Keith, I agree with your sentiments. I think Jeff's comment was directed at
the lack of early Spitfire parts to be found in TRF's sales newsletters.
Most parts listed on sale in these publications are for TRs and MGs. To us
the Spitfire is conspicuous by it's absence.
Terrence N. Banbury
1967 SPITFIRE MK III
1988 Honda Accord lX
1998 Ford Expedition EB
2000 Ford Mustang GT
1973 Honda CB350G
> ----------
> From: Keith R. Stewart[SMTP:kstewart@wwdc.com]
> Reply To: Keith R. Stewart
> Sent: Monday, May 01, 2000 10:17 PM
> To: Jeff McNeal; Stephen Hall; spitfires@autox.team.net
> Subject: Re: TRF
>
>
> Jeff McNeal answered To: Stephen Hall Re: TRF
>
>
> >
> > Stephen,
> >
> > I share your disappointment. I requested a catalog for my '67 Mk3 and
> was
> > basically told the same thing. I've noticed a real bias in TRF sales
> flyers
> > against Spitfires in general. Bummer. I would be more inclined to do
> more
> > business with them if they demonstrated their interest in earlier
> Spitfires.
> > I'll probably go ahead and order a tune-up kit and new ignition wires
> from
> > them, though.
> >
> Now hold on here...where do you get this bias? Basically in North America,
> there are three major suppliers of parts for our cars. Yes I know there
> are
> others, but without the three major suppliers from whom the others get
> their
> parts, there would be nothing. The exception here is someone like Ted over
> at TSI who comes up with great ideas and has new, modern parts
> manufactured.
> But even Ted gets his run of the mill standard items through the standard
> channels.
>
> Now you may disagree, but it seems the three big suppliers are TRF, VB,
> and
> Moss. Moss has a catalog for Mk IV and 1500 and can't even guess at the
> three earlier models of Spits. VB has catalogs galore, but have no idea of
> the parts required and the quality always seems to be in doubt. TRF has
> always been reasonable in dealing with the customer; like Moss, only had a
> catalog for Mk IV and 1500 BUT did come out with several other
> publications
> that listed many parts for Mk 1-3; uses Standard Triumph/British Leyland
> part numbers, so cross references and any parts can be identified as being
> suitable or available.
>
> When will those in this hobby realize that these folks are our partners in
> this hobby. Without them, most of our cars would never see the road again.
> Read what the British magazines are saying about the situation with Moss
> in
> Great Britain going into receivership...they are concerned about the loss
> to
> the hobby and the other suppliers, not the fact that there might be a fire
> sale!
>
> How many of those remanufactured parts do you think have been commissioned
> to be re-made by those small suppliers? Who has provided the volume of
> sales
> to encourage other major suppliers to take a chance on having a part
> remanufactured?
>
> I have owned my TR4 for over 34 years and I can get parts today from TRF
> that I couldn't get when it was still my every day car! TRF has supplied
> most (but not all) of the parts I needed to bring back to life my sadly
> neglected Spitfire Mk3! TRF supplied most of the parts to my TR4A! Without
> their assistance, these projects would be in jeopardy.
>
> These people are my partners in this hobby. I don't buy all my parts from
> them because I believe in supporting each of these suppliers (and others)
> each year and sometimes because they don't have what I need. However, over
> the years I have come to realize that TRF is committed to my hobby, they
> provide a quality product at a fair price, and they are honest folks to
> deal
> with.
>
> Just my $.02 (but since it is Canadian, that makes it worth only about
> $.000000235).
>
> Cheers
> Keith
>
>
> _ _
> | \ / | Keith R. Stewart
> | \ / | 75 Camden Road
> | \_/ | London, Ontario
> | 62 | TR4| N5X 2K2
> | 67 |TR4A| Canada
> | 70 |Spit| Home: (519)660-1916
> __| |Mk3 |__ E-Mail: kstewart@wwdc.com
> | | | | |
> \T \___|___/ H/ (and a 68 Triumph Trophy 250)
> \ R I U M P /
> -----------
>
|