Is Hurricane Motorports still in business? - Page 2

Bill Bess · #1 (**permalink**) 02-25-2009, 06:02 AM

I agree with Jim, ....lack of experience, poor research, poor business skills and the economy going south, were most likely the causes of their demise.

We can give them one thing...good intentions in the beginning, but the air went out of their balloon when the going got tough.

Hopefully, they will, or somebody will put, a very fine replica kit back into production in the future.

Maybe they can get some Stimulus money? The Peoples Cobra, ObamaHurricaneCobra, The PelosiPistolCobra, or the GreenHurricaneCobra.

Relax, be happy, Bill

392cobra · #2 (**permalink**) 02-25-2009, 07:03 AM

Just my opinion but their first major (possible fatal) phuck up was not letting Jay Nordstrom run the company.

4RE KLR · #3 (**permalink**) 02-26-2009, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 392cobra

Just my opinion but their first major (possible fatal) phuck up was not letting Jay Nordstrom run the company.

Fred,
I think everyone will tend to agree with you.

However,
Some would call what is going on ... Karma!

jdean · #4 (**permalink**) 02-26-2009, 02:19 PM

So true. I know I was seriously considering putting a deposit on a Hurricane so long as Jay was involved. I think there were more than a handful of us lined up at the time.

BMK · #5 (**permalink**) 02-25-2009, 01:20 PM

Hi all,

I am surprised to see this Thread.

Having spent a week with Jay and the gang in Texas I was very impressed with the cars I saw. The blue Cobra was well finished and certainly looked the part.

I had the opportunity to view the new premises and really listen to plans for the future. At the time it looked very bright.

I really hope that Hurricane continues and as 392cobra has just said above, I believe under Jay's control the company has a future.

I do know things are tough over there - and here - and it is possibly a "..let's place it in hold" approach.

Mmmm maybe Jay or one of the gang will chime in here.

With a great product and strong management there certainly is a future for the business.

Bernie

Joe Wicked · #6 (**permalink**) 02-25-2009, 04:10 PM

Bernie,
Jay is no longer with Hurricane. That ended mid summer last year. Fred was stating that he believes that was the Fatal Mistake that they made. Not letting Jay run the company.

elmariachi · #7 (**permalink**) 03-05-2009, 01:19 PM

For those interested parties:

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcont...1.4ab5a94.html

patrickt · #8 (**permalink**) 03-05-2009, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elmariachi

For those interested parties:

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcont...1.4ab5a94.html

Oh yeah, now that's good news.

elmariachi · #9 (**permalink**) 03-05-2009, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

Oh yeah, now that's good news.

Sorta like John DeLorean's demise, only without all the snow.

Prof · #10 (**permalink**) 03-05-2009, 02:09 PM

Sad! Jay N. was high on their product...so were the guys at KCM/Plano,TX location.
IMO, another "Unique Performance" situation where everything gets auctioned off, and vultures look for great deals.
I, too, am glad that I went with a different manufacturer after inspecting Hurricane's move and other situations. Didn't feel right--now I see why.
Sad!
Paul

YerDugliness · #11 (**permalink**) 04-29-2009, 11:37 PM

I made a stop by the previous factory in Arlington, TX last week. There was a sign on the door that all assets were under the control of a receiver with information on how to get hold of the receiver. Most of the HMS assets were there (the fiberglassing operation is in a different city), although the receiver didn't know very well which went with the Hurricane business and which did not.

I took a lot of photos and put the best of them into a Photobucket album, the link is listed below. I might mention that you'll see a lot of shop tools, but not all go with the Hurricane businesss....ONE drill press and ONE air compressor, that sort of thing. There was a nice shelving system with parts on it and templates. There was a lot of uncut metal for the frames and also a lot of already cut metal waiting to be welded together.

Speaking of the welding, the work done while at HM Arlington is not exactly pretty, perhaps not safe. The originally developed Hurricane frame is there (you'll see some photos with "001" on the frame), as is ol' # 002, the factory's demonstrator car originally built by Dean Lampe.

According to the private investigator who was at the warehouse, the business can be purchased with or without the demonstrator car.

There was one fairly nice body there, a few interior tubs, a couple of kits under construction that had some nice aluminum panels already installed, and a couple of newly welded frames that I would consider scrap b/c of the welds.....you'll see.

http://s227.photobucket.com/albums/d...s%20inventory/

Like others, I have high hopes that the Hurricane name will rise from the mud through which the Whites have dragged it. One thing is for sure, the business will be auctioned off (including the frame jigs AND the computer and program needed to assemble the frames). I had been holding out for Hurricane to offer a 289 model, saw a 289 style body sitting on a frame a few years ago when I visited the Lee's Summit factory but never saw them offer that body.....perhaps it was a "one off"?

Good luck to those who end up with the Hurricane assets, I'd like to see somebody resurect the brand, it had a lot of great features!

Dugly

LMH · #12 (**permalink**) 04-30-2009, 12:42 AM

The welds do look terrible!
How did you happen to get in there Dugly?
Larry

YerDugliness · #13 (**permalink**) 04-30-2009, 12:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LMH

The welds do look terrible!
How did you happen to get in there Dugly?
Larry

I just walked up to the business and in through the open door. I got there around 12:30 and the PI working for the SEC receiver introduced himself and welcomed me, asked some questions, then gave me the tour. Only 30 minutes later did he ask if I were one of the two guys he was expecting to come look at the two AA/Fuel Altered racecars....they had an appointment at 1:30. When I told him I was not connected with those two individuals at all, he laughed and told me how lucky I was to have arrived at a time there was somebody there, he was there only b/c of the other two guys he expected (they did show up at the time he mentioned).

Just lucky, I guess......I was SO surprised that he was willing to let me take photos, but then I suspect it is his job to get as many interested parties as possible so why wouldn't he be willing to allow me to take photos.

I'm taking possession of a used 427 bodied small-block turnkey Cobra replica within a week or so, but still holding out hopes that the Hurricane will eventually become available again--I want to build my own someday and the Hurricane was at the top of my short list.

Dugly

cdixon · #14 (**permalink**) 05-05-2009, 07:46 AM

???? does this make the Hurricane more valuble (limited production) or less valuble....?
As an owner it doesnt make you feel all warm and fuzzy.

Chris
HM # 1094

fastraxsg · #15 (**permalink**) 05-05-2009, 08:06 AM

I've got 1081 and I'm already as fuzzy as I'll get....

khansmith · #16 (**permalink**) 05-05-2009, 08:55 AM

I think that it some respects it threatens the perceived value because one must expect that support and parts might be hard to find. Luckily, the reality is Hurricane has a very supportive ownership group and outside of the fiberglass parts and the frame, all the other parts are over-the-counter. Very insightful and pragmatic of Hurricane's founders to use so many suppliers to build their offering.