing a pile of cash on getting hard parts casted. It is unfortunate, but that is economics. All the more reason why I consider TA to brave this niche market, cause hard parts to R&D and make is an expensive venture.
Might help if you tell us who this company is so those of us who have not yet attempted a restoration needing these parts could consider
full 1/4s 70-72 , and outer wheel houses, and front right fenderwells, hood moldings for 70, back window panels, are all available thru Mark Reeves with Then & Now, Cars Inc, and several other companies.
The ohc guy...was that the guy in la that was messin around with the heads i cant think of the name....
Well the same can be said about the tomahawk block from T/A. How many people have $4500 to plunk down on just a block. All said and done a fully built Tomahawk could cost 15-20K. I for one don't have that kind of disposable income. I am lucky if I have 2 nickels to rub together 3 days after payday most times. I am sure I am not alone. The economy is in the toilet, a lot of people with that disposable income are worring about putting the next meal on the table let alone parts for their car. I would love to buy a set of quarters to chop up to make some for my wagon but right know it ain't goning to happen. I do what I can with what I got. My half assed repair on my wagon may not be prograde but I did it myself with what I had available in a place where I had to work. Yeah I may have body and air tools but with just the apt parking lot to work in a no access to air, or power for that matter. It is hard. Those of you who have a place to work on your Buick or anything else. feel fortunate. I park about a 100 yards from my place If I need power I have to pull my car on the dirt side road and run an extension cord, through the fence and over a ditch to the car. I've said my piece Tim
If there isn't a big enough market for the 70-72 cars then there damn sure isn't a big enough market for any of the other Buicks.
I think Mike's point is a lot of people were screaming for these parts to be made then when they do no one is buying. I needed the parts when they were not being made and got rid of my 70 GS455 right before they came out and got into the big cars....that will NEVER have parts made for them. I am on a super tight budget like Tim, I would have to have sold something to get the parts but probably would have if I had kept the car. As a partially disabled vet working full time and making $24K a year with a mortgage and a 4 year old daughter every penny counts and to support my hobby I usually have to sell something to buy something. It's a shame that this has happened since the GS guys will have limited stuff for them and I agree that it will keep others from making new things as well
The economy has jerked the rug out from under a lot of people,,, this board has slowed way down from what it was.... when people have money to spend on their cars, they get on here and talk about it....
I had caught wind of this at BPG back in August in Columbus. It is a shame. I for one will be ordering some of these parts, even if they just get stored along with my stash of NOS for the time being. As I understand things, the dies will not be destroyed. But if the parts made from them won't sell, the dies won't be of much use either. I'll be contacting you Mike regarding some of your parts. I was more than happy with my prior purchase.
I'd hate to have to give an economics lesson here, but. . .THE ECONOMY SUCKS! In 2006 you can walk into a bank and if you had equity in your home, walk out with a load of cash to use any way you wanted. You CAN'T do that now and going back for the last 5+ years. That company should be proud they held on this long. I agree, it sucks a major contributor to the hobby is going down- but It's the potential customers fault? No, sorry- It's Not!:rant:
Unfortunately it was a case of poor timing for Auto Metal Direct, and the Buick parts.. They hit the market right about the time that the resto business really slowed down. Had they come out several years earlier, when money was easy and car values were high, then they would have had a much better chance of selling out that first run. But if the dies are still there, then there is hope of future parts being made from them. I am sure the front inner fender they are making has been a much bigger seller being a much less expensive, and easier to install piece. I know I have used a couple. JW
You are right I see it everyday I run an automotive/body shop and we have been down for the past 3 to 4 years and it gets worse every day. I know of another single man shop who only made 20.00 this week he was almost in tears yesterday when I talked to him. It is the bad times now that is causing this problem.
Obviously, there's nothing to be happy about in this story. It's unfortunate that this had to happen to anyone, yet it hits this community hard. I'm honestly surprised that more people making parts for a niche market haven't gone under over the last five years. As others have stated it's impressive that they made it this long given the conditions. Nobody can be faulted for walking away from a money losing business. I assume a large cost to them right now is for storage of the unsold parts. As with everything cyclical, the economy will turn around eventually and hopefully we'll all be in a better position to buy things and they will be able to pick up and start again with better results the next time.
I work with a local body shop that is a "pro shop" for a couple of insurance companies. Needless to say, my friend's business is waaay down compared to a couple of years ago. He is on the verge of closing the doors. Just barely enough work comes in to keep several guys busy. Some days there is nothing. The bills keep on coming in though. Paint supplies have gone through the roof. It costs about 25K a month just to keep the doors open. Another friend has a rental company that's been in business for 28 years. They rent equipment,tents,etc. 30K a month just to open up and sales are down quite a bit but the cost of operation is up a lot. They are both looking at the spectre of federal mandated health care provisions. If this takes place there will be no doubt both will close up. It looks like a war against small business owners.
I could use some of the parts now available for my collection of '72's, but have not had extra money to buy car parts. By the time a person buys fuel, food, takes care of our pet's needs, doctor and dentist bills (no health or dental insurance), and all the other necessary living expenses, there is nothing left. The only jobs available are fast food, convenience stores, and a few other minimum wage type jobs. My dad has a bodyshop, and usually goes weeks or months with out a single job. So I will just have to hope that if and when I am ever able to buy the parts I need that there are some available somewhere.
Actually, if they provided insurance to employeees, they will be much better off. For a 2K contibution employees can then buy it on the 2014 exchange. This would be much less than they are paying now. But since I have never seen a body shop with 50 or more employeees they are exempt from the affordable health care act.
Thats too bad. I would think a quality repo Hood would be a hot seller. I thought the parts place was working on one ? I would buy a quality repo at a fair price even though I have an original that needs some minor body work on the next paint job. Ive been waiting on one to see if the Board gave them the thumbs up before I would buy it. I guess I might want to decide on the inner wheel well patch panel or the entire unit before their all gone.
