I do apologize if I offended any European's as I really should define import foreign Corvette parts clearly as - junk Taiwan & junk China ones. Truly, I cannot think of any European manufactured Corvette reproduction parts for 1953-1982 models, so I will endeavor to exclude them, plus Englanders, Aussies, Irish, Canadian's etc. My sincere apologies to any other Countrymen that were offended by that broad comment & will be more specific. I will not back off on the Taiwan or China suppliers or greedy US Corvette vendors that milk the naïve retail consumers by supplying them with these or other crappy generic replacements. Those manufacturers supplying these C1,C2,C3 tier vendors make the cheapest crap available. It's purely economic.
(I'm not knowledgeable about C4 repro's, c5 also, etc. but most of that stuff does seem to be merely imported bling accessories, not replacement parts. If one stays late at the annual Corvette Carlisle event, along the "Manufacturers Midway" there are big piles of empty cartons from these C4 C5 up suppliers. They are predominantly those light tan weak Asian ones that are recycled, recycled cardboard. I'm confident it's all junk including the boxes. I'll take photo's next opportunity.)
After 30+ years I have considerable direct personal intimate knowledge of this market and I relate facts, not fiction. Never ever fiction; it's just not worth the monetary risk. I made my first commercial professionally manufactured Corvette repro's in 1979, and have made literally hundreds since then. Everyone you mentioned has at one time or another purchased wholesale. (Incidentally, if your purchased those seals from any of those that you mentioned, you got zips repro of our repro. They offer a lower wholesale price, and we don't match that wholesale price, but they don't match the parts. If someone there told you those fasteners are plastic, they have been merely substituting for the OEM metal style. It does not surprise me. That's the basic essence of their salesmanship game: give it the same name and few will realize exactly what they actually got is different than original or is not equivalent to GM or even the Doc X. They won't tell you that. When was the last time you read or heard any of them brag it's Taiwan or China part and were not talking iPhone, Android level or hi tech electronic manufactured parts?
Years ago we purchased about 8 different plastic injection molding dies just to produce accurate replica's of the various 68-82 engine compartment tie wraps that were actually used on real Corvette's. I recognize that anyone can go to their flaps and get current modern replacements, but these were for those who wanted original style. These dies were made in the USA, as well as the finished parts. These parts retail for $2 to 4 dollars each. Not that expensive, especially when a pack of cigarettes in Connecticut is $8 and close to $15 in NY city. My 35 year old acquaintance at Zip markets similarly named products, but they are completely inaccurate replacements – just like those the local auto parts stores sell for $2.99 for 25 pieces. But you will never read that anywhere but my website. It just look like ole DocRebuild is a dollar or so more expensive for the same part. I've dealt with that rip-off crap for years. It happens in all markets, from Gucci scarves, to pocketbooks to shoes. You take it personal when you realize what is happening. It even get more personal when they use your illustrations, instructions or advertising sale aid to actually market their dung.
On 66-67 Corvettes we made a very detailed replica of 427 only overflow hose retainer and sell it for $4. Zip sells a completely generic replacement from Auveco made in China, but you would be hard pressed to ever discover that – unless I mentioned that fact. Did you really think they would ever mention that?
For decades, there have been several vendors that operate by making a cheaper version of what is already out there. I honestly cannot think of one part that matches the original quality or durability. Today there are about 8 Corvette suppliers that are the major Asian importers, and that does not include all the other old Chevy, Ford, Mopar repro old parts suppliers doing the same.
The same thing that happened to the US economy, happened to the repro parts market. It's been taken over by crappy imports that are either inaccurate, wear out or break quickly. Note: I am well aware that not all imports are crap, nor is their quality junk, but I would like to hear about any Corvette parts made in Asia for 53-82 that are such great parts.
Recent internet chat rooms are loaded to references to these imported parts that seem to fail quickly if not right out of the box: 68-82 vacuum actuators & 68-82 relay valves, 64-66 turn signal switch, 63-67 & 68-82 PW switches, 78-82 AC climate control vacuum switch, 78-82 shifter console plate, 78-82 cluster case, ignition coils, 56-74 gas tank senders, power lock actuator, many headlamp switches, the Ttop and other weather strips, 73-75 cloisonné nose & gas door emblems, all the Aluminum rocker moldings & on & on ad nauseum.
If I wanted to maximize my portfolio, I would be a fly on the wall. My wife and others have said exactly the same. But I'm not in it just for piles of green money; to make that sale at any cost. That was never a main motivation. I'm pretty well set; have always been frugal, never lived beyond my means & own everything in my universe outright. No bank notes, no mortgages, no debts, no credit lines. I bit my tongue in the 1980's & 1990's when I had to deal with some folk. November I will been semi retired 10 years & publish what ever is truthful. Facts will not get me into a civil action. It may turn off some, warts and all, however I know that it has rewarded me with a comfortable nest. I could not live with myself like some of those phony greedy bastards that just harvest's the mullets. Caveat emptor.
How are those crappy Asian imports working out for any and all of youse? (Today I broke three drill bits from HomeDumpo working on one of garage doors tracks at home. Pure Asian imported crap. The cutting tip broke on two. I dropped the third on the cement garage floor & it broke in half. It's everywhere. I hate going to ChinaMart, HomeDumpo, Low's & all the others that have literally flooded the world with cheap knockoff's. It was only natural that the Corvette market followed the same path.)
PS Zips former webmaster Michael McWilliam's actually wrote & even called me to offer me his personal professional services at reduced cost because of zip was not paying him. He related I was a main topic in their offices & they just could not stop my web pages from linking to them. I graciously thanked him and explained that would not be ethical on my part. Plus we don't put allot into the surroundings. Our warehouse is not impressive; there's no showroom. Our catalogs were always news print paper. Our web pages from old Adobe Page Mill & GoLive. No fluff. I do hope to put more good photos & complete accurate description on our web store.
