grills

[Chris Robertson]

What would you think about 70 and 71 gs grills repoped? Someone has to be able to make these. What is the start up cost?

[RACEBUICKS]

30-40 K will get you started already looked into it

[Keith Conkle]

You'd think as often as this topic comes up there would be enough interest to take a shot at it. I'd buy one.....
:bglasses:

[72 V Code]

Hell,i'd buy a quality repo `71 GS Grille and i don't even own a `71..........YET!:eek2:

[OLDS442GM]

:af:
I wish these stupid reproduction people realize that theyre are buick guys out there, and this world is not all Chevy and Ford. I have been after a reproduction 70 gs grill for about 4 years now, and nobody makes it. Will sombody PLEASE get on the ball about making parts for these cars!! After all BUICK stands for (B) best (U) use (I) is (C) corvette (K) killing.

Larry

[Jim Rodgers]

The '71 grills have been reproduced for years. I would think the '70 would be far more popular nowadays.

[TimR]

The 71 grilles did have a repro at one time, but they were crap and fell apart and then the place making them burned down destroying the molds. So we're back to where we were....used going for 400.00+ and NOS hitting 1800.00-2000.00US.

It would be a tough sell to make the 71 grilles, then sell -maybe- a 100 at what 500.00-600.00 each to make your money back?? Everyone wants one but when its time to put the cash down they all run or complain about the price.

Hopefully with some club resources it can be done, and maybe even at a decent rpice, but how many guys are really going to buy one at 500.00??? (I know I would, but I'm a little nuts about my car).

later
Tim

[Todd69GS]

Don't forget about the 68 and 69's. We could use a few grilles also.

[David Gramlow]

OLDS442GM said::af:
I wish these stupid reproduction people realize that theyre are buick guys out there, and this world is not all Chevy and Ford. I have been after a reproduction 70 gs grill for about 4 years now, and nobody makes it. Will sombody PLEASE get on the ball about making parts for these cars!! After all BUICK stands for (B) best (U) use (I) is (C) corvette (K) killing.

Larry

Now, now, Larry...we have some very fine "reproduction people" on our board right now, in case you weren't aware. I want a new grille for my 68 just as badly as you want a 70. But no business is going to make these grilles if they can't turn a profit on them. Profit is what KEEPS them in business. The most likely source of repro grilles could be the BPG club, once a solid member base is established, and capital is accumulated to fund startup costs. The advantage the BPG has is that it is a not-for-profit organization. If you haven't looked at it yet, see www.buickperformancegroup.com

[realdealHurst]

All the more reason to go to Olds boys. Grilles-O-plenty on this side of the fence. Just got a new GM one for my '68:grin: :moonu:

[GSXMEN]

Hey...we got your sarcasm right here!:moonu: :moonu: :moonu:

Didn't 'Olds' used to be a division of GM?:Brow: Sorry, had to say it.:grin: That would be funnier if it wasn't such a 'crime'!! Don't think us Buick guys aren't a little concerned about what the future holds for the Buick division!:ball:

Scott

[BuickAl]

TimR said:The 71 grilles did have a repro at one time, but they were crap and fell apart and then the place making them burned down destroying the molds. So we're back to where we were....used going for 400.00+ and NOS hitting 1800.00-2000.00US.

It would be a tough sell to make the 71 grilles, then sell -maybe- a 100 at what 500.00-600.00 each to make your money back?? Everyone wants one but when its time to put the cash down they all run or complain about the price.

Hopefully with some club resources it can be done, and maybe even at a decent rpice, but how many guys are really going to buy one at 500.00??? (I know I would, but I'm a little nuts about my car).

later
Tim

Tim, you are right with your post. EVERYBODY says they want something until its time to put out the cash. Then suddenly, you are standing alone. I've looked into this. I've had the grilles sent to and inspected by SEVERAL plastics companies. There are 2 choices. Epoxy Molds and Injection Molds. Epoxy molds are a lower cost mold for small numbers where QUALITY is not a mandatory and TOLERANCES are not a concern. Plastic Shrinks when it cools and that's why a pour mold like an epoxy mold, though cheaper, would not work. ONLY option really is an injection mold. NEAR PERFECT quality and tolerances. Not as brittle and breakable either. The quotes that I"ve received (WRITTEN QUOTES) show that it would take around $350,000 to make a mold and produce 1,000 grilles. That's $350 per grille (OF ONE YEAR ONLY), but there's not 1,000 orders out there. At best, you might sell 200. If you only sell 200, then the price is closer to $1,000 a grille (actually, the Man. won't make less than 250 injection molded pieces).

Eventually, you could make your money back. But who's got $350,000 laying around and 5 to 10 years to wait for it to come back to them. Its sad, but true. Once people accept the fact that a nice reproduction is going to cost about $500 and there are enough people who will pay that, we'll have grilles made by somebody. We aren't there yet.

Alan

[David Gramlow]

Geez Al, you make it sound like I'll never see a repro 68 in my lifetime! And I expect to live another 40 odd years or so! Maybe I shoulda coughed up the $800+ for that NOS ebay grille. I didn't because funds are NOT at a surplus, and I've been HOPING to pay about $500 for a repro in the next decade...:gt:

[BuickAl]

David Gramlow said:Geez Al, you make it sound like I'll never see a repro 68 in my lifetime! And I expect to live another 40 odd years or so! Maybe I shoulda coughed up the $800+ for that NOS ebay grille. I didn't because funds are NOT at a surplus, and I've been HOPING to pay about $500 for a repro in the next decade...:gt:

Sorry.....not trying to spread doom and gloom. Its just facts and the frustration that overtakes me sometimes. There is still hope. I've got a few things going right now on this project that I cannot reveal just yet. A little too early for an announcement until actual confirmation from a third party on something. Soon.

Alan

[Mike Atwood]

How about taking names and numbers.......get the people interested. WHen you get enough people interested....have them pre-pay for their grille, then go ahead with production. It might not be a bad idea to also see if OPG or another vendor would take some preorders, or some kind of contract where they would be bound to the pricing and ordering agreement.

I think this was also brought up before and quite a few people wanted them.....but just relying on BB people only, you will never get the results you are looking for. A plug in a national publication would be a start........ how about putting something in the Xtra and in the Build Sheet? There are sheetloads of 70-72 GS's out there....and 90% of them are not online people.

It's all about marketing..... you will need to target your audience, they won't just pop up online

Just my $ .02 worth ................... And yes, I want a 70 grille ...

[72 V Code]

To me $500.00 for really nice repo `71 GS Grille sounds like a bargain.Cracked ones on E-bay now bring $400.00 plus on a regular basis.I heard of a $1600.00 asking price for an NOS `71 GS Grille recently.
I don't even own a `71 & i'm certainly not rich,but i'd buy 1 for sure-maybe 2 `71 grilles myself.

[Keith Conkle]

If nothing else I think most of us at the very least would be able to cough up a $100 deposit on one. Gotta get the ball rolling somewhere. Maybe it might be a good idea to make a bunch of copies of what we need to get this started and have them at a few select vendors booths at as many events as possible this summer. Getting the word out is the key.

[David Gramlow]

Mike Atwood said:How about taking names and numbers.......

Mike, Alan F has been collecting names/addresses, etc, for a long time, for all model year GS's.

I would put down a couple hundred deposit anytime it was asked for, but I'm afraid the 68 that I need is not at the top of the repro list. :(

[Rixster]

David Gramlow said:Mike, Alan F has been collecting names/addresses, etc, for a long time, for all model year GS's.

I would put down a couple hundred deposit anytime it was asked for, but I'm afraid the 68 that I need is not at the top of the repro list. :(

Nor my 69!:ball:

[rooster]

while i'm here i might as well put my vote in for a 67 gs grille. i'd have very few qualms putting up $100-200 for a deposit if it would help with startup cost. i thought finding my cast 4bbl intake for my 300 was tough till i started to tackle this resto issue....sheeeesh! i'll check back to see if this issue has a chance of gainin any momentum. later, rooster.

[70sportwagon]

Just buy the expensive NOS grille. Less frustrating. Startup costs for injection molding are very high. When demand is low and production cost is high you will not find a business ready to jump in because they need to make money back in a timely fashion. $ 350,000 or $35,000 dollars are equally out of reach for a hobbyist-type business person to undertake if the orders trickle in over a decade.

So...

1.If you own a 71 GS with no grille save about 1000-1500 for an NOS grille, or 500-900 for a repaired one.
2.Make sure you buy a project car with a serviceable grille.
3.Offer $1000 less for your project 71 if it has no grille.
4.Weep openly about the gaping hole in your front clip.

Move the prices down a little for a 70 because there are more around.

Hopefully some rich Buick lover wants a project and decices the challenge of repro grilles is worth it.

But don't count on it. Good luck with your grille hunting, everyone!!

[riv1973]

with the money that is being spent for NOS grills, you would think that it would be worth it for an investor to pu the money into a GS grill manufacturing effort. you could charge $500 a grill for a perfect reproduction. for the $35K you would only have to sell 70 of them to recoup investment. maybe some people should get together and invest in this project. 70 units to recoup the initial investment sounds reasonalbe to me. how about you guys.

john

[Marco]

riv1973 said:with the money that is being spent for NOS grills, you would think that it would be worth it for an investor to pu the money into a GS grill manufacturing effort. you could charge $500 a grill for a perfect reproduction. for the $35K you would only have to sell 70 of them to recoup investment. maybe some people should get together and invest in this project. 70 units to recoup the initial investment sounds reasonalbe to me. how about you guys.

john


John -

The problem is that the molds alone are upwards of $200K, not $35K :jd: