What's the argument against ramping up the production of Stratos replicas?
'Nobody capable to outsource to, I guess.
What's the argument against ramping up the production of Stratos replicas?
'Nobody capable to outsource to, I guess.
Let's keep it as it is.Originally Posted by ProtoTipo
Keep the value up.
I've got two of 'em!
Get NapierSports going again
Nooooooooooo!
I've got one of 'em!
The current situation is like standing on shifting sand. No-one really knows what'll happen next or where the path forward is. Everyone is simply trying to "make it work" and hoping things will become clearer at some point. Craig's example of the loom issue will be just one of a whole host of things. I sincerely hope the shows continue but as said earlier, it's a bit like a "classic kit car" display on the club stands and I think the traditional kit car builder is dying out. Lots of customers these days are monied and expect a high-quality product, and I can't see them (or at least, not many) heading off to a trad kit car show. If Grosvenor decide they can't make it work, then maybe the future will be for kit car companies to take space at the major car gatherings over the summer - Goodwood, Silverstone, NEC Classic Show maybe, that kind of thing. Probably expensive though, and it'll be passed on to customers one way or t'other.
Meanwhile, if you've got a desirable car (e.g. Strat rep of any sort), right now you're quids in. Look after it and you can't lose.
This actual situation is quite worrying and it’s a pity to know all this troubles!!
Hopefully it’s going better in a near future and with Brexit more Covid pandemic Kitcar shows and almost kitcar industry won’t dying!!
For sure if you are lucky enough to got a Strat rep or a kit in order keep them for a long time…it’s probably better than money in the bank!!!
Last edited by Stratie.fr; 11-02-2022 at 12:27.
I have always viewed my Strat as a “Classic Kit Car”, in fact when I was putting it together, if anybody asked what I was building back in 2015-19, I always described it as a ‘Specialist Kit Car’, not the type of Kit Car ordinarily perceived by the general public. I do feel and sympathise with the current and future customers who want to join with us, the long lead time that has developed because of circumstances and the popularity of our ‘marque’ must create real heartache. I personally am so glad I discovered Lydia and Craig when I did back in 2014.
With regard to Show’s at which kit car producers could display their products, is there a Kit Car Producers Association that could do it’s own thing at venue which would be more economic?, however I do think that Normans suggestion of a section of the Classic Car show with the foot fall that’s there and the attendant facilities has merit and is worth considering.
"Why make it easy when you can struggle"
I don't know what the cost would be of a manufacturer taking a stand. I remember Stuart Gross having one at the "regular" NEC Motor Show to display the Allora back in the day, and I said to him it must have cost a bomb. Well it did - £2k back in 1987... I'd hope a club stand at the Classic Show would be less then that! In fact it crossed my mind to have a club stand at the NEC Classic a couple of years ago, but it seems that was tried some while back, and I was told it was a long weekend for those on the stand with little in the way of reward, either personally or for the club. Having said that, things have moved on substantially since then, and my gut feeling is that a SEC presence with a few cars on the stand could be a showstopper these days. But then again, why would anyone want to join a club for cars you can't actually buy?? (or not easily.)
Things have changed a lot over the last few years and I don't think they won't return to how they were before Covid & Brexit.
Not only have material costs gone through the roof across the board but there are also long lasting supply chain issues and specific things we used to buy are simply no longer available.
On a more local level finding reliable staff who can actually do the job rather than just thinking they can is a challenge.
A lot of people got too comfortable being paid to sit at home last year and they now simply don't want to work.
Out of those that do want to work some think they are worth twice as much as their abilities suggest they are actually worth.
Finding people devoid of ego who can also work with others is a challenge and from experience that is not necessarily within a big group either.
Outsourcing is another issue as whilst you can find companies to do things their rates have increased considerably as well which combined with the additional material cost means things are expensive.
A prime example of this for me was wiring looms, our previous supplier of looms closed in line with protocol & I don't think they caught back up. Their lead times were so bad that we then tried to source elsewhere. The first (very reputable) company who quoted were asking for around 6 times the price of the original supplier, the second one was more realistic but was still around 2.5 times the cost of the original supplier. The issue with that one then was that they wanted us to provide a full bill of materials before they would make the looms at which point we had done the majority of the work for them which meant that we might as well make them ourselves. So the general feel was that yes, you can get companies to do things for you but they want you to all the hard work and they will then charge you for the privilege.
Last edited by Strat Fan; 10-02-2022 at 17:44.
"You can lead a horse to water, but a pencil must be lead"
Stan Laurel
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