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Mark Henry
QUOTE(Puebloswatcop @ Mar 28 2017, 03:00 PM) *

I would love to be in on this as well, just want to be sure these would fit a '73 and a '74? Can't wait to see the pics

Yes they will fit and I also can't wait but I want them in my grubby hands so I can confirm the fit and finish.
Even best case by the time they ship the samples, ship time, approval, production, shipping time again... we are at least 2 months off. More if issues need to be rectified.
Big project.

Once the ball is rolling on this product the plan is to do the early rear and maybe a matching GT valance in paint grade.
Mark Henry
Woohoo! cheer.gif

First sneak peek at the bumpers, these are unpolished.

Looks like they are pretty confident I'll be happy, they have gone ahead and started with production.

popcorn[1].gif

mepstein
Awesome!
sb914
smilie_pokal.gif nice .
amfab
Great! I am eager to hear your report on fit

-Andrew
horizontally-opposed
QUOTE(Mark Henry @ Mar 28 2017, 04:04 PM) *

Woohoo! cheer.gif

First sneak peek at the bumpers, these are unpolished.

Looks like they are pretty confident I'll be happy, they have gone ahead and started with production.

popcorn[1].gif


Kudos to you!!! Well done, man—and very cool.
pete000
Would be cool to see a video on how they are making them.
Mark Henry
QUOTE(amfab @ Mar 28 2017, 09:27 PM) *

Great! I am eager to hear your report on fit

-Andrew


I have a feeling they are going to be just fine. I also sent a bumper top and was quite clear that how it fits in the corners to both the top and body will make or break the deal.

QUOTE(pete000 @ Mar 29 2017, 12:30 AM) *

Would be cool to see a video on how they are making them.


I doubt it, just looking at the shop, well let's just say not clean and pristine like a tour through Restoration Design. The person I'm dealing with I don't think ever steps on the shop floor.
But who cares? confused24.gif The end product is all we care about. thumb3d.gif
rick 918-S
Sent ya a pm I think... wacko.gif I sent it to someone. confused24.gif biggrin.gif
Mark Henry
QUOTE(rick 918-S @ Mar 29 2017, 08:48 AM) *

Sent ya a pm I think... wacko.gif I sent it to someone. confused24.gif biggrin.gif

Got it and replied. smile.gif
lonewolfe
Hey Mark, these bumpers are coming along nicely and look promising. I requested a GT front bumper already but am curious about the matching lower balance with oil cooler cut out. As I recall those are not part of the first run as you want to get the bumpers dialed in first. But, do you have a ballpark idea of how much these GT Valances will cost. I have one that is fiberglass not yet installed but I've tried lining it up to the body and can see it's off quite a bit and will require a lot of work to get it to fit. From all I've read it seems all the FB parts have fitment issues. I would much rather have one in Stainless for durability and better fit.
JimFitz33
QUOTE(Mark Henry @ Mar 29 2017, 08:01 AM) *

QUOTE(amfab @ Mar 28 2017, 09:27 PM) *

Great! I am eager to hear your report on fit

-Andrew


I have a feeling they are going to be just fine. I also sent a bumper top and was quite clear that how it fits in the corners to both the top and body will make or break the deal.

QUOTE(pete000 @ Mar 29 2017, 12:30 AM) *

Would be cool to see a video on how they are making them.


I doubt it, just looking at the shop, well let's just say not clean and pristine like a tour through Restoration Design. The person I'm dealing with I don't think ever steps on the shop floor.
But who cares? confused24.gif The end product is all we care about. thumb3d.gif



Very Exciting! The pics look good. And thank you thank you Mark...for your diligence on this project. Keep us posted ...
DM71SIX
QUOTE(altitude411 @ Jan 19 2017, 10:32 PM) *

Copy that Mark but I don't think they make early rear? It's for my six and I'm tired of trying to find a front in good condition....
I will have an early rechromed rear bumper ready in a month or so which I will sell.
mepstein
Mark Henry - I definitely want two sets. Same options already chosen. 2 GT valances when available. Thanks. ME
Justinp71

Hey Mark, is it still possible to get in on this deal?
altitude411
QUOTE(DM71SIX @ Apr 13 2017, 09:42 AM) *

QUOTE(altitude411 @ Jan 19 2017, 10:32 PM) *

Copy that Mark but I don't think they make early rear? It's for my six and I'm tired of trying to find a front in good condition....
I will have an early rechromed rear bumper ready in a month or so which I will sell.


you'll see that it's the original front bumper I am looking for not the rear. Thanks though beerchug.gif
Mark Henry
Ok... the samples are almost ready to ship, but I have to say dealing with them is a royal PITA. dry.gif

The big one is a price increase to $1200 a set, sucks I know.
We'll just have to see how many peeps bail, I understand, but it's beyond my control.

They also screwed the pooch on the GT bumper, tried to blame me at first, but I had my bases covered. I don't want to announce the GT bumper price till they get it sorted.

Just so you know my "profit" on this deal, which just got thinner, is just a few sets of free bumpers for me and my kid. I should be tacking on at least another $50 per set, but I don't want to totally queer the deal. There's still shipping on top of this to figure out.

I'm most likely going to use escrow on the big order so that will also cost me.

The pictures they gave me look good, but they are low res so I've asked for better pics. I'll post them when I have them.
amfab
As long as they come out well, I am still in

I am still thankfull for you going through the trouble

-Andrew
mb911
Still in..
Norskpole
Still in Mark! Thanks for the update and trouble....
Bartlett 914
not bailing
mepstein
Still in. Thanks for doing this.
Mitox
I'm still in. Thanks!
EdwardBlume
Can I be your kid? smile.gif
rmdinmd
Hi Mark;
Is it too late to join in this? If not, I would be interested in both front and rear bumpers with options A,B,C,D for a 74.

thx Rick
Mark Henry
Yes you can still get in, I'll update this later as I'm away for the day.
Mark Henry
QUOTE(RobW @ Apr 16 2017, 01:14 AM) *

Can I be your kid? smile.gif

Sure! how do you feel about slave labour? curfews? An asshole for a dad? biggrin.gif
zoedog
QUOTE(Mark Henry @ Apr 15 2017, 12:13 PM) *

Ok... the samples are almost ready to ship, but I have to say dealing with them is a royal PITA. dry.gif

The big one is a price increase to $1200 a set, sucks I know.
We'll just have to see how many peeps bail, I understand, but it's beyond my control.

They also screwed the pooch on the GT bumper, tried to blame me at first, but I had my bases covered. I don't want to announce the GT bumper price till they get it sorted.

Just so you know my "profit" on this deal, which just got thinner, is just a few sets of free bumpers for me and my kid. I should be tacking on at least another $50 per set, but I don't want to totally queer the deal. There's still shipping on top of this to figure out.

I'm most likely going to use escrow on the big order so that will also cost me.

The pictures they gave me look good, but they are low res so I've asked for better pics. I'll post them when I have them.

Count me as still in.
Looking forward to the hi res pictures.
Walt
JimFitz33
Still in Mark!
72914wrx
Still in when do you need the down payment?
rick 918-S
I'm interested... Need the early rear though
ChrisHG
Dear forum

My name is Christoph, I am the Sales & Marketing Director from Group Harrington.

I came across your thread organizing a group buy of Porsche 914 stainless steel bumpers from PTT. I would like to take this opportunity to let you know about our 914 bumpers and to straighten things out with the origin of PTT claim’s on this particular product.

Harrington Group has been offering stainless steel bumpers since 2003. To this day, we are offering over 300 types of bumpers for 58 makes of classic cars. We started offering Porsche 914 bumpers since 2005. We have invested heavily in a proper steel stamping mould for this product. Our product has been tried and test fit by 914 Porsche specialists in the UK, and since, has been sold widely all around the world including in the US.

PTT is actually one of our former production workers who stole some of our reproduction bumpers to use as pattern and since then set up in competition with us. I don’t want to say too much about him, but I feel that I should address a couple of things:

PTT DOES NOT use original bumpers for reproduction– he is using our replicas as patterns. You can clearly see by looking at his website and ours, that we produce pretty much all bumpers he produces, plus around 200 additional types. Please check out our website www.groupharrington.com where you can find our complete range.

The most important difference is that, unlike us, PTT DOES NOT press his bumpers, every single bumper he offers is hand-made, made in a little shed in the outskirts of Ho Chi Minh City.

He also DOES NOT test fit the bumpers before he offers them. We on the other hand have a stringent quality control and testing team. All our bumpers are produced according to original patterns. They have been provided by specialists who confirmed us perfect fit. The bumpers are also test fitted by specialists and only if they give their final GO we launch them. All our bumpers are pressed using proper moulds and trimmed and checked using exact jigs. This explains the positive feedback on the 914world forum about our bumpers.

When I saw the photo below on your forum, I was shocked to realize that this photo was taken from OUR storage section where we keep our faulty pressed bumpers and other faulty parts in OUR FACTORY.

Apart from making bumpers, we also produce half-scaled junior cars. I can proof to you that the picture was taken from our storage because this is where we keep the faulty steering wheels for our junior cars too.

IPB Image

IPB Image

IPB Image

You can find many more pictures of the range of our junior cars produced here. http://groupharrington.com/en/page/12/junior-cars.html

Also pictures of our 914 bumpers here. http://groupharrington.com/en/part/74/pors...-6-bumpers.html .

Picture below is one section of our factory with stamping press machine for bumpers. And toy cars production at the far end.


IPB Image

You can see from all the pictures above that PTT has somehow bribed one of our workers to take pictures, to steal the faulty bumpers and to sell to them in the hope that they would fix them and to resell to you.

The bumpers PTT promised to deliver to you are made by our factory from the mould we paid a lot of money for. This is not fair at all. This act is equivalent of stealing.

I would like to bring to your attention that if he had promised to deliver the bumpers to you, this delivery will be the first and the last one from him, not to mention that there will be no guaranty that they can make correct bumpers that fit. He does not have the original bumpers on hands to even know what the correct profile and form of the bumpers is. The fact that 914 bumpers fit very snuggest to the car body makes it one of the most difficult bumpers to produce. It requires precision. PTT doesn’t even know how difficult that is to make sure the light holes on the front bumper have to be the exact fit. He has never tested the 914 bumpers… so needless to say, getting a group buy from him, you would run the risk of bumpers not fitting.

However, as you made the deal with PTT already, and we do not want our bumpers to be sold by him, we will match his price for this group buy. Please let me know your thoughts.

With us you will deal with native English and German speaking sales and customer care staff. We as a company have been going for more than 15 years. We produce a lot more than just bumpers. We produce interiors in both leather and vinyl, rubber parts, cast metal parts composite parts, glass parts, plastic parts, etc. We also restore cars and scooters; build half sized classic cars for children. In fact, my boss owns quite a few classic cars which have been lovingly restored. Ultimately, with us, you are dealing with classic car enthusiasts that know about crucial points in the production of classic car parts! PTT on the other side is just in this business for money and has no idea about classic cars, a crucial point when supplying parts if you ask me!

Should you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact me.

Best regards
Christoph



euro911
blink.gif
sb914
popcorn[1].gif
Bartlett 914
How deep are we in this?
JmuRiz
I'm in deep, I'm in deep...

Great info from the Harrington Group though!!!
mepstein
QUOTE(Bartlett 914 @ Apr 27 2017, 09:37 AM) *

How deep are we in this?

Just Mark Henry - and I'm happy to help him out with some $ to cover his exposure how ever it turns out.
Bartlett 914
QUOTE(mepstein @ Apr 27 2017, 07:58 AM) *

QUOTE(Bartlett 914 @ Apr 27 2017, 09:37 AM) *

How deep are we in this?

Just Mark Henry - and I'm happy to help him out with some $ to cover his exposure how ever it turns out.

My Thoughts exactly.
Mark Henry
I know about Christoph claims, if my guy snagged that picture I apologize and I had already given my guy royal shit about it.

This also seems to be a bit of sour grapes, right from the start my guy said he was an ex-employee of Harrington.



QUOTE
PTT DOES NOT use original bumpers for reproduction– he is using our replicas as patterns.


Well that claim is false as I personally sent him a set of OE bumpers.
As far as quality control goes I'm the final step.

If he is reselling your bumpers what's the deal? Are you saying he's stealing them?


Money wise I haven't given them a dime yet, but he is asking for money now.
I've been stalling because they don't have the GT bumper done correctly.

These are the pictures they have given me, I know that these pictures are legit because the bumpers with the tape on them (or dirty) are my factory bumpers that I shipped to them. My hand writing on the labels, I used a translator for the Vietnamese text.
I was holding off posting them because I wanted better quality pictures and the GT bumper done correctly.
914_teener
QUOTE(ndfrigi @ Apr 26 2017, 06:32 PM) *

Rufino can come to your place. He did several 914 windshield here in SoCal and even mine.

His number is: (714) 292-5811



Cudos for doing this Mark....

Lot of friggen drama it reads like.

Stainless can be tricky to draw form.
Mark Henry
Christoph if you are saying that these bumpers are stolen there's you proof, call the police, that's what I would do if my claim was true.

No money has left my account yet, they even paid for the shipping, but I am out a set of usable bumpers off of my young lads car...and a shitload of time.

All I'm getting out of the deal is a few sets of bumpers.
Yes Drama dry.gif
Front yard mechanic
There is a big difference between 1100 dollars and the asking price of 1700 plus shipping seams like their over priced to begin with I my self will be looking for some used bumpers or just settle for my impact anchors headbang.gif WTF.gif
amfab
QUOTE(Mark Henry @ Apr 27 2017, 10:01 AM) *

Christoph if you are saying that these bumpers are stolen there's you proof, call the police, that's what I would do if my claim was true.

No money has left my account yet, they even paid for the shipping, but I am out a set of usable bumpers off of my young lads car...and a shitload of time.

All I'm getting out of the deal is a few sets of bumpers.
Yes Drama dry.gif

Again, thanks Mark for taking this on

-Andrew
second wind
I am dying to get a set of these bumpers but I vote Harrington. Let's get back to $1,100 as well. Just my humble opinion.
gg
pete000
So, not looking good for the early rear bumpers?

I would still be in for two non Tit front bumpers.

mobymutt
I know I shouldn't comment on this, and I apologize in advance, but I can't help myself.

If PTT's bumpers aren't pressed, then how are they made? Welded? Hammered? 3D printed?

But then later there is a statement that they are pressed on Harrington's molds, then stolen.

Support small business! Poor guy is working in a little shed, making things by hand, sounds like me...
ChrisHG
Dear all,

Thanks for your feedback.

I do agree that Mark sent his original bumper to PTT because the one on the picture is not our original pattern bumper. As PTT does not have a mould for the Porsche 914 bumpers I can assure he bought our faulty bumpers from one of our workers. Sure, we could go to the police but frankly speaking this is a bit of a stretch.

PTT has now a couple of sets and we are not going to do anything about it. The only thing we ensure, is that he will not receive one more set which is pressed out from our mould. Saying this, we just wanted to let you guys know about the situation. Now it’s up to you whether you want to proceed with this group buy or not. You might also consider getting the bumpers from Autoatlanta. They just had a special offer on the bumpers together with the top seals and will likely have it again soon.

Best regards
Christoph
Coondog
No offense Chris HG but it's because of the price of the bumpers that places like AA sale them for is what more then likely led this group down this road. I paid 2,400 dollars for your bumpers from High Performance house in San Francisco and am still pissed off. How about finding a couple reputable vendors....Stoddard or Sierra Madre....who by the way never has them in stock, offer them a exclusive deal with a retail price closer to the 1,200 to 1,400 dollar a set price and I bet you would see a lot more orders. Its not like your paying union wages to get these manufactured in Vietnam.
DM71SIX

The only way to check on the quality of the new bumpers is to get a set for fitment along with your supplied samples. A visit to the production facilities is a good idea. this is a major project which needs great QA. My experience as a commercial photographer with alot of product made in China and the US involved tooling for parts production. The back and forth to get an acceptable part involved several trials and analysis of the parts. The only parts I saw made to spec the first time was from people who had worked together for a long time. Reverse engineering is usually not a good way to produce precision parts.

Have you specified the quality of the steel and the chrome process? Chroming is no longer done the same way as the originals. Good luck on this project. it is a huge effort to get right.
JmuRiz
polished stainless, so no worries about the chrome quality/thickness...
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