Spares' Prices

[Edmond]

I need to get a raft of new bits and pieces for the TR4A and have been checking prices on Moss-Europe, Rimmer Bros; TR Shop and SC Parts websites. In a nutshell I am surprised at the variation in prices for things like brake pipe kits, shoes, pads & discs; track rod ends; lock sets. Also some of the Ebay "buy it now" stuff isn't much cheaper. A bit of mixing and matching of suppliers will have to be done. Some suppliers seem better than others, pricewise, for certain components but are they all pretty much the same quality-wise?

[Rhodri]

Ed- Abingdon parts, the first one listed in the suppliers section on the Register's homepage, has a limited, but keenly priced selection of parts. I have bought several things from them and have not been disappointed. Moss let you return parts within, I think, 3 months for almost any reason which can help. TR Shop comes up with some bargains, now and again- I recently bought a standard set of carpet from them for a good price. Body repair panels I got from TRBitz, I didn't find anyone else who did them

 

The long and short of it all is that a lot of the stuff is only just good enough, but it is all we have!

 

Rod

[BrianC]

It's partly down to how much time and effort you are prepared to spend shopping around (like supermarkets), and how much value you place on establishing a relationship with a supplier so that you can ultimately trust them to advise you and supply parts 'fit for purpose' and resolve any problems if they occur. In my opinion, it's better to buy from a supplier that actually works with the parts (i.e. has a workshop and/or restoration business) rather than just a parts supplier.

 

I buy most of my parts from TRGB and rely on them to source parts from the manufacturers they trust, based on their own experience. Perhaps not always the cheapest option, but at least I know they will not supply me with parts that don't fit.

 

If you spread your purchases around in the quest for the cheapest options, you will inevitably suffer some disappointments and are less likely to get the same kind of after-sales support as you would from a suppler with whom you have a good working relationship. Of course, some suppliers have special offers from time-to-time and it's sometimes worth investigating them, although if you discuss it with your preferred/regular supplier they may well be able to match or better the price.

[bob-menhennett]

Ed

 

I'd echo the comments of earlier posts.I've probably tried them all over the ten year period of my basket case restoration.All the suppliers have their good points, whilst I'm sure others will have their personal perferences/ complaints.

 

I'd rate specificaly for second hand parts TR Bitz,TRGB and TR Trader.Revingtons for racing/ performance items.

The bulk of my purchases has latterly been through TRGB who I rate highly because they work on TRs but Moss is not very far from me for the emergency purchases.

I've purchased from all the others when "deals" have presented themselves over the years.

For me " checking out the suppliers " and the deals has been part of the fun of the restoration.It only took me 5 years to track down a decent radio holding bracket (between dash and wishbone ) at Autojumbles.The grin I had on my face for several days afterwards was priceless.

 

Good luck

 

Bob

[alantr4]

I have used TRGB for my last 2 rebuilds as they send stuff quickly,they're competively priced and always seems to be good quality. They know the cars inside out and are prepared to help out for small items off scrap cars which you cant get elsewhere. In truth when I have asked other leading suppliers if they could send me similar items they havent been too keen to oblige,no doubt they would be if i wanted an engine rebuilt but if I ever do those self same individuals wont be getting a call.

Ive also used TR Enterprises as they are very helpful and knowledgable about competition prep and are happy to help out with smaller parts as well. I think its only fair to try to support those who try to help me.

 

In the current market I wonder how many of the TR outlets are suffering and if any will not see out the crunch? I hope nobody suffers but I believe the paying public will be shopping around more for the best deals and service and the most accommodating and helpful suppliers should be in a better position because of this.

[Louis Metelko]

My dear sainted father continually preached to me that if you are buying anything based strictly on price then you forfeit any and all claims in regard to service, availability or quality.

 

Amazing that the older I get the smarter ole dad has become!

 

Lou Metelko

Auburn, Indiana

USA

54 TR2LD

[david ferry]

My dear sainted father continually preached to me that if you are buying anything based strictly on price then you forfeit any and all claims in regard to service, availability or quality.

 

Amazing that the older I get the smarter ole dad has become!

 

Wise words!

 

Even in these more difficult times, and I know this well from a professional point of view, Lou's words are wise.

 

Obviously, no-one wants to pay too much for anything but all too often in life you get what you pay for.

 

I have written articles in the press about this and in particular more recently, individuals considering opening bank accounts to get the highest rate, usually with an Icelandic bank.

 

In summary, if you pay the lowest possible price, expect nothing other than what you pay for.

 

David

[Edmond]

Thanks, guys, for your tips. I've got various bits from Moss and have been impressed with their speed of delivery and helpful emails from the chap dealing with my order. A couple of people in this part of the world have also said positive things about TRGB, TR Trader and TR Spares - I hope one of them can source me a good A-type O/D 'box. While price is important, getting good quality components and knowledgeable, prompt service is paramount.

 

Thankfully I don't need body parts this time round. My experience earlier this year with MGB inner/outer sills, wings and a door left me very disappointed. The location of the hinge bolts was miles out and the quality of the pressings wasn't fantastic either. All in all putting these right added several hours to the labour bill.

[glasgow4a]

Thanks, guys, for your tips. I've got various bits from Moss and have been impressed with their speed of delivery and helpful emails from the chap dealing with my order. A couple of people in this part of the world have also said positive things about TRGB, TR Trader and TR Spares - I hope one of them can source me a good A-type O/D 'box. While price is important, getting good quality components and knowledgeable, prompt service is paramount.

 

Thankfully I don't need body parts this time round. My experience earlier this year with MGB inner/outer sills, wings and a door left me very disappointed. The location of the hinge bolts was miles out and the quality of the pressings wasn't fantastic either. All in all putting these right added several hours to the labour bill.

Hello there, i may be able to help you re o/drive box as our clyde valley leader rebuilds them in his w/shop. As regards spares i have found trbitz good and very helpful, ask for craig. Have also purchased parts off ebay and people offering me parts at shows. Give me a call if you like and we can discuss 4as my no is 0141 632 7452, ian w.

[Edmond]

Hello there, i may be able to help you re o/drive box as our clyde valley leader rebuilds them in his w/shop. As regards spares i have found trbitz good and very helpful, ask for craig. Have also purchased parts off ebay and people offering me parts at shows. Give me a call if you like and we can discuss 4as my no is 0141 632 7452, ian w.

 

Ian - thanks. I'll give you a shout re TR4As and especially sourcing an O/D box.

 

Ed

[Brett]

"Quality is what is left long after the price has been forgotten"

[i8pig]

Hi Ed,

For what it's worth I've used the following suppliers over the years:

David Manners (Abingdon Spares): Generally O.K. good delivery and service usually keen prices, little or no advice.

Revingtons: Just up the road for me so most used. Their work is excellent but very pricey, I have their suspension fitted by them very pleased but empty wallet, advice is plentiful and free if you talk to Neil or Carl, only TRs so very knowledgeable highly respected but expensive to the point of being uncompetetive for some parts. Many developed parts you can't buy anywhere else.

Moss: Probably the best for service as they are obviously geared up for mail order/internet purchases, price is generally competetive as is quality(most other suppliers have a Moss trade account), don't bother phoning for advice as you probably know more than the bloke who answers the 'phone (unless you're very lucky). The best catalogue by far, get one just for the exploded diagrams which will help you see how things are assembled.

Rimmers: Good for secondhand parts, used to be good for trim, Usually good on price and have offers from time to time. Tend to know a lot on what they sell but not much specific advice. Useless catalogue unless you know the part number (Moss catalogue will give you that).

TR Enterprises: I have not bought anything from them yet but I 'phoned with an enquiry and was amazed at the quantity of advice received from the two guys I spoke to, obviously enthusiasts who want to make sure you get the right part for your needs not just the most expensive. I was impressed and will use them in the future.

Racetorations: I can't comment as they haven't answered the phone or replied to my three e-mails yet.

SOC: Not used for TR but have used them for MG parts and they were O.K. Bought a stainless exhaust for my Daimler Double Six and they were instrumental in getting the manufacturer to fit it as I couldn't (it is 17 parts though!).

Classic Car Parts: Excellent for general parts like mirrors or lamps, good prices and next day delivery.

Holden: Good for electrical parts, quality variable and so is price, service good.

MWS: Only wire wheels and tyres but good price and service with advice, heartily recommend their wire wheel cleaning kit.

Cambridge Motorsport: Not bought much but found them very good, keen prices good quality and as much advice as you need.

Corbeau: Bought my seats direct, wish I hadn't! Needed phone calls and badgering to get my order in progress, took a long time for only average quality.

John Skinner: Good quality interior but not cheap, yet to be fitted, took an age and many phone calls to arrive. Only met the promised delivery date once (obviously) but promised several times.

I must emphasise that these are my experiences and I agree with all of the other contributors when they suggest that, generally, you get what you pay for. Sometimes it becomes impossible to reconcile the quality and price of components, especially if you can't get it everywhere.

I have had old cars, of various makes and models, seemingly for ever and one thing is constant: suppliers are variable. If you are contemplating a job that will take your car off the road wait until you have got all of the parts you need before you start. It becomes very frustrating if you have to stop and very difficult getting started again, particularly in winter.

Hope this helps, have fun

Steve

[TR 2100]

Racetorations: I can't comment as they haven't answered the phone or replied to my three e-mails yet.

 

Hi Steve,

 

Be sure to keep us informed.

 

A bit of Register folklore.

 

It's some 35 years ago that the first parts survey was done by one of the

committee members (who shall remain nameless unless he owns up!) but

to protect the innocent, it wasn't Buckles.

 

It was the days of snail mail and letters were sent to all the parts suppliers,

quite a limited number in those days although there were still a few garages

that kept a stock of what TR parts were available. I think the TR Shop in

Chiswick had just started up, then there was Crawley 23477.

 

Anyway, the survey was not very successful - only a couple of replies.

But we couldn't take the results very seriously when we discovered that all

the letters had been signed "Mr. A. Pinewood Coffin".

 

Anyone else remember? Just so no-one thinks I'm making this up, please

confirm, though I think this may predate even ianc.

 

AlanR

[ianc]

Alan - to pre-date me, you have to be 70 years of age or more, and/or have been at the very first meeting at Hopcroft's Holt in January 1970 - I was working at Kingsnorth Power Station that day, so made it to the February meeting (and all those thereafter)! Don't forget that I spent a lot of the 1970s working in Italy, so was not a party to everything that you, as our Secretary, did in those days! I have a vague recollection of the survey, but cannot remember the results (ignorance or brain fade!).

 

I think that most suppliers have quite a lot of second-hand parts for sale - for sure, Revington had a whole load of stuff at Malvern, and about 60-70% went back to Middlezoy at the end. Ring around, always worth a try.

 

Ian Cornish

[i8pig]

 

Be sure to keep us informed.

 

Hello again Alan,

If you have made the connection you will not be surprised to learn that the e-mails concerned steel cranks, you would have thought that would have generated some interest? I fear that you may be as informed now as you are ever likely to be.

I enjoy reading comments like those of yours and Ian's, it seems that we are probably of a similar era. I reckon that, along with free bus travel and annual fuel payments, nostalgia is one of only a few things good about growing "more mature". I have similar recollections (not TR) but I guess here is not the place.

Steve

[Edmond]

Hi Steve,

Thanks for your very detailed reply which I thoroughly enjoyed reading. I have, in total, about 10 weeks exposure to TR-land which pales into insignificance when compared to yours and some of the other regulars on this site. That said, some of the things you wrote ring very true with me in particular

Revingtons: wowee if the price of their overdrive conversions are anything to go by they are out of my value-for-money zone. Love their website but I've almost discounted them from getting any business from me. Whereas....

Moss: they've got quite a bit of business out of me to date because their mail order/internet purchase arrangements are slick and quick. Excellent in fact. As for telephone advice...frankly it wasn't up to much and I knew as much myself (which isn't necessarily saying much!). But I did find emailed queries promptly and well answered. Their catalogue is a brilliant asset for them and us: the exploded diagrams are a godsend too.

Rimmers: I hadn't thought of them as a source of secondhand parts, but noticed they were competitive on price for some new parts when compared with Moss.

TR Enterprises: I haven't bought anything from them yet but some of the people over here also speak very positively about their experiences with them. Their website needs more development to hook people like me in. I talked to a guy in TR Enterprises a few weeks ago and I'm sure we could still be talking such was the detail he had on the subject. My problem is that I'm increasingly internet focused and like to look at detailed catalogues, specs etc online before I lift the phone and TR Enterprises don't get past first base on this for me (but maybe I need to shift my approach....).

TRshop: handled my phone orders well and great on price for things like stainless steel exhaust systems. I ordered a bundle of stuff from both TRShop and Moss last Thursday. Moss delivery arrived Saturday morning, the remainder first thing on Monday, with email updates from UPS on progress. No sign of anything from TRshop yet . (Strange the impression that a telephone conversation gives but I now wonder if TRshop looks like the Ronnie Barker shop in "Open All Hours", scratched formica topped counters, assistants in brown/blue shop coats, pencils behind their ears...just joking!)

Racetorations, SOC, Classic Car Parts, Holden, MWS; Skinner etc all lie ahead of me.

 

Ed

[Tony Millward]

Hi Ed,

 

Welcome to the forums. I have had a lot of dealings with both Moss (UK) and the TR Shop. Moss do deliver quickly and prices are good. The TR Shop does take a little extra time but prices are the most competitive I've seen anywhere. I found them helpful and courteous and they also carry a range of used parts (which they don't advertise enough). I live in Western Australia and they even phone me here to discuss my order if there is a better alternative, like they did last night. As a customer, I recommend them enormously. Other than being a satisfied customer, I have no link to them.

 

Tony

Edited November 26, 2008 by Tonymill

[Edmond]

Hi Ed,

 

Welcome to the forums. I have had a lot of dealings with both Moss (UK) and the TR Shop. Moss do deliver quickly and prices are good. The TR Shop does take a little extra time but prices are the most competitive I've seen anywhere. I found them helpful and courteous and they also carry a range of used parts (which they don't advertise enough). I live in Western Australia and they even phone me here to discuss my order if there is a better alternative, like they did last night. As a customer, I recommend them enormously. Other than being a satisfied customer, I have no link to them.

 

Tony

Tony - a thing that really impressed me with TRshop was their honesty about the quality of the waist rail finishers for TR4A doors. The chap at the other end gave a description of them, why he felt they didn't measure up and a better alternative. Honest and helpful - that I appreciate, particularly when I live 500 odd miles away and am not able to walk into the shop and see things for myself.

 

Ed

[stuart]

(Strange the impression that a telephone conversation gives but I now wonder if TRshop looks like the Ronnie Barker shop in "Open All Hours", scratched formica topped counters, assistants in brown/blue shop coats, pencils behind their ears...just joking!)

 

 

Ed

Actually you arent that far out with that description except for the pencils! Thats one reason they can do the parts at the price they do.

Stuart.

[i8pig]

Hello again Ed,

Seems that your experiences are similar to mine, do give Abingdon Spares a try you may find their prices a little keener than Moss. I have used them (they are also "David Manners") for years for M.G. and Jag as well as TR.

I am sure you will find your favourites as you explore "TR land" and probably for no better reason than you like the bloke you are dealing with. I remember from my MG days I used to deal with V8 Conversions of Knockholt simply because the owner (and everything else) called me Steve, threw in the odd bits and bobs for nothing, gave me coffee when I called and his delightful ageing mother helped him out on Saturdays. Many a happy hour spent and I didn't bother shopping around.

Remember that those slick web sites have to be paid for and the supplier only has one source for money, you and me. Don't write off Revingtons, his bits work and last.

It's all part of owning a little bit of motoring history and it's great fun, enjoy.

Steve

[Alec Pringle]

Hi Ed,

 

I deal with TR specialists for pleasure, hobby, and from time to time with other marque specialists by way of business - and have done for 40 years. I've yet to come across another marque that is as well served as Triumph, and the TR range in particular.

 

'Slick web sites' may appear to be an expensive luxury, but it's the way of the future. Traditional detailed printed catalogues cost a great deal of money too ! So does glossy magazine advertising ! If you're purchasing from a distance, you need all the up-to-date information you can get, and a good website can be a godsend.

 

There aren't any 'bad' TR specialists, perhaps most of us would rate some even better than others, but as already stated the bloke you get on with counts for a lot. A proprietary branded part is much the same whichever supplier is selling it, but a helpful contact on your own particular wavelength can be worth more in good advice, and saving of timewasting and frustration, than is 'saved' by shopping around to reduce the parts bill by a few bob.

 

When it comes to performance parts, life isn't so simple as buying something in a Lucas or Girling or County box. There's plenty of choice out there, but some items are a lot better than others.

 

It's always easy to say that specialists like CTM, Revingtons or TR Enterprises are expensive . . . but by what yardstick ? Companies like these are owned by active and successful competitors, who have put huge amounts of their own time, effort and money over many years into developing evolutionary products that work, and win.

 

Alternatively, there's always a 'cheaper' option - based on sound general principles to be sure, but hardly the same amount of competitive R&D engineering, and more often than not built down to a price rather than up to a standard.

 

You get what you pay for, and if I'm going to replace a carefully designed original manufacturer's component with something able to cope with greater power, speed and stress . . . . then thanks a bunch, but I'll willingly shell out for something properly engineered that the designers have risked their own necks to prove !!

 

Cheers,

 

Alec