Rear bulkhead trim

[Dan Case]

Originally Posted by rsk289

Yes Dan, that's pretty much the case regarding UK suppliers - that's how I was lucky enough to find that the original manufacturer of the brass 1/4W size 3 wing nuts still exists (just) in Birmingham, and still had a dusty old boxful dating back to AC Cars original order from the 1920s.
It's interesting how sometimes this stuff does get remade. I have an early Land Rover (well, a '67) which used a particular heavy-duty vinyl in grey with a black grain pattern, known as 'elephant hide'. A specialist trimmer in the UK has started making a new version of this, which is a very good match. Unfortunately it's not cheap (he eventually sold me a roll of 5m for £250), and he's very reluctant to sell it loose at he makes complete trim panels to sell himself. I guess if the market's big enough...

Big point there Roger, "....if the market's big enough....". So far, the market for truly original specification parts and materials for Cobras and 427 Cobras has not been "big enough" to support recreating the small parts and materials Bills Of Materials and trying to sell the parts retail. I understand as a single small run of new parts of most types might take ten years or longer to sell off. Businesses just don't do well with a decade or more long inventory turn overs.

A few us sometimes buy into upcoming runs even if our cars don't require the part right now because if might be decades before somebody makes another run or maybe they won't make a second run. I have no intention of making additional runs of any part that I have ever made or had made with one exception and it only works with original front ball joints.

[rsk289]

Yes, there's the rub. We are lucky to have Gerry Hawkridge in the UK who is producing patterns for parts and producing original-spec suspension components and some other items. I don't know how much profit he makes from this but the business does seem to be growing. He's making patterns at the moment for the aluminium water manifold casting, and the header tank aluminium pipe with heater take-off. I have impressed upon him that the manifold needs to have the original boss included so we owners can saw it off, as original. Finishline do a replica piece for this but they have omitted the boss, thereby marking the part out as a replica. They're none of them perfect, but they're trying, can't deny that. Getting a leather grain right is a whole different ball game, though.

[Dan Case]

Originally Posted by rsk289

Yes, there's the rub. We are lucky to have Gerry Hawkridge in the UK who is producing patterns for parts and producing original-spec suspension components and some other items. I don't know how much profit he makes from this but the business does seem to be growing. He's making patterns at the moment for the aluminium water manifold casting, and the header tank aluminium pipe with heater take-off. I have impressed upon him that the manifold needs to have the original boss included so we owners can saw it off, as original. Finishline do a replica piece for this but they have omitted the boss, thereby marking the part out as a replica. They're none of them perfect, but they're trying, can't deny that. Getting a leather grain right is a whole different ball game, though.

I contacted him about one specific assembly that he made exactly like original. He only made a few and won't do it exact again as just like originals it was as fragile as original. What he sells now generally looks the same but has been updated to suit buyers that don't want something as fragile as an original. I don't know about any other of his parts but most of the American makers of parts have also updated designs in part to make them cheaper to make and or more robust. They then are not truly original specification anymore. Most of the new replacement parts I have held are at least 10% by weight heavier than originals as makers produce heavier duty parts for one reason or another. One maker was doing control arms that were twice as heavy as originals.

[rsk289]

Yes, the market for true originality is even smaller. Most people want the correct look but 'improved' design if it's possible. I have fitted NOS parts to my car over the years with other folk incredulous that I have actually made the car 'worse' in their eyes. 'Worse', maybe - but more original. Most folk don't understand that mindset. Fair enough to the remanufacturers, I suppose - they won't last long if they ignore the majority of their customers. The agenda is different.

[Dan Case]

Originally Posted by rsk289

Yes, the market for true originality is even smaller. Most people want the correct look but 'improved' design if it's possible. I have fitted NOS parts to my car over the years with other folk incredulous that I have actually made the car 'worse' in their eyes. 'Worse', maybe - but more original. Most folk don't understand that mindset. Fair enough to the remanufacturers, I suppose - they won't last long if they ignore the majority of their customers. The agenda is different.

Lots of parts don't make or change the character of a car, the feel that original street and race car builders and users experienced. Using stainless steel trim screws in place of the chrome plated brass ones AC Cars used, no. Replacing dozens of British Grade R hex cap screws and bolts with modern American anything, no. This leather versus that, no. However there are a lot that do. Revised chassis, revised suspensions, different transmissions, stroker engines, and added weight just won't "feel" the same as a new original in 1964 and that’s ignoring radial ply tires which USA cars never got new. (Driving an almost unmolested 1963-64 Cobra (or later 427 Cobra) on modern radial tires? I promise you that the feel is not the same as it was on hard rubber compounds narrow treads bias belted tires in the 1960s. What did that new Cobra road test say back in the day, something like ‘driving a Cobra was like feeding an oily snake to a greased pig’. No, I won’t give up radial tires thank you very much.)