Featured Folks Of Interest Fatman Fabrications

Knowing about less and less as time goes on, I often wonder why the current owner does not take on a new business partner or investor. Sure the profit would had to be divided up more but it is better than losing your shirt over this.

 

At this point, that subject could be in the works, but it would be completely subjective. According to posts on this thread, orders were still being taken in early Nov 2024.

A business partner or investor would want to know exactly how far out of shape things really are, and its possible that Tim doesn't even know that for sure yet. A crooked bookkeeper can really screw over a company, and it could take some time before the true depth of damage that swindler caused may be fully known.

 

I don’t have a dog in this fight, but I do hope I’m teaching my kids to grow up like Tim. Stay out of debt. If it’s unavoidable, pay your debts even if it near busts you doing it. Respect other people’s money like you would a borrowed car.

cheers,
Harv

 

I just re-read the entire thread, and I can't see where it has been confirmed that the situation is a consequence of "crooked bookkeeping" by a 'swindler". It could just as likely be a case of plain old incompetence. Let's not start the tarring just yet.

 

so have you always been a sophist or is this just a recent development in life?

 

Perhaps you should seek better friends...

 

i just found out about them closing, i tried calling today for a update. paid 400$ for dropped spindles for my shoebox in early November told me 4-6 weeks until shipping. NOT A WORD was said about closing and now im out 400$

 

It could be he took some time off to regroup, it is the holidays. If you left a message, let us know if he responds. We’ve heard that he is trying to honor all the existing orders. So good luck and hopefully you will get your order.

 

i hope so, and ill let you know if i find out anything

 

I know it's hard but be patient. He really is trying to do everyone right. Also, it is only he, his wife and maybe one other guy working through this mayhem. Meanwhile, his phone is blowing up.

 

Sad I used 2 of his front clip set ups good quality welds / workman ship they all worked out well still on the road years later .

 

Don't be patient. If you paid for something you didn't get and know they're going out of business, hopefully you paid by credit card. If so, call your card immediately and report the charge. If you paid for something you didn't receive, you have limited time to contact your credit card to reverse the charge.

Don't be patient and give the benefit of the doubt if you want the best chance at getting your money.

 

The other Fatman's thread on here states the their lawyers are contacting people that are owed money to get that resolved. If you are on the list and haven't been contacted yet....contact them!

 

If you have an avenue to get your money back without the lawyers, I'd do that. You're not guaranteed to get the full amount in refund from a failed enterprise, nor in a timely manner.

 

So sad to hear. I waited 20+ years to start my project car and ordered a stub frame from Fatman in November 2024. They were quick to respond with emails and to phone calls. I pre-paid and haven’t heard from any lawyers- so I hope that my front end will get made. Have to have it to make the engine swap fit. If not, has anyone got dimensions or measurements on a stub frame for a 55 Ford Crown Victoria? Front end is what I’m waiting on in order to move to the next step of assembly.

Rockable - we don’t know each other, but I wish I had a friend just like you who would support a guy when he’s down like you are with the Fatman crew.

 

^^^^ Rock is a straight up guy!

 

Thanks, Bill. I try to be.

 

I'm also missing a chassis from Fatman. After discovering the closing I've been scouring the web and anyone who would answer me in the area, the attorney, other clients etc

Let me put to rest any hope of anyone ever getting their parts. As of 1-7-25 FatMan fab has been officially dissolved. Even if the owner was trying his best to personally fill orders, he legally cannot conduct business any further. I spoke to their attorney office and asked the date. "Filed in December and finalized on Jan 7th". In NC, dissolution takes 1 month to process as per the NC sec State website, so that checks out. If you haven't gotten your parts by now, they aren't coming

I'm having a hard time believing this was not a planned action in bad faith. Two other customers I spoke to had chassis orders from 2023 that should have been completed well before Fatman's financial difficulties. The chassis I ordered from March 2024 was scheduled to be completed in Aug '24, pushed to Nov, then after the new year... And then the company closes quietly. Now I see Fatman taking on new clients as late as Nov '24? Something doesn't add up

Where did all the money go?
Why weren't orders being filled through 2024?
Why didn't the company contact customers when there were difficulties instead of leaving them out to dry?
If an employee caused all the financial woes, why isn't there a police report?
Why so many different stories from Tim T?

I understand that many people defend Tim. Heck, I met him and he was a very nice and knowledgeable guy running a strong business. Unfortunate that it turned sour. Tell me, if you the reader were to plan a money grab, would it look any differently?

This whole affair stinks to high heavens

 

It must be a hell of a friend to lend someone $100 K interest free or someone with Elon Musk's back pocket. If I knew you well enough to end you that kind of money, I'd already know about your exploits.

 

Thanks for putting me out of my misery Old_Iron. A kill shot to the head is what I needed to dash the hopes of owning a piece of hot rod history- the last front stub and IFS for a 55 ford built by Fatman. Guess I’m a lucky one compared to the guys who have been waiting on full Chassis for more than a year. Thankfully it was overtime money I spent and not grocery money. Installing a stub front end was the simple solution for stuffing a 7.3L Ford Godzilla into a 55 Crown. Guess I’ll have to cut, weld, beat-to-fit, and paint to match like some of you old hands have done for years.

That’s what defines a hot rodder and a man- the ability to move from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm.

 

I owned a '55 Ford that the PO had installed a later model (early '70s?) front clip - complete w/ 460 V8, power strreing, disc brakes, etc. The frame stubs did not align perfectly with the '55 frame but the transition was handled with a parallelogram box to mate it up.

Were I to do one today I would use an even later model Crown Vic/ Grand Marquis front end with a modular front suspension of aluminum with rack-n-pinion steering and the engine of your choice.

 

I don’t have a dog in this fight but not everything is a conspiracy, bad things happen to good people, unless you have been party to absolutely everything that has happened then it’s maybe not the time to cry wolf.

 

Hopefully you paid by Credit Card and are still within the window to file a claim and get your money back that way? If so, call them ASAP.

 

If you know him well enough to speak for him then ask him to come on here or call his customers and settle this

Otherwise, if it looks like a duck I'm calling it a duck

A big part of owning business is being able to deliver bad news. He's totally shafted his customers, regardless of the intention. A simple phone call or email would have done wonders

 

I've noticed here on the HAMB that when certain companies go under, people tend to support them because they're "nice" or "good" or whatever. TRJ happened to come out of it, but most companies don't. Did they intentionally deceive consumers in a last ditch to scrape up what money they could? Maybe, maybe not.

As a consumer, it doesn't matter whether the person is good, did it intentionally, or whatever. They took your money in exchange for something they didn't deliver. If you made the deal recently, beg your credit card company to reverse the charge and give you your money back. If not, get involved legally as soon as you can.

Trusting that someone whose business just collapsed will honor your several thousand dollar purchase and you'll get your money back because they're a "good guy" has left a lot of people in the hot rod community wishing they hadn't done that. While Rockable and others have good intentions, waiting in situations like this either puts you lower on the reimbursement list or ensures you won't get any money back whatsoever. As you said, it's out of Tim's hands, now it's up to you to fight to get your money back.

I feel for the guy if his wife had a serious illness, but you can't let your customers suffer because of it.

 

Sorry for all who lost there money totally sucks and sets a project back to start over. But on a lighter note in July I contacted Fatman about a frame or front clip for my 54 Studebaker was told could be up to 6 months as it is a low sales off brand car so went with JW Rod Garage quoted a 4 to 5 weeks on a full rolling frame I picked it up myself 4 weeks later.JW does offer IFS front ends might be a go to place as we need to support these shops I suspect in the beginning Fatman did not turn enough products to stay ahead of the bills and any minor mismanagement or mistakes in this inflation high cost economy will sink a business quickly.

 

I didn’t speak for anyone, I guess I’m an oddball because I won’t say he purposely stole everyone’s money only because I don’t have every piece of what actually went on. I hope everyone gets taken care of in the end.

 

@Old_Iron_Overhaul
Might want to do an intro since just joined today and you want to come here and bitch on your first 2 post

 

I will say this, there have been a few people defending the company and the situation here. I agree it's unfortunate, however, I have not seen or heard one case of things being "made right". I personally have reached out numerous times with no reply, the stories I have read and seen so far do not suggest this was just an unfortunate situation. Some say poor accounting and bookkeeping, I was given a completely different reason my order was not completed, people also are suggesting different stories, payment methods and deposits. I also read the bookkeeping and accounting issue has happened under prior ownership. Obviously, few of us know the real story, as in life it's probably somewhere in the middle. The point being lost here is the effect this has on the small
shops and their customers. Personally, I was having a very specific frame built for a rare car. This has set me back at least 4-5 months and I now have to, recoup the funds lost, and reconfigure the suspension ordered, which changes the entire build. I have to go to my customer who has expectations and tell him we are out money and have to start from scratch which will cost more. Guys have every right to defend the company and question the people posting here, for a lot of people it goes beyond an unfortunate circumstance, and they have every right to be skeptical and angry.

 

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