AMD Charger Quarter Panel Update

[rudyjrusa]

on there website - they are in the process of reproducing the front and rear valances with or without cutouts for 73 and 74 chargers - they said they should be available by the end of the year.  i wish they reproduce the front hood and rear deck lid - could use both.  i think all the parts are being reproduced in china.

[FLG]

Yep i agree..seems 3rd gens have gotten quite popular since the price hike of 2nd gens. And how many people here wouldn't gladly pay for a repo power bugle hood that's not fiberglass??

[jsampsell]

SO, A body parts are more popular then say a 71 R/T Charger, or 71 Roadrunner, or 72 Rally Charger? LEON.

Hey folks,

Leon has a good point. The term "more popular" was probably not the best way of putting this.  It's really not about popularity.  Popularity is subjective.  From a manufacturing perspective, two big factors that influence our decision to make parts are:

1.  How many of a certain car were made originally and how many of those cars are still available now that may need reproduction parts
2.  What parts fit other makes and years as well

We are focusing on makes and years that had more made originally and parts that could fit multiple years.  According to the owner of our company, that happens to be the 68-70 Charger/B-bodies and 70-74 E-bodies.  Yes, we are doing a little bit of A-body stuff (very little compared to the B and E) but that is just because the owner thought that the things we have chosen to make for the A-bodies were things that we could sell enough of.

As far as the 3rd gen Charger stuff goes, there is an additional factor involved.  We can't make everything for everybody; especially right away.  We are a brand new company.  The decision was made to focus on the years and makes that the owner thought would sell more of.  So that is where we have spent our money.  We're coming out with over 400 products that nobody has ever made tooling for.  We know that there are people that have other cars that need reproduction parts as well, but we just can't do it all.

I know this doesn't help get parts any faster and I know this may not be the explaination that everyone is looking for.  Could or would any of you here choose to do things differently if this was your company?  Sure.  But I hope that everyone on this board could at least understand that this is how the owner of our company has chosen to do things and leave it at that.

We absolutely welcome any feedback and input but, just like any other company, we have to make decisions that are what we think are best for our company.  Let me put it another way: if we made some bad business decisions and spent our money on making some parts (not any specific parts for any specific cars) at the wrong time then we wouldn't have enough money to keep making other parts.  And based on what people have already said here on this board, people are excited that we are finally making this stuff and they want us (and any other company making Mopar stuff) to stay around.  It's all about making the right decisions to stay in business and keeping the Mopar hobby alive.

Jeremy
Auto Metal Direct
866-591-8309

[WingCharger]

Dont make me try and save my '69 SE parts car!!!!      

How much for the 69 SE?!?!?!?!?

[Hemidoug]

Hey Jeremy,
I think we all realise that economics plays into this....I can't argue with that at all. It is a business after all. It's just that the 71 and up stuff is REALLY hard to find. I seem to be 10 years behind, in that I could have used so much of what is available now 10 years ago. I guess I'll be in the same position if they ever start doing 71 stuff because my 71 is almost ready for paint. I do have some good ideas for you....why don't you start doing the 70 and 71 airgrabber stuff? All the parts are available for the mechanism, all we need is the sheetmetal and I just know that stuff would sell like popcorn. Even the guys with 73-74 Chargers could use that hood. Also, if you drop me a PM with an email I have another idea that would sell like popcorn for the 2nd gen guys....something a little special for that body and you already have most of the tooling......

[Charger74]

Jeremey,

I have to agree with the business decisions your company has made.  I know that it also more that the years you are concentrating on are the more popular ones and that's understandable.
It's nice to see that at least you are trying.  I did see that you have the front and rear valance's listed on you website for the 3rd gens.  Are they available yet?  Do you have any pictures of them or are they still in developement???   I hope that someday when your more established you can start working on the 3rd gens.  Seems we are just the forgotten despite the fact that more of them where made.

[jsampsell]

Hey Jeremy,
I think we all realise that economics plays into this....I can't argue with that at all. It is a business after all. It's just that the 71 and up stuff is REALLY hard to find. I seem to be 10 years behind, in that I could have used so much of what is available now 10 years ago. I guess I'll be in the same position if they ever start doing 71 stuff because my 71 is almost ready for paint. I do have some good ideas for you....why don't you start doing the 70 and 71 airgrabber stuff? All the parts are available for the mechanism, all we need is the sheetmetal and I just know that stuff would sell like popcorn. Even the guys with 73-74 Chargers could use that hood. Also, if you drop me a PM with an email I have another idea that would sell like popcorn for the 2nd gen guys....something a little special for that body and you already have most of the tooling......

Hey, I tried to PM you but got this message:  PM could not be sent to 'Hemidoug' due to the max. PM limit.  We get ideas from people quite frequently actually and always give them to the owner.  Some ideas have actually made it into the production process so we never say never.   

Jeremy
Auto Metal Direct
866-591-8309

[jsampsell]

Jeremey,

I have to agree with the business decisions your company has made.  I know that it also more that the years you are concentrating on are the more popular ones and that's understandable.
It's nice to see that at least you are trying.  I did see that you have the front and rear valance's listed on you website for the 3rd gens.  Are they available yet?  Do you have any pictures of them or are they still in developement???   I hope that someday when your more established you can start working on the 3rd gens.  Seems we are just the forgotten despite the fact that more of them where made.

Actually, we have already received our first sample of the front valance and have a picture of it on our website (http://www.autometaldirect.com/images/uploads/3415-1_web.jpg).  It's a bad picture.  The metal is not wavy like it looks.  It's just a bad reflection in the part.  It is being test fit right now.  The first test fit sample of the rear valances are due to ship to us from our manufacturer tomorrow which means we will get them sometime next week.  So, we could have them available by late October/November.  Hope that helps. 

And, for the record, I'm pretty sure that we will end up doing the 3rd gen stuff.  I just don't know when we'll start working on anything more than what we are already doing (which as you know is very little unfortunately).  You can only sell so much 2nd gen stuff before you need to expand your product line to stay in business.

Jeremy
Auto Metal Direct
866-591-8309

[69*F5*SE]

Sure we all want them to fit like a glove but may I ask what gauge sheetmetal they will be made from? Our other popular vendor CBD is popping out beautiful OEM style panels using 18 gauge sheetmetal. Very strong and fit like OEM we've been told.

[jsampsell]

Sure we all want them to fit like a glove but may I ask what gauge sheetmetal they will be made from? Our other popular vendor CBD is popping out beautiful OEM style panels using 18 gauge sheetmetal. Very strong and fit like OEM we've been told.

Our panels are 18 gauge as well.  I wish I had a picture of a sheet metal gauge up to the panel but my R&D guy didn't take that kind of picture.  If I can get one, I'll post it.  I have also been told by some of our customers that CBD's panels are very nice.  From what I am told there is a difference in the kind of tooling that our companies use to make the same panel but I have never, and never will, question whether their product is good or not.  It's not right for me to judge a competitors product.  Our panels will speak for themselves once they are available.

By the way, assuming everything else is equal, the best thing for consumers about competition is typically pricing.

Jeremy
Auto Metal Direct
866-591-8309

[Hemidoug]

Hey Jeremy,
I think we all realise that economics plays into this....I can't argue with that at all. It is a business after all. It's just that the 71 and up stuff is REALLY hard to find. I seem to be 10 years behind, in that I could have used so much of what is available now 10 years ago. I guess I'll be in the same position if they ever start doing 71 stuff because my 71 is almost ready for paint. I do have some good ideas for you....why don't you start doing the 70 and 71 airgrabber stuff? All the parts are available for the mechanism, all we need is the sheetmetal and I just know that stuff would sell like popcorn. Even the guys with 73-74 Chargers could use that hood. Also, if you drop me a PM with an email I have another idea that would sell like popcorn for the 2nd gen guys....something a little special for that body and you already have most of the tooling......

Hey, I tried to PM you but got this message:  PM could not be sent to 'Hemidoug' due to the max. PM limit.  We get ideas from people quite frequently actually and always give them to the owner.  Some ideas have actually made it into the production process so we never say never.   

Jeremy
Auto Metal Direct
866-591-8309

Jeremy...try again. I got rid of some PMs....

[PocketThunder]

Dont make me try and save my '69 SE parts car!!!!      

How much for the 69 SE?!?!?!?!?

One Million Dollars.... Muwahahahahaha!!!  You dont want it, trust me.  All thats left is a dented roof and the inner shell.

[69*F5*SE]

Thanks for the info Jeremy. Sounds good. 

[Mike DC]

 

Everyone repeat:   

"There's more to sheetmetal quality than the panel thickness."


Alloy content makes just as much difference, and this is where the Asian factories usually do the real corner-cutting. 

You line up a new & old panel, and the new one feels "flexier" than the old one did even though the metal thickness might be exactly the same. 

[hemi-hampton]

Jeremy, I got no Complaints, I appreciate everything your making & anybody else that makes reproduction Mopar Parts. LEON.

[Charger74]

Thanks for the information Jeremy.  It looks good.  Can't wait to see what else you guys can come out with.

[tripleblkr/t]

Those quarters look awesome can't wait to pick some up at Carlisle next year. I've just got done doing body work to my quarters and primed them all out but plan on taking them back off in a year and putting these on it. I was going to spray my car out with base clear but now I'm going to hold off on that and just prime it out and drive it around untill I get the new quarters on it then shoot it out.

[mikepmcs]

Wow, and that is some nice work there.  I said the same thing though when I fixed my junk.  It needs new quarters to be right, I'll just fix it and drive it.

[WingCharger]

Dont make me try and save my '69 SE parts car!!!!      

How much for the 69 SE?!?!?!?!?

One Million Dollars.... Muwahahahahaha!!!  You dont want it, trust me.  All thats left is a dented roof and the inner shell.

Okay.

[tripleblkr/t]

Wow, and that is some nice work there.  I said the same thing though when I fixed my junk.  It needs new quarters to be right, I'll just fix it and drive it.

Thanks, It'll look alright when when I get it all done, but with a black car I want it to be perfect and straight with the least amount of mud I can get in it. The roof I'm not to worried about, it'll have a vinyl top.