Thread: Health of the aftermarket industry?

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Originally Posted by Mike P

"....I'm going back to the '60s......"

I've been accused of never leaving

Put on yer bellbottoms, come on over, and I'll dig out the Doors, Steppenwolf and 'Stones albums!

Hell I've got a turntable to play them on !!!!!!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by Mike P

Hell I've got a turntable to play them on !!!!!!!!!!!!

Is that abnormal? I've got one too! Seiously, I bought it for the wife, who has a big 45 collection. :-) I am personally in "the new millenium"! (I listen to an online jukebox.....click: http://www.tropicalglen.com/ )

On the subject of markets, as I have said, I am still seeing increasing interest in '60s styles, so I expect them to be one of the trends to replace the current '50s popularity. I have two flat black jobs, that had pinstrining only, now coming in for '60s style flames. Also talking with a couple possible customers about 'flake.....so business people start repopping '60s parts, 'swap meeters" dust off those vintage mags, upholsterers offer to do tuck and roll, stipers promote gold leaf and shrunken head designs, and painters prepare to "contaminate" the shop with "glitter". It's only a question of when.

My take on buying parts ahead of time is don't. Well for me anyway, I can't plan that far ahead. My car has taken 5 years of building and various delays. It went from a flathead to a caddy to a 429 and now has a 260 I think will be the last incarnation.lol I have owned enough different frames, sets of headlights, wheels, grill shells, valve covers, rear ends springs, well I could have built several cars. I guess what I'm saying is that your tastes may change and all those parts you thought you might use could end up on a garage sale a few years down the road. There will always be parts.

"........ I am still seeing increasing interest in '60s styles....."

I'm seeing a little bit of the same stuff Jay, It will be interesting to see if the economy stays strong enough that the trend actually takes off or as Dave thinks, that it will shrink back to the core group of people that have always been into the hobby no matter what the trends are.

Oh and Jay…….do you have a volume control for that shirt (kind of hard on the old eyes first thing in the morning)

As far as not buying parts at all, I generally settle on the plan and then start collecting parts.......very seldom are major changes made along the way. More often than not my projects revolve around the engine and transmission first and it's the body that will change depending on what I can find.

Basically I've had the Caddy engines around for several years now knowing that I want to stuff at least one of them into something one day. The El Camino I picked up appeals to me so that's the direction it will probably go.

I have decided to go ahead and order the "universal" mount kit......it is what I will need for the G Body swap and can be used on something else should I decide to change bodys before I start spinning wrenches on the project..

(QUOTE)Oh and Jay…….do you have a volume control for that shirt (kind of hard on the old eyes first thing in the morning)(QUOTE) MikeP

How this one? That "colorful one" is the only shirt I had when I decided to take advantage of this photo op....though I do seem to remember seeing a lot of unusually intense colors back then. :-)~ The picture was taken to send to my old "partying buds".

This picture was just given to me about a week ago, by a friend I worked for in the late '70s. Kind of a "glimpse into the past".

The president of my company is on the board of directors for the MIC (Motorcycle Industry Counsel) similar to SEMA. He is finishing up a industry show in Indianapolis, where they have there annual board of directors meeting.
I believe the automotive industry's parallels the motorcycle industry to a degree. There opinion is the end consumer will demand more quality in all there purchases not just go price shopping. There telling business to diversify, there is a lot of business to be had, but may take a little more work to get it. There is 94% of the population working, it's the confidence in the economy that is suffering.
I personally agree with this, but we will see. I hope anyone of our members here who isn't working gets the opportunity real soon.
Ken

Originally Posted by Ken Thurm

The president of my company is on the board of directors for the MIC (Motorcycle Industry Counsel) similar to SEMA. He is finishing up a industry show in Indianapolis, where they have there annual board of directors meeting.
I believe the automotive industry's parallels the motorcycle industry to a degree. There opinion is the end consumer will demand more quality in all there purchases not just go price shopping. There telling business to diversify, there is a lot of business to be had, but may take a little more work to get it. There is 94% of the population working, it's the confidence in the economy that is suffering.
I personally agree with this, but we will see. I hope anyone of our members here who isn't working gets the opportunity real soon.
Ken

Ken, I would totally agree with that opinion, and recommend it as "solid advise".

"Rat bikes" were around long before "rat rods", and the building style is virtually identical, so the influence is indeed there.

Also, I can report that my own business has not stopped, despite all of the negative spin that the news channels can put on it. The customers I have seen "fall away" are young guys who use home equity for their toys....and people in the building trades. Also the members of the hobby currently using flat black, as they don't use "shiney painters" as much. (Most don't know that I was doing "flat" 15 years ago.) :-) I am, however, very diversified, and that is truly the reason I am working steady.

I don't panic any more. I have been doing this so long that, I plan for the economy's ups and downs, and for the changes in paint trends. That will always be part of business.

Whips! That is one cool show they make a big deal of spray bombing the interior of a $70.000 Cadillac . If i took my mustang to a upholstery shop and they used a spray bomb on the interior i would be doing some rearranging with a baseball bat.

Originally Posted by HOTRODPAINT

Ken, I would totally agree with that opinion, and recommend it as "solid advise".

"Rat bikes" were around long before "rat rods", and the building style is virtually identical, so the influence is indeed there.

Also, I can report that my own business has not stopped, despite all of the negative spin that the news channels can put on it. The customers I have seen "fall away" are young guys who use home equity for their toys....and people in the building trades. Also the members of the hobby currently using flat black, as they don't use "shiney painters" as much. (Most don't know that I was doing "flat" 15 years ago.) :-) I am, however, very diversified, and that is truly the reason I am working steady.

I don't panic any more. I have been doing this so long that, I plan for the economy's ups and downs, and for the changes in paint trends. That will always be part of business.

We have not seen much of a change in our business. We are, however more careful who we extend credit too. We are more diversified in our new products. Their is no doubt it's ugly out there. I just wonder how much of it is motivated by perception?
Ken

Originally Posted by 417strokers

Whips! That is one cool show they make a big deal of spray bombing the interior of a $70.000 Cadillac . If i took my mustang to a upholstery shop and they used a spray bomb on the interior i would be doing some rearranging with a baseball bat.

Well said, I couldnt agree more.