Folks Of Interest Fatman Fabrications

I feel like a circling buzzard just looking at that stuff. Crying shame.

 

He had the supply of 9in rear ends

 

Correct. The business is closed. Liquidation is in process.

 

that is what it looks like, no shipping from them, you need to arrange your own plus they only have a 3 day window for pickup feb. 26,27.28 and only from 10-3 each day. so it doesn't give winners much time to organize to get it. How many shipping companies you know can get there in a week? good guys are booked months out.

plus i hope people pay attention to the extra riggng fees on the bigger items. some of them have an extra $1500-$2000 fee added to them besides your bid and buyers fee of 10%

 

All of that is controlled by the auction company. It's their baby now.

 

What a shame.

 

Those dates are usually for the things that can be picked up with minimal work. Think 2 guys to load. When it comes to large things that require rigging that happens after all the small things are out of the way. Each in order. You do not want to pay a rigger to move things that are not yours.

 

Glad you had good results and I have used JW parts with success. Just want to point out to you that MII's are not HAMB friendly so you might want to re-word your post. It's a fine front-end and I have used it with success but I don't post it here FWIW

 

Wow. Thanks for the heads up 5window. I wasn’t aware of this when I used the generalized term of “MII” to describe my completely unrelated independent front suspension that utilizes GM brake calipers. I’ll try to be more careful in the future.

 

Why worry about an aftermarket company going tits up? I thought "real" hot rods are "built not bought"...

 

I always see that attitude as one of the lamest in the car hobby. In truth 90% of us aren't able to do every step of the build ourselves outside of the obvious items and for some of the things that Fatman had like Merc and early Chevy Dropped uprights well built beat the crap out of back yard scabbed together. I do do most of my work myself simply because I can't afford to pay someone but at times it is far more prudent to buy a part than waste hours, days or longer trying to build my own. I had a friend with a shop who would spend an hour day fabbing an alternator bracket out of pieces when he could order one for 25 dollars his cost and sell it for 40 and utilize his time far better. I don't know if he charged the customer 8 hours to build that bracket or not but he could have frenched a pair of headlights or taillights in that time.

 

Fatman is having a second auction. This time it includes the frame drawings and jigs. I guess they couldn't reach a deal with another chassis shop

https://www.ironhorseauction.com/au...jig-for-classic-cars-and-trucks-75721/details

 

And what do those home hot rod builders use, hopes and dreams? They buy stuff from aftermarket vendors, junkyards, etc.

 

Cool, When will you be up & running?

 

It's not me. I just shared it.

 

I don't know why, but this reminds me of a story I heard years ago:
Seems a guy took his PU to Mexico, while there he met a guy selling water melons for a $1.00 each. He said . I 'll take the whole lot, Brought them home, put them For Sale: $1.00 each. Buyer stopped buy, Said how much? Seller said $1.00 each, Buyer said : Heck I will buy them All.
wife asked "How's sales ?" Husband answered " Woman !! I sold them ALL, We HAVE got to get a bigger truck and go for more.


Two old guys, down and out, sharing a bed on the sidewalk: One guy reminisces, " When I had my station,, I sold the cheapest gas in town.."

 

Cool! I hope they will sell the dropped uprights for a 49-51 Merc

 

It's one thing to have the " Intellectual Property" another thing to gear up and have on hand the manufacturing ability OR are they going over sea's...................................

 

Southern Rods?

 

This is exactly the thing. In conversation last evening with a fellow HAMB member that has been in the know with Tim at FatMan, it is unclear what "Intellectual Property" was purchased. There are at least 4 threads related to this subject generated recently. I intend to contact Southern Rods on Monday to gather information. Most interest is around dropped uprights, including myself.

 

I did contact Southern Rods. According to the salespeople, they did acquire ALL of the intellectual property and will be rolling out and offering all of the products previously offered by Fatman, including the dropped steering knuckle supports (uprights). They could not provide a timeline at this point, but said products would be added to their website as they become available and would be produced in house or locally. We will see.

 

Thanks for the FYI!

 

Did they say if they would be using same suppliers / vendors?
I was looking for a Fatman mono leaf based on how how long it has been on a car I have been around for the past 30 + years;
I really dont want to be a crash test dummy for the new company.

Anyone recommend a mono leaf? (30 model A)

 

^^^^ They did not say. I would guess that it would be a combination of old suppliers and ones they currently use. Suppliers (30 years ago?) may no longer be around.

 

OK guys, updates- Southern Rods did not acquire ALL of the intellectual property. If you look at the Fatman website, it spells out where some of the property went.
Southern Rods acquired the Tubular control arm and OT front suspension/crossmember stuff only. The full chassis stuff is still for sale.
The dropped steering knuckle support stuff was acquired by Downright Fab. This company is a partnership of two former Fatman employees and have been fabricating the supports for a couple of months in house. Located in Monroe, NC. The current selection is limited but plans are to offer everything that Fatman offered although at a higher price.

 

Fat47 hit the nail squarely on the head. The days of making parts for old cars, etc are fading away
as the "old guys" retire and market changes.

 

Remember the days of making your own shit?

 

I like to do all my own casting, forging and machining.