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OCTOBER 2018 UPDATE |
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............... We
have amassed an uncontrollably large pile of parts
over the past 46 years. If you saw the full extent of
it you would probably walk off muttering "that guy
needs some serious help...MEDICAL help". I've spent a
few years chipping away at the number of storage
locations we are using; our own properties; friends
(or former friend's) places, slightly abused relatives
etc. etc. etc. I've been able to close out some
buildings and locations but it is an immense
task. It
is hard to look at getting rid of parts that seemingly
not long ago I would have gone and brought here or
someplace; and again; seemingly not long before that
would have PAID FOR. We
aren't planning on stopping this train; although I've
muttered about it for years I just can't see it
happening; but we are going to push to downsize our
storage needs. (It is the used parts; especially big
or heavy parts that are the primary task; the hastened
departure of new parts will come later.) My
longstanding belief that someone will need that ugly
part because we are all out of better ones or they
want to do work on the part themselves or that some
part has to be saved as a core for rebuilding is
finally changing and I actually have started SCRAPPING
parts. It hasn't been much of a priority; but this
change of thinking is increasing weekly. I'd
like to do this in an orderly fashion but sometimes I
have a feeling that all of a sudden I'm just going to
scrap stuff en masse within a very short time
period. Because
of this; if the decision to do so does happen before I
can even make a much of a website notice; and you want
to learn of it; it is important to make sure we have
your current email address; and also that you have
sent some sort of statement that it is OK for us to
send unsolicited email. We have only sent one in 20
years so it is not something we do very often! I can't
guarantee I'll even do this. We
are of course starting with the worst of any part
which compared to what guys consider a "good" part for
a 1940 Ford are FABULOUS parts! We
probably have 15% of used parts showing on the
website. Honestly; I believe we are still sitting on
about 40 tons of used metal. I guess I am saying that
if you want something; if you are flexible about the
condition (or not) you may have a good chance of
coming up with something at a great price. There are a
lot of things we just have not had time to photo and
put up; things where condition are important. We are
working on improving on that but as time goes on I
just may send the used parts to their final reward. I
am so behind on so many life projects. I'll bet a lot
of you are too. Rick Mattos told me once; there are
two dates, DEATH and RETIREMENT. You get to choose
one. The
used parts do not usually carry the acquisition costs
of the new. They carry some storage costs which are
getting worse; but we will constantly be looking to
see if the cost of a particular used part can be
skimmed down. We
try to list used parts in all kinds of conditions;
some people want that. I realize that some of you look
at that and must say "Why is he putting THAT up on the
website"...well not everyone is looking to build a
museum piece or a show car; they just want an old
roadster to drive around; or maybe are putting
together a 2nd one to sell to finance their primary
car's costs. We've sold parts EVEN I don't know why
someone would buy! I don't particularly like selling
really awful parts; a lot of car businesses don't even
deal with USED parts AT ALL. It
is also difficult for me as a lifetime car guy; who
has spent untold amounts of time turning over rocks
and battling bees and spiders in old sheds in hopes of
finding something wonderful to just toss out a part.
(I'm getting over that.) I
didn't want to leave you with the impression that I'm
at the point where I'm going to trash everything
without continuing to try to sell it or with some of
the stuff at least trying to find a good home for it.
I retain an overall fondness for the car and most of
the "roadster collective" out there. I will say though
that I have seen some odd decisions made by the owners
of various types of businesses. I think running a
business is kind of like a ride; like a Merry-Go-Round
or a Roller Coaster where you do not have control over
the speed or the duration. Lots of fun but sometimes
you just want to slow it down or just jump off. Just
saying that sometimes certain events; like yet another
old friend or associate passing away makes me want to
look at some other adventures I have put
off. thanks Dann
at Rallye ..........
OCTOBER
2018 UPDATE
