Quote:
Originally posted by Mike Stenhouse
Mike wrote,
I can wear tights and a cape, but that doesn’t make me Superman. Being from South Africa doesn’t make someone Superformance.
Comment By Hersh
Yes, and putting Shelby emblems on any replica doesn't make it a Shelby either.
Mike wrote:
A number of replica manufacturers have sprung up in South Africa recently, hoping I suspect to imitate the success of Superformance. Even Carroll Shelby has turned to South Africa. An interesting concept isn't it. Carroll Shelby copying Superformance.
Comment: By Hersh,
Now this is interesting to say the least. You say CS is copying Superformance. How would you know that companies projected plan of business? To assume it was taken from SPF is a bit of a stretch. Hundreds of companies do business there because of economics.
Mike wrote,
And while imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, it is not always an easy road. Thomas Edison said that, "Genius is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration." And so it is with success. The imitators will first have to copy Superformance's game plan. Then they will have to do the hard part - the work. The game plan is easy to get. It is published in Superformance advertising. Build what the customers want - a product of superior quality delivered complete and on time at a fair price. Maintain honest and fair dealings with customers and suppliers alike. Simple, just not the norm.
Comment: By Hersh,
So here again we are to assume that only a small portion of replica manufacturers have fair dealings with customers because you say it's "just not the norm". Mike this is shear folly. It's an insult to all those in this business that try hard everyday to make their customers happy.
Mike wrote,
The hard part is that perspiration part. Superformance has been executing their plan for ten years now. It takes a long time and a considerable investment in time and money to put the infrastructure in place to design, manufacture, distribute, sell, and service 700 complete rolling chassis a year. Superformance has done it and done it well. They have the right plan and they have consistently executed well against that plan year in and year out. They have built a substantial manufacturing capability - a 240,000 square feet facility with 630 employees - trained, skilled, and dedicated employees with an established track record for producing quality products on spec and on time. They have a worldwide network of dedicated full time single product dealers who provide both sales and service. They have a factory sponsored dealer support organization backing the dealers up with a parts warehouse and technical support. And best of all they have a substantial customer base of enthusiastic and loyal customers who love their cars and don’t mind saying so.
Comment By: Hersh,
And if any other manufacterer who desires to do the same thing is an imitator? All of SPF attributes are well known as well as their successes in the Cobra replica industry. There happens to be many small family run manufacturers out there that choose not to be the big company that SPF became.
Mike wrote,
How do I know this? I have seen the results. I own a Superformance and have the great pleasure of living with the quality of their work for six years now. My car has 30,000+ miles on it, including 1,500+ track miles and several trips to the drags. I don’t own a trailer. I drive to the track, run it, and drive it home. I run the same stock setup on the track that I run on the street. No special tires, no special suspension pieces or settings. It is always at the head of the pack. I know it isn’t the driver so it must be the car.
Comment By: Hersh,
Mike there are several other members on this forum that have other replicas and feel the exact same way you do about their Cobra. I too have over 51,000 miles on my Midstates that I built in 1987. I have nothing but high praise for SPF as a fine Replica but so to for my Midstates and many of the other brands.
Mike wrote:
Even with long miles and hard driving, the car remains as solid, tight, and reliable as the day I bought it. My wife Pat and routinely take our car on vacation, weekend road trips, and day trips. I have so much confidence in it that I would not hesitate to drive it across the country this afternoon. It is everything I could ask for - strikingly beautiful, exceptional quality and attention to detail, stunningly quick, as solid and reliable as a block of steel. Best car I have ever owned, and I’ve had some nice ones.
Comment By Hersh,
You see ! You're a satisfied customer and SPF is thrilled that you have climbed to the top of the hill and proclaimed as much with a great testimonial.
Mike wrote,
Having seen the factory where it was made, I can understand why. I spent two weeks in South Africa this spring with Jim Price, founder and president of Hi-Tech Automotive, the manufacturer of Superformance. I had full access to every area of the facility from design to shipping and free access to all personnel. These guys are for real. And man, are they good. No one else has had the vision to do what they have done. And no one has come anywhere close on execution. They are successful for one reason. They have earned it.
Comment By: Hersh,
Cape Advanced Vehicles comes to mind. They have proven themselves to be a player in this market by producing a GT40 first and now they are expanding their lineup with the addition of a CSX Cobra. Kudos for them! Those that work hard and put out the 90% persperation from good insperation get the brass ring.
Mike wrote:
So if these imitators can find the will and the sweat and the money to spend the next ten years getting to where Superformance is today, they will still be ten years behind. Because Superformance is on the move. In terms of manufacturing capabilities, number of employees, and cars produced, the factory is three times as big as it was when I first met Jim Price in 1998. And the pace is picking up.
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Comment By: Hersh,
Old Henry Ford started the production line concept and then all them imitators like Chevrolet, Dodge, Chrysler, and many others started doing it. Yep! they done went and stole ole" Henry's idea.
But Ole' Henry is still number one today in the Global community.
I wish all the SPF dealers and Jim Price all the success he can handle.
I posted this in response to Doug's post that some of us missed Mike's point. Sometimes I'm just not very good at reading between the lines but I shouldn't have to be. If you post something make it as clear as possible for all of us thick heads out here.
Then maybe you won't find four pages of people responding in an indifferent way.
Dream Master wrote:
This is not about who builds the better car. Or "my car is better than your car". It should be about who has the best business plan to fill the needs of the marketplace. People should look at what is FACT, proven successes of either companies and what is HYPE and SPIN. Most all companies have a track record, past history of business practices that should follow them in this free entrerprise we enjoy. The good are rewarded with success and prosperity while the bad are penalized by their faulterings. As long as the consumer seeks out the truths and does not succumb to the slick salesmen, HYPE, promises etc. This is true in any Sale transaction.
Comment By: Hersh,
Doug I agree with the statement about what people should look at as far as facts and so on but why did Mike expound on the qualities of his SPF if it wasn't a reference to what he thought was the best?
Success of a company does not mean that it has to become a giant in the industry. Many small shops such as ERA are quite happy to be where they are. Yes, They are imitators of a product that Carrol Shelby once produced just as SPF and all the others are.
I do hope that you guys don't take my comments as inflammitory.
If there is something that I don't understand then please enlighten me.
Hersh
