I have had occasion to deal with them. I believe they are in the =
'Frozen North' part of the country. I have purchased reground =
crankshafts for MGA's from them. I believe they used to be an MG =
dealer. They still are a Jag dealer. As a result of these affiliations, =
the continue to have access to part sources in the US and GB. Prices =
are on par with the rest of the pack in Tier 2. As mentioned, they do =
have some hard to find parts, sometimes. They are also a good resource =
to point you to a source for something you are looking for. Staff is =
friendly and knowledgeable.
I will attempt to explain what I mean by Tier 2. I put suppliers in =
multiple tiers, (I may get myself in trouble here, so let me state-) =
IMHO.
(Also, if I left anybody out, it was not intentional, just old age and a =
weak mind.)=20
Put Moss, VB, TRF, Scarborough Faire(?), B&G, Phoenix/The Proper MG, =
etc., in the Tier 1. Big suppliers who sell a lot of parts, typically =
new ones, a minimum of rebuilt/used, and don't perform service(s). They =
sell to everybody, even each other. (Ever buy a radiator hose from VB =
that has the Moss number on it?)
Tier 2 - The bulk of the rest. These folks, and most of them are on =
this list so I won't mention Shop names so as not to slight anybody, =
sell parts, new and used, rebuilt and not, retail, and wholesale, AND =
perform restorations and service. These are the people that have the =
vast amount of Technical Expertise, 'cuz they've 'been there, done =
that'. The shop probably at the top would be John Twist/University =
Motors.
Tier 3 - These are the Bubba's Foreign Car and Parts Shops. They will =
service anything that comes in the door. I don't mean that as a =
negative. These are the guys that get us to work each day! But from a =
Classic British point of view, they may have worked on MG's years ago, =
and still will, and they know where there is an ol' B parked for parts. =
They buy their parts from Tier 1, maybe 2, and their standard stuff from =
Unipart/BAP-GEON, etc.
(Where would Todd Clarke fit? He definitely knows his stuff, like J. =
Twist, but I don't believe he restores cars, he obtains and/or =
manufactures parts that aren't available elsewhere. I don't know of a =
Tier 1 that doesn't buy from him, so I guess that qualifies him for that =
group)
So where was I going with this? Just that I would put Engle at the =
middle/lower part of Tier 2, with knowledge of a lot of the other tier 2 =
shops, and no fear to point you to one of them.
I think this is one of the unique differences between Tier 2 and the =
others. The guys in Tier 2 love their business, and love LBC's (at =
least most of the time!). They are willing to share ideas and resources =
with others, and aren't afraid to tell a customer if they don't have =
something, and where you might find it. The Tier 1 folks will tell you =
they don't have it, and be done with you. The Tier 3 guys will keep =
your car while they are looking for it.=20
I realize this is an oversimplification, and there are exceptions, so =
just consider this food for thought.
It must be this cold weather that is blowing through Texas that won't =
allow me to reply with a simple answer.
George Merryweather
merryweather@connectware.com
----------
From: Blair Engle[SMTP:engle@mailer.martech.fsu.edu]
Sent: Tuesday, January 07, 1997 4:37 AM
To: rwg1@cornell.edu; mgs@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: Suppliers ?
In message Sat, 4 Jan 1997 15:06:31 -500,
"Roger Garnett" <rwg1@cornell.edu> writes:
> On 4 Jan 97 at 6:45, David Deutsch wrote:
>
>> Anyone have any dealings with "Engel Imports"
>> "Wholesale MG Parts Supplier
>
> I think that'll be Blair Engel, a fellow SOL'er.
>
> =
________________________________________________________________________
> Roger Garnett (rwg@autox.team.net) http://www.wayward.team.net/
> Team.net Webmaster http://www.team.net/www/
>
Nope not me. Different guy, different spelling. I'm The Classic MG =
Shop.
Press on regardless,
Blair
______________________________________________________________
Blair Engle engle@phy.fsu.edu
|