Section : Panelwork Suppliers

What's your thoughts on Fitchetts?

Posted By : David Bowers, 06-Jan-2004, 01:47pm

• What's your thoughts on Fitchetts?

  Posted By : Adrian Lee, 06-Jan-2004, 01:50pm

  Don't know,i got all mine from Sports Car Supplies,Newcastle......good service and advice,competitive prices.However,a colleauge with a spitfire uses Fitchetts exclusively and swears by them.

  • What's your thoughts on Fitchetts?

    Posted By : Michael Davis, 06-Jan-2004, 01:51pm

    I've had a couple of bits from them. Not panels. Not had any problem.

    • What's your thoughts on Fitchetts?

      Posted By : Darren Groves, 06-Jan-2004, 07:00pm

      I'm just about to buy a Front Valance for my Herald, so when it arrives I'll let you know.
      
      Never used them before, but they're £25 cheaper for this part than anywhere else I've looked.

• What's your thoughts on Fitchetts?

  Posted By : William Davies, 06-Jan-2004, 03:03pm

  Hi David,
  Fitchetts manufacture some of the panels for our cars in house, as such they supply many (all?) of the other traders, including myself. The arrangement works both ways with other panels coming from other sources. This is further confused by some panels which are made by more than one company. Quality may not be consistent between similar products from different sources. Don't use price as an indicator of quality. As a trader, I pick and choose which suppliers I buy different panels from to maintain consistent quality.
  In a nutshell, Fitchetts are an excellent source for many of the panels. Other sources will be better for other panels, it all depends which panels you want.
  Cheers,
  Bill.
  
  
  

  • What's your thoughts on Fitchetts?

    Posted By : David Bowers, 06-Jan-2004, 04:15pm

    Hi Bill
    
    I didn't think it would be this difficult to source high quality parts for my car. Basically the parts I need are as follows:-
    2 x Front Wings
    2 x Rear Wings or repair sections
    2 x Treadplates
    2 x D Plates
    2 x Bonnet Corner sections
    Rear floor sections
    Left and right boot floor sections
    Left and right boot sides
    2 x Door Skins
    1 x NS Door Bottom
    Possible front and rear outer arch sections .
    
    I know some of these are not available as Stanparts but I am still looking for good quality parts. Your thoughts on the best places to get these items is appreciated.
    
    Thanks
    David

  • What's your thoughts on Fitchetts?

    Posted By : Jason Chinn, 06-Jan-2004, 05:27pm

    I have heard that the tooling for the Vitesse front wings doesn't exist anymore and so all Vitesse front wings are pressed as Herald wings then modified by hand - whenever a panel is finished by hand there's potential for quality variation - having said that I don't know who modifies them but I'm 99% sure they are pressed at Fitchetts. There's no fit issue with the area of modification so I think this is a pretty safe panel.
    I picked up an original Vitesse front wing on eBay for a fair price, it wasn't a bargain. I'd keep an eye on eBay if I were you - you've just missed me putting out about 30 NOS left hand D plates over the last few months - sold for a min £3.50 and a max £8.50.
    
    

    • What's your thoughts on Fitchetts?

      Posted By : David Bowers, 07-Jan-2004, 02:34pm

      Hi Jason
      
      I spoke to Fitchetts who own the original tooling for 13/60 wings which are, as you say modified to fit the Vitesse. Does anyone know if the Vitesse front wing tooling exists and if so who has it? Does this mean every companies Vitesse wings are hand modified herald wings?
      
      Cheers
      David
      
      

      • What's your thoughts on Fitchetts?

        Posted By : Jason Chinn, 07-Jan-2004, 03:14pm

        I recall story was that the Vitesse tooling no longer exists as it isn't essential to produce a Vitesse wing. If that's right it would be reasonable to assume that all Vitesse repro wings start life at Fitchetts as Heral wings and end up modified - the ones I've seen at Canleys are nice though.

        • What's your thoughts on Fitchetts?

          Posted By : David Bowers, 07-Jan-2004, 04:12pm

          Hi Jason
          
          It just keeps getting more and more confusing!!
          
          So do Canley have there own presses to make Vitesse wings? There is quite a price difference between the modified Fitchett wings and the Canley wings.
          
          I'll be coming down to Stoneleigh in February so I think I'll see what I can find there.
          
          Thanks
          David
          
          

          • What's your thoughts on Fitchetts?

            Posted By : Jason Chinn, 07-Jan-2004, 05:10pm

            Ahh it's not confusing, it's the Motor Trade!
            A press is a mjor piece of kit and to have one need some serious money and space - they usually live in press hops who put different tooling (think moulds) into them to produce different panels. Fitchetts have a lot of those tools.
            You will find that Canley's prices are very keen - if you've got a lot to spend I would recommend putting a shopping list together and giving it to a couple of traders - ask them for their best price for the lot - do it now, this is the lean time for them. You'll be surprised at the response and walk away from anyone who give you a hard time, you can get a good deal, within reason. It's really worth doing this and storing the stuff in your loft until you need it.
            If it were my money, I'd talk to Fitchetts as the source, Canley's as a keenly priced alternative and I'd give Bill Davies at Rarebits a go as he's also good on price and knows about quality - he needs the profit to put some biscuits on the stand at Stoneleigh as well.
            If you want a laugh, do the same with Moss and then Rimmers - ££££££
            
            J

      • What's your thoughts on Fitchetts?

        Posted By : William Davies, 07-Jan-2004, 10:09pm

        Hi David,
        There is only one source of tooling for any of the Herald wings, and that tooling is specific to the 13/60. All current production of front wings for both the Vitesse and Herald 1200 comes from the 13/60 tooling. The wings themselves are converted by a number of different traders, so quality of Vitesse and 1200 wings can vary widely, whereas 13/60 wings are all more or less the same.
        I can't comment specifically on the quality of the Vitesse wings, but I have been singularly unimpressed by any of the reproduction 1200 wings which are currently produced. There are very subtle curves to this panel around the front outboard of the sidelight aperture, curves which I have never seen convincingly done in a reproduction wing.
        Cheers,
        Bill.