Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2005 05:05:25 -0500
Reply-To: Jonathan Farrugia <jfarrugi@UMICH.EDU>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jonathan Farrugia <jfarrugi@UMICH.EDU>
Subject: Re: JFF: Save the Adventurewagen Molds! (ultra long)
In-Reply-To: <000601c50cf3$e07d2010$04000100@MAIN>
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***Replies*** to the original post.
Is the future owner going to actually have the time and inclination to
support and operate what is essentially a one-off, on-demand business with
a low profit margin? This is probably the only real marketplace for these
tops. (?)
***Reply***
As far as I know I would be able to oversee what outlined in my previous
email. I have quite a bit of custom and one off stuff in the industries I
have worked in.
You wrote about possibly getting a local glass shop to do the actual
fabricating- is somebody really going to want to keep these things around
and interrupt their normal business ops to make maybe 2-5 in a good year?
***Reply***
Most of the shops I have talked to run short production/prototype work or
are guys that work on the side at home while their 9-5 job is dealing with
fiberglass at work. My plan would be to keep the molds at my brothers
shop and take them to the production place as needed on his flat bed or
box truck.
Quality control? There's some artistry involved in this- how do you know
when you're 'good'?
***Reply***
I'm not total clear on what your asking here but I'm going to give it a
shot. Because of the artistry involved and the learning curve I would
lean towards having a shop do the work. I could probably do it as I have
painted quite a while including pieces sold to GM and Ford in addition to
cars.
What can be done and what should be done about the window problem?
***Reply***
I think the window problem can be solved one of two ways. Hehr made the
original windows if I recall correctly. This window issue came up a while
ago on the Adventurewagen list. I vaguely remember that there was a close
fit window that involved trimming the fiberglass but I could be totally
wrong on this. The "real" solution would be to use the current mold to
make a top which could be used as a buck. The windows could be filled in
on the buck and a new mold without windows could be made. Then you could
put in any windows that you wanted. This would also cut initial ownership
of the top down.
How to handle shipping? Installation?
***Reply**
I would handle shipping just like fiberine does. Put the top on a custom
built skid with a box around it and send it off. Purchaser pays shipping
to their location. Installation is the responsibility of the owner, I
have not desire to be in the conversion business. Poptop people could
just bolt theirs on for the most part. The rest of us would have to go
through the same home brew process like putting a factory poptop on a
passenger van.
What about the particulars such as headliners and the A/C ducting? How are
these things obtained/reproduced?
***Reply***
Headliner and A/C ducting would be the same as installing a poptop. If
you have the tunnel running from front to back you would either have to
get rid of it or adopt poptop style ducting. This would all be the
responsibility of the purchaser. I don't want to provide conversions only
the tops so that people can be as creative as they want and get the lowest
cost product that suits their needs.
What were the accessories required to install one of these tops and how
are they obtained/reproduced?
***Reply***
To install I believe that Ed used a rubber gasket and a aluminum strip to
put the screws through but I am not sure. People that have put hightops
on Type 2's have opted out of the rubber and used sealing compounds or
made their own gaskets.
Legalities- warranties, DOT requirements, etc.
***Reply***
I would probably have to set up a S corp or LLC for liability reasons.
The tops would ship in good shape and be warrantied against defective
workmanship. Shipping damage would be the responsibility of the carrier
as usual. Inspect all packages before signing for them. I have no Idea
about DOT but at 10 pieces at the fact that these are already on the road
I don't foresee a problem.
it'd probably be a lot cheaper for me if they stayed in California
***Reply***
I sort of agree that it would be cheaper if they stayed in California
shipping is going to be a large expense. But tongue in cheek these molds
have been in California at least 10 years and I know Ed had offered to
sell them to various people over the years. The other issue that I have
no real idea about is the cost of producing stuff with hazardous materials
in California. I'm from the midwest and people talk a lot of junk here
about environmental regulations in California and what it adds to the cost
of production.
