For all those interested in the 348 Challenge Grill...

I wanted to give you guys an update and the chronicles of my quest to manufacture a 348 “Challenge” Grill. This story will hopefully be a lesson for all of us about dreams – even the smallest of them – and dream crushers.

Back in March 2008, my dad and I began in earnest to build a prototype “challenge” grill with the round taillight set-up. I know nothing about car parts, but this particular part became a real passion for me – I saw a way in which I could actually improve the Ferrari 348 – a beautiful car in its own right. We worked countless hours on making a one-off mock-up of the grill. Finally, in May, we were ready to have a mold made for this.

I did an extensive amount of research online, trying to find the perfect partner to manufacture this piece. I found a company called Conroy Composites in Goshen, Indiana. I sent them photos, discussed it with the owner, and finally took a leap of faith and sent my one-off prototype to Indiana. That was in June.

Time went by, and I would inquire routinely about the progress. I would sure enough get a “good progress” report, though my patience began wearing a bit thin as the summer went on. I know that I posted some of these progress reports right here on F-chat as I would get them. As time went on, I decided that I would need to get the prototype back and go a different direction. I sent the owner an email kindly asking for the part back, and didn’t hear anything for a few days.

Several days later, a gentleman from Fort Wayne, IN, emailed me stating that he had the part ready and needed my address. I called him, and basically said “I had given up on you guys – what has been going on?” He proceeded to tell me that the company had gone under, and that he was taking my project. Well, since he had the panel supposedly ready to ship, I decided to stick with it.

In September, I finally received the panel. And what a beautiful piece it was. You all have seen photos, but you haven’t seen the best ones. I was ecstatic. All that me and my dad needed to do was to design mounting hardware for the panel, which we did. We had the panel shipped back to Indiana within a week. A small voice in my head said “I wonder if I send this panel back, if I will ever see it again?”

My partner in Fort Wayne let me know that he received it, and would get the brackets set and tooled, and he would shoot the part right back to me. I thought at last, this deal is going to happen. That was October the 14th.

Well, the delays started again – first one excuse, then another, then another. The final excuse is that Fed Ex Ground damaged it in shipment and he was going to have to fix it. I got that phone call yesterday. But he assured me it would be mailed out TODAY at the latest. Meanwhile, his cell phone service has been turned off, and he is very sporadic about checking and responding to emails. I highly doubt that the panel shipped out today.

So, for the moment, my dream of producing a panel is on hold. At this point, this whole thing has become a personal mission for me to get done. My partner in Indiana, who was going to share my dream and even make some good money if the panel sold, has effectively become a “dream crusher.” People that don’t take care of business can be “dream crushers”. I don’t know that they are aware of it – nor are they likely aware of anything but what goes on in their world, on their timetable. I mean no ill toward this gentleman – he is a very nice fellow and I am sure he has good intentions. It’s just that my dream is just one of probably another hundred projects for him – who knows for sure.

At this point, my goal is to get my panel back, and see if I can buy the mold from the gentleman. This won’t be easy since he can’t be counted on to take something to Fed Ex. So I’ve got a plan:

Plan A, Jim (Shadow) in Fort Wayne, a 308GT4 owner and fellow F-chat member, has graciously offered his assistance in getting this stuff. What I am hoping to do is have Jim pay this gentleman a visit and pay him in cash (via a bankwire from me) for the panel and the mold so that the gentleman will turn loose of them.

Plan B, if Jim cannot do this, I will fly up to Fort Wayne personally and see if I can track the items down and bring them home.

If I fail at Plan B, I will have to just start over on the project, if anyone is still interested in it and is willing to wait.

In the end, I will have to find another manufacturer to make this panel. Hopefully, they will be a dream giver, not a dream crusher. Apparently, there are a lot of dream crushers in the Yellow Pages.

Meanwhile, the back of my car is disassembled while I wait for the part, and I have ordered 4 sets of taillight lamps from Daniel that sit in the garage waiting. Waiting for me to fulfill this small dream. I have a website waiting. And so far, all I have to show for this is a lot of spent hours and money.

I offer you guys my sincerest of apologies. I do not do business this way. My philosophy is underpromise and overdeliver. I am deeply disappointed. But I am determined, if you guys are still interested, in seeing this dream come true. It just may be after we all intended and expected it.

Let me know your thoughts.


Here is this beauty, mounted - for only a few hours - before it went back to Indiana and where it is now. Why on earth did I ever let her go?
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I am actually from Texas. I am not bothered by someone doing this with me from afar, as long as they take their business (and mine) seriously. I do have a couple of other manufacturers that I am in contact with.

 

Jim you are one heck of a guy, I'll give you that.

 

I just talked to Jim (Shadow) in Indiana and he is in pursuit of the panel. I am grateful for Jim's help. Everyone keep their fingers crossed that Jim can get his hands on this panel !!!

 

First of all, thank you to ALL OF YOU who have PMd me your offers to help, go beat the guy up, etc. lol.

Jim Shadow of Fort Wayne took one for the brotherhood today and went and knocked on dude's door. They're best of friends now.

The guy told Jim that the panel is indeed in transit, so let's just all keep our collective fingers crossed and thank Jim for heading this up. Maybe we can come up with a special grill just for Jim's GT4 !!!

Stay tuned guys...

 

see the bottom of the other thread ("Can Jim Shadow rescue...") for an important update.