Narragansett Reproductions fiasco

[linc64]

I found this. Maybe they no longer do the wiring. https://www.vintage-mustang.com/threads ... e.1153800/

https://www.manta.com/c/mm3x6ws/alloy-m ... oducts-llc

This place says they'll duplicate your original wiring harness if you send it to them. https://www.ynzyesterdaysparts.com/

[action]

Thanks for your effort!!!!

I am doing about the same things as you. I looked over the engine wiring harness on the top of my engine. The condition is poor. While all of the connections are there and likely sufficiently connected, man they look poor at best. Most of all of the wire harness covering is shot. And previously the engine was painted. (Same for the engine compartment) The engine color is off a shade or two in my opinion. And many things got sprayed with engine paint. Including most of the engine wiring harness. My goal is to removed most of the top end of the engine metal and intake, to prep and repaint. (I will leave the cylinder heads alone for now) Along the way I assume there will be many little items to take care of.

So the world called perfect, a new engine wiring harness would be awesome. A re-wrap may be the next best thing. Not sure I have the time for that until the fall because my storage area is not conditioned. And while it is away from the sun, it is more like a very large EZ Bake oven! Triple digit outside temps have hit the Valley of the Sun. This time of year it is the exception not the rule. (June it becomes the rule) Making early hours from 6am to 9am being rather nice. That nice time will get shorter as the summer rolls up. And it will get to the point that it isn't fun anymore. When it isn't fun I have to take a break (or go to the lake) until late September.

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[LithiumCobalt]

Jim, thanks for posting those links. Looks like I will have to call Alloy to see what they can do. I inquired with YNZ already, but have not heard back yet. I suspect they may be similar to RI Wire where they only focus on pre-1960's stuff. I'll find out.

[LithiumCobalt]

I’m so disappointed at Narragansett’s trouble and the death of Ed. I remember when I got a new EXACT engine harness from them back in the 2011-12 time frame. It was dead on dick accurate and perfect, as original.

[LithiumCobalt]

YNZ called me back and left a voicemail. Keep in mind my inquiry was about the alternator wiring harness for my ‘67 sedan that has nothing wrong with it besides the sheathing being ratty and dirty. A 2’ harness that has two molded plugs and the other end simply has ring terminals on it. His timeline for reproduction since he had none in stock is six months. What is the cost, you ask? Estimated $3,500-4,000. Yes, not hundreds, but multiple thousands. Talk about Lincoln tax! I listened to the voicemail multiple time to make sure I didn’t hear incorrectly. Needless to say I won’t be calling them back.

[action]

I wonder if the harness sheath material is available for some one to buy.

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[CaptainDave]

Lithium, I visited Narragansett in person a few years ago when I was in the area for a friend's daughter's wedding. It was incredible to see the machines they used, and some of their old diagrams, and testimonials on the wall (one from Jay Leno). I think it's tragic when a supplier like this disappears. I'm holding my breath on the Antique Auto Battery -- Jim's Battery Mfg transition. I'd love to see a story written for Continental Comments on the demise of Baker's. We are lucky to have cars that a younger generation of specialists has turned its attention toward, but I'd really like our community to do what it can to "save the endangered species" of collector car specialty shops.

[LithiumCobalt]

I think it would be fun to own and operate a specialty shop Iike Narragansett. I think I’ve got the business acumen, but I am woefully inadequate on technical knowledge. I love to learn new skills. I’d want to be a hands-on owner. I wonder if a place like Narragansett is really a money maker though?

[CaptainDave]

If you're serious, go take the owner of Steele Rubber to dinner. And Then & Now. Maybe Antique Auto Battery. Go work in one of those places, even as a shipping clerk. The business acumen is important; what's the balance between that and technical knowledge, which will come with time. The current staff can help. (If there is current staff.) Maybe the central question is: what are they really selling? Think about it, what does Antique sell? OEM licenses and accuracy in reproduction. What does Booster Dewey sell. Detailed technical knowledge around a single part. How about Then & Now, or John Brewer? How much is technical knowledge, how much is parts & labor, how much infrastructure? When I visited Narragansett I saw machinery from the 1930s -- and one that was earlier, that they said was the last of its kind in the entire world. I don't think they were bullshitting me about that. To me this whole area is a fascinating subculture that could be explored further in LCOC's magazine and those of other marques. Good luck! Go buy Narragansett, or Baker's!

[action]

I think Bakers has just changed their marketing and is still doing business. I bought a reproduction spark plug wire set from them a couple of weeks ago.

Being self employed and owner/operator of a small business is like handling a wild tiger. Done well and it is an amazing creature.
However there is infrastructure, maintenance and training needed. Then feeding the beast in the ever changing environment. Staying afloat is no easy task to market ups and downs. Toss in a couple of calamities like COVID19, an oil crisis a housing crisis or some other thing and it is a real mix for disaster.

And let's say you don't need the income and even if it loses some cash it is OK. You plod on for years. In Mr. Pease's case there was not a clear succession. Or at least his passing came before preparations were made. I came from the automotive dealership world. You know how many third and fourth generation dealerships are out there? Not many! There is a reason for that! Many successful dealerships (and businesses) just end up selling. The family is either unwilling or unable to step in and do the job. In the case of Narragansett Reproductions, what is the value of a company like that if the person that did everything is no longer available? Maybe his wife or children or grandchildren have some plans. It has been a year and a half since Ed's passing. My guess is it isn't going to work out. That may be kind of harsh. But it seems rather quiet over in Rhode Island.

Action

[action]

Haven't made a duplicate in awhile. Until today.

[LithiumCobalt]

If you're serious, go take the owner of Steele Rubber to dinner. And Then & Now. Maybe Antique Auto Battery. Go work in one of those places, even as a shipping clerk. The business acumen is important; what's the balance between that and technical knowledge, which will come with time. The current staff can help. (If there is current staff.) Maybe the central question is: what are they really selling? Think about it, what does Antique sell? OEM licenses and accuracy in reproduction. What does Booster Dewey sell. Detailed technical knowledge around a single part. How about Then & Now, or John Brewer? How much is technical knowledge, how much is parts & labor, how much infrastructure? When I visited Narragansett I saw machinery from the 1930s -- and one that was earlier, that they said was the last of its kind in the entire world. I don't think they were bullshitting me about that. To me this whole area is a fascinating subculture that could be explored further in LCOC's magazine and those of other marques. Good luck! Go buy Narragansett, or Baker's!

Of course the ultimate would be to own Lincoln Land, but I have a few things working against me. One, I don't think Chris Dunn will ever want to retire, ha. Second, even if he did, I could probably not afford the price. What could be better than talking about, working on and selling Lincolns while living in Florida? Sounds like paradise to me. Maybe I can convince him that he needs a CPA.

[Mike]

I think it would be fun to own and operate a specialty shop Iike Narragansett. I think I’ve got the business acumen, but I am woefully inadequate on technical knowledge. I love to learn new skills. I’d want to be a hands-on owner. I wonder if a place like Narragansett is really a money maker though?

The money maker part is the problem. Unless you have the resources to make the product yourself you're at the mercy of others and the price ends up being so high it's not worth it.
I always thought it would be fun to get into something like that or even selling used parts but then you need the space to collect the cars and inventory.

[LithiumCobalt]

One thing is for sure - if my generation doesn’t step up to plate when it comes to these restoration businesses, in 10-20 years we may be in a real world of hurt. It’s bad enough now to try to source different things. Sometimes there is literally one place in the entire country who has something. But, maybe I’m talking from the perspective of a classic Lincoln owner and not a Mustang/Camaro owner. It’s likely those types will always be around.

And yeah, I think Lincoln owner problem is, lower production vehicles. Easy to make sense of pony car reproductions with economies of scale. No one wants to bother with a limited market. We are lucky we have what we do.

[action]

I sell used FLM parts from 1966 to 1972. However I am a little short of inventory at the moment.
It really isn't a money maker as far as paying the bills. More of a thing that offsets some costs of my addition to car collecting.
To do it and get sales, it requires a lot of labor. Typically I buy a whole car and take it apart in 90 days. Then call a wrecker to remove the big pieces that are left. (Frame, body shell and much of the power train) Then disassembling the removed parts, cleaning, shooting a half a dozen pictures and listing on Ebay for the most part. Some times I am amazed at what sells and what does not.
It would be difficult to make enough to keep the lights on. But it does keep me out of trouble.

As to the pony car versus luxury rides - that is all about supply and demand.
The demand for luxury vehicles is just not the same.
And cars go in cycles.

I remember talking to a guy in a different club (Model A Ford) about the cars in 1950s and 1960s. He said that those cars would never become collectable!
I laughed. He has since passed on. I have no idea what became of the cars he was building. They were all pre-war.

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