I just ordered another 67 GS grill from The Parts Place and it was the 10th grill they have sold and I couldnt believe it because I saw a thread on this board that alot of people wanted it reproduced. I was told once they are gone they will not make another run because they didnt sell. I guess this is why nobody will make repro quarters for 64-67 Buicks. Everybody says they want one or need them but when push comes to shove their arms are to short to reach into their pockets. I hope Frank doesnt have the same problem with his steering wheels for our cars.:rant:
This has happened a lot here. Core support repair kits, gears, grilles, etc, etc. There's a lot of "count me ins" being thrown around but then it's hard to get the $$$. On the other hand there just isn't as many Buicks around as there are Chevelles and Camaros. That's really the bottom line. Repop shops see no return on their Buick investment. Sometimes I go to the local National Parts Depot to pick up some small stuff that GS' share with Chevelles and it makes me sick to see the repop Chevelle core supports and auto consoles sitting there for under $200.:ball:
Hi guys i never posted before but i can relate, i have repoped the 69 gs quarter corners alot of guys have seen them, seemed to have liked them but nobody wants them.Thay are not cheap but thay cost load of money to make, then i have to sand and polish them they look really good without chrome but that adds another fifty to the price only to worry the guy doesnt buff the lines off them.I have other parts in the works but if i get no interest i will just make the parts for myself. Greg
National Parts Depot has '67 grilles? That's their bad for not getting the word out. The quality of the repop has a lot to do with sales. Frank will have no trouble with his wheels, as they fit 64-66 and are high quality and reasonably priced. There are a number of poor quality 1/4's and fender patch kits out there that would be harder to work with than the original dented/rusted sheetmetal. Make a good product, and they'll sell, even if you charge a lot. Just look at NOS Buick prices on ebay. Buick guys are NOT cheapskates. They just want good parts on their cars, and unfortunately, then as now, genuine GM is still the best available. Dan
I heard that,with the track record that I've seen for the last couple of years I would have to say that there's more talk than action around the Buick flag.There's some people making some good stuff out there but nobody's biting.Too bad.
I think the grill is great and better than the original. I also have the 70 grill that everybody said was painted wrong even though the NOS parts were wrong too. I find humor in the fact that some people will nit pick a repro part to pieces about not being exactly perfect but then I take a look at their car that is so far from perfect.o No:
No, The Parts Place Inc has them. And they have advertised them, and they repopped them in large part because of significant stated interest in a poll thread here.
Guys like Mike Garrison who try to get parts produced based on people saying they need them, should demand money upfront to cover costs so it doesn't bite him in the a** again and again.
It's the same situation in the Turbo Mopar fold. A few years back one of our vendors struck a deal with Koni to start producing the factory struts and shocks that came on the '86 and '87 Shelby GLHS again, but they've gone back into non-production. Same thing with the Shelby specific grille for the '89 CSX. The thing we all really hurt for is weatherstripping pieces, especially the felt lined scrapers for the door glass. I managed to track down some NOS pieces for my Charger, but the supply is incredibly limited. And it doesn't help that our crowd is notoriously um, shall I say budget minded. On that note, if anyone ever finds a Dodge Omni/Plymouth Horizon or a two-door Dodge Shadow or Plymouth Sundance with good door glass scrapers, get them. People are always looking for those on the Mopar board. Daytonas too. Granted, you won't get classic Buick prices for these, but you could easily clear a couple hundred bucks for a set for any given car.
I agree - I always buy a repop if I expressed interest on the board. Its not fair to the vendors to do otherwise. I got burned on the BBB fan shroud - it works but looks all wrong. I bought the 67 grill and it looks nice, but they did not repop the trim! So you get the plastic but you also have to find nice metal parts. I had to buy 3 other used OEM grills to get enough metal parts to build one nice grill. I could have bought a complete nice original grill on ebay for what I have in the repop. So its a hobby - I'm still glad they are trying. Much of the NOS stuff is "gone" or soooo expensive. The guys doing the restorations for show must be having nightmares! - Bill
And this is the reason that I would never take my '66 to a all Buick car show. To many nit pickers and I don't need the stress. And yes, I'll be purchasing one of Franks steering wheels just a soon as I can figure out how to do it with pay pal. o No: Otherwise, I'm a happy guy. Jimp I ordered and paid for Frank's repop steering wheel for my '66 yesterday and now the waiting begins. Looking forward to getting it. Jim
People certainly do nit pick about new parts for their own cars, but I've rarely (if ever) found other Buick owners at shows nit picking on each other's cars (unless it's donked or something else equally stupid; then we just laugh at them behind their backs). If anything, others have been very helpful and encouraging. So, get that car out there ! Jeff ~ yep, I bought my steering wheel from Frank (he has them on ebay now).
well if thats the way its going with the 67 grilles,i hope they dont kill the 70-72 gs hoods that they said were in the works.as far as nit picking,.i,d rather have an incorrectly painted part then no part at all,i can always repaint it myself.reproing stuff is expensive but theres always a cheaper way,we just gotta get more people involved.more r+d,i hate to say it but sometimes u just gotta donate ur time without the big price tag that goes along.guys like mike g and buick franc,and the parts place are stepping up to the plate(sorry if i left anybody out),i would offer my time to them if i knew it would help keep the projects going.im a 70-72 guy but would also lend a hand to the other years as well,if we can get more guys doing this and real commitments i think we can get stuff made.money up front is a sore subject ,(especially)with all the people still waiting for there 455 blocks,but that is why communication is key.im a member of the northeast gsca and those guys always look to help the cause,if we can get all the clubs to do the same we can get this going...........my 2 cents
Really? Take a gander at the ebay area sometime. Guy's here are shredding cars apart all of the time. Granted some of them deserve it but overall I agree with Jim and Ed. I've seen repro parts that have been made by board members here with their own time and effort being critiqued and nit picked down to the smallest detail. Even though it may be a part that is not reproduced and is needed badly. And Ed is 100% correct with his last statement. Some of the nit pickers don't even have decent driver quality cars. Just a bunch of "projects".ou:
Well I think you are more right than me overall. I guess that I have seen what you're describing here on the board. Although perhaps not clearly stated in my last post, I'm referring to real life car shows (that I've been to) where people don't nit pick each others cars but rather just have a good time.
The simple answer is to have committments is cash for the parts. That said a good prototype that has been vetted by a trusted restorer like Jim Weise or Dave Kliner/ Mark Reeves ect. is very helpfull and would go a long way towards selling parts. MOst people do not want to go through the trouble of investing until they can put their hands on the part and that shifts the onus onto the manufacturer of ther part to make sure its correct and take all the risks. Tough to swallow all the RD and start up costs so the parts have to be highly sought after and be able to sell enought units to make it work. My hats off to the guys that have done this stuff as we all benefit. I always said when you have a large club maybe the best way to repo parts is to collect a little from each person then make the part. If done right it should make some money and then you use the profits to make more repo parts.
You need to also include those of us how have the cars we test them on to be sure the end product will pass the test. People like Frank McIntyre, Duane Heckman, and myself among a few, do test these items on the cars we want to sell them for. We dont need the others to tell us they do or dont work as the parts we sell we have to work or we dont sell them. WHO WOULD BUY THEM? We go back to the drawing board to remake it. Everytime I put a part out to sell it has already been installed to insure fit and usage. I have been doing these parts since 1983 and I can tell you that everything has been tested over and over. Not everything can be made absolutely perfect but I try to do the very best at the least amount of selling price I can. I sell my parts to Dave Kliener, Mark Reeves and to Jim Weise's customers as well. They wouldnt be buying them if they didnt work trust me. This place (V8 board) can make or break a part if its good or bad. Take the parts place turn signal knobs and tilt handles.....Or the grill paint jobs ...I could keep going. rant over............for now:laugh:
Mike, sorry if you felt slighted. You, Duane and Frank and others have had your parts vetted by those you mentioned and I too have been telling everyone about them. I wasn't clear but you were included in the (ect.). I have 2 of your shift horseshoes and have spent hours explaining why mine never pops up when I am showing the car. I have several of Duanes parts as well and will be making an order from Frank soon. Also may I say I think its common knowledge that if you or Duane, Frank and Mark and Dave K (apologies if I am forgetting anyone) make parts they will be worth installing on our cars. Any one that makes the effort is worth mentioning . There are a lot of repo parts out there that I would not put on my car.
