Folks Of Interest Fatman Fabrications

Have these guys gone out of business?

 

I believe they did, but could be wrong.

 

Google says they are permanently closed, but there's also a current Facebook note about their 2024 holiday hours. Curious.

 

I may be wrong but I think Fatman sold at some time in the past? So as with so many companies with new owners, who knows?

 

One of the employees bought it from the original owner. At the time the original owner was supposedly staying on but I think that was 3 or 4 years ago so lots could have changed since then.

 

Crap!

 

I knew this was going to surface quickly but I didnt want to start it. This is my understanding and not gospel. As most of you know, Brent Vandervort, aka Fatman, sold the business to Tim about 3-4 years ago.

Sadly, Tim is closing the business. At least he did not file for chapter 7. He is trying his best to fill open orders. The word I got is there were problems with the bookkeeping and ordering that he was unaware of. He has an accountant going through the books.

Because he doesnt have any secured debt to a lending institution, he is going to self liquidate the equipment and other assets to try to get enough money to fill the open, prepaid orders. He is also going to see if he can sell the intellectual property. A buyer might take all of Brent's designs and resurrect some products that had been dropped, like dropped spindles, etc.

Fatman Fabrications filled an important niche in our hobby. I hope it's not lost forever.

 

They were still operating a few months ago when I inquired about dropped uprights for my Buicks. A guy on the phone told me that uprights for Buicks, Pontiacs, Olds, and Mopar had been phased out for low sales. Wouldn't surprise me if they closed.

 

Read my post, Bill. Apparently, you were typing at the same time as I.

 

Dang, not good. Hope I never need any parts for the front end under my Studebaker. It was the only game around when I put the thing together 20 years ago.

 

What a shame.

 

It's sad. I've seen it several times in my life. Someone who knows and understands the products, technologies, production and customers buys a business. Most do not have training in the financial side of business. They don't understand the importance of overseeing the financial side closely and they delegate it to others who may or may not be competent. (These people also may or may not be trustworthy.) By the time the problems become evident it is often too late to turn it around.

 

Too bad they can’t put the intellectual property (plans, blue prints, computer programs) up for public domain use.

 

You misunderstand. He is trying to raise cash to pay for the components necessary to finish orders that are already in house. Many have already been paid for by the customers.

 

I did probably miss some important information.

 

Sad to see but far from the first small business that had issue because of the book keeper. Hopefully Tim is able to fill all outstanding orders and then sell or do something with the intellectual property to recover some of the money. Or just start over after the orders are filled on a smaller scale with a better book keeper.

 

I hope something similar happens as with Scarebird, the intellectual property gets acquired by someone else that will continue on. Fatman was the only game in town for those uprights.

 

My understanding was Scarebird was successfully purchased by a new person and is back in business. https://www.scarebird.com/about-us

 

Scarebird would be a good company to purchase the uprights/dropped spindles product designs from Tim. It would complement their business. I'll plant that seed with Tim.

 

Anyone have an un-used FatMan IFS for a '35 Chevy Sedan Delivery (Standard) for sale?

 

Mark @ Scarebird told me that they were closing months before they did, and I purchased some bearing adapters and such from him then. He said they were negotiating with a potential buyer for intellectual property at that time but was not a done deal. While the new company in North Carolina does not carry everything Scarebird had before, they are adding more as time goes on. Fatman's line of products would be a good fit for the new Scarebird.

 

The FatMan Co. had 3 things going for it, Brent, Tim & a fabulous product with fabulous tech help. After 27 installs never a problem that wasn't explained or taken care of immediately. Hope a potential buyer will carry on the same.................................................

 

I thought talking about Mustang II frontends were taboo around here. His core business was based on Mustang II type frontends. Fatmans products were top notch. I talked to quite a few streetrodders that have used his kits-they all said it was the best thing they ever did to their car.

 

They were about the only source for uprights and dropped spindles for a lot of traditional cars, too.

 

I agree.

 

it seems, there in fact out of business. from what i understand there was some shady stuff going on over there for a while. there is some discussion on FB about the company screwing people over for a while. Taking orders/money knowing they weren't going to be fulfilled, lot of people out a lot of money. Shame its going this way

 

Wow! That's to bad. I needed some upper control arms.

 

This thread ties in with another about the demise/closing of a lot of smaller hot rod businesses over the past few years. Unfortunate, but understandable.
I'm soon to be 83 and have been at this a long time. Use to be able to build rods mostly out of wrecking yard parts. Now most won't let you look through their yards and they tend to crush stuff over 10 years old. Moved on to building rods with parts from various parts stores like NAPA or O'Rilleys and smaller local rod shops. As the counter guys at the parts stores aged out and retired, replaced by young guys that had very little car knowledge, aside from what they could find on the computer screen that became more difficult. Along with that, as fewer and fewer engine shops, machinests, second job upholsterers stayed in business those sources diminished. As big order mail sources took over the market the parts, many made in China, became problematic. I can't even count the parts I had to send or take back in the last 10 years.
Now, before you go off in the wrong direction, I do my own welding, body work, design, and primer work. I used to paint with the help of a retired body man who, unfortunately died a couple of years ago. Along those same lines, I used to trade work with a a lot of guys or we would have get togethers to help with someones build. Many of them have passed on now so very little of that anymore. I have two projects in my shop that I may never finish as age and the absence of dependable alternatives bcome more and more prevelant.
I understand these changes, doesn't mean I like them, but there isn't much we can do about it. What I do know, is, it's been a good run for me, I don't have any regrets, and for the most part I'm glad I had the opportunity to be engaged in this hobby durning its peek and meet the guys I did, and share in this life.

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Well Said^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

i agree with this to a point, i have found it harder as of late to get quality parts but more importantly quality service. like a lot of guys, I'm a small shop and every dollar counts. Reputation and Integrity is 99% of your business. A shop like Fatman who many of us have used and relied on for years, if what some of the rumors going around are true, is really disheartening to hear.