Newbie-re: on Gordon website

[Jon March]

1) All the items for sale have numbers - but the majority have no pictures -
What is the best way to see some sort of reference page or manual showing what the parts look like ?

2) http://gordonimports.com/store/amphicar-spray-paint-green-p-20833.html

in this pic
a) doesnt look like a 16 oz can of paint
b) they only had 4 colors: 33 dollars for a 16oz can of green? does that seem kinda high to you?

3) 45 dollars for a drain plug? does this seem crazy $$ also?
Am I being cheap - or are the prices set so as to encourage buying used parts or substitute? Seems like if you have inventory, that youd want to sell it reasonably rather than sit on it or make a person cry uncle...#&^%$
is it me?
http://gordonimports.com/store/bilge-drain-plug-p-19328.html

 

[okey0]

Am I being cheap - or are the prices set so as to encourage buying used parts or substitute? Seems like if you have inventory, that youd want to sell it reasonably rather than sit on it or make a person cry uncle...#&^%$
is it me?

yes, you are being cheap....just kidding.
I too am starting to work on mine, trying to do as much of it on my own rather than shop it out to save $$. Sticker shock is everywhere....wait til you find out you need 4 new shock absorbers

As far as parts diagrams, you can join the IAOC for $30 a year....WE have a members only section that has a maintenance and parts manual you can access. for paint, you can usually get cans made up at a local auto paint supply store, should be a little cheaper that gordons. I've bought a lot from gordons this year, but I also try to find it local just to keep $ in line with my budget. just rebuilt my engine for about $300 (not including the jfreise clutch, or the engine and transmission mounts). that included gaskets and various small parts from gordons, bearings from various triumph vendors, and a head cleaning at a machine shop. luckily, nothing major to replace, I just put in new bearings and rings and changed out all the old gaskets. i'd say about half went to gordons, half to other suppliers.

 

[dougklink]

Try Gord Souter on the east coast, he has some stuff too.

 

[LSolheim]

1st make sure you know what you are buying, Jon.. Yes that is an incorrect picture, but more importantly that "paint" may be being sold for its collectible value (Amphicar label/original color). Note that it is described as ".. .. .. contents were .. .. .."
.
If no one has explained it yet, the part numbers refer to the Amphicar Parts Manul. "AA-BB--CC" where:
"AA" is the section in the Manual (ie 01 = Engine, Clutch, etc)
"BB" is the Plate (exploded view) of the subject (ie: 08 = Air Cleaner)
"CC" is the individual component on that Plate's parts list (ie: 03 = the Element)
so 01-08-03 would identify the Air Filter Element.

As noted above, the IAOC has a variety of on-line technical manuals for Member Only access. Gordon Imports sells reproductions of Parts, Maintenance & Electrical Manusls. John Bevins (Rocky Mountain Amphicar) has (or had) a very nice CD w/ enhanced Parts, Maintenance & Owners Manuals, plus some other goodies. There may be other sources you can find with a bit of searching.

 

[mike_israel]

Ah, the old Gordon's pricing debate. ....

I agree that some items are very much overpriced and nobody likes ordering a horn neck at a premium price to discover it is a snip of radiator hose.

On the other side of the equation is that the prices for all old car parts, especially NOS stuff for low volume vehicles, has gone up a lot in recent years. I have a super-nice Porsche 914 2.0. A few yeas ago a manifold pressure sensor was $300, today it is $1,800 if you can find one. Fuel injectors were $40, now $150 if you can find them. For more mainstream stuff there are lots of items coming out of China that are cheap but often are junk.

If you ever get the chance to visit Gordon's, you should definitely do so. You will find a very large warehouse stocked with NOS, used, and repro parts and several employees handling orders, restoring cores, etc. All of that represents a very large outlay of capital, expense. taxes, etc. Having NLA parts reproduced often requires large volumes for items that will take many, many years to sell.

Yup, I too have faced sticker shock over some of the prices. On the other hand, I also appreciate that if Gordon's never existed that today there would be a handful of Amphicars sitting in museums. I once tried buying some parts from the guy in Canada where who Gord eventually bought out. He was never quite sure what he had in stock or not, sometimes he would not want to sell something because it was too much of a hassle for him to pack it, just getting hold of him was a challenge, etc.

Fortunately, we also have guys like Gord, Allan, Dave who have stepped in to make other items available or more competitive. Still, it takes a certain level of crazy to build your business on a customer base in the low 4 figures so I can not begrudge anyone for needing to cover their costs and pay their mortgage.

 

[Kruser]

1) All the items for sale have numbers - but the majority have no pictures -
What is the best way to see some sort of reference page or manual showing what the parts look like ?

2) http://gordonimports.com/store/amphicar-spray-paint-green-p-20833.html

in this pic
a) doesnt look like a 16 oz can of paint
b) they only had 4 colors: 33 dollars for a 16oz can of green? does that seem kinda high to you?

3) 45 dollars for a drain plug? does this seem crazy $$ also?
Am I being cheap - or are the prices set so as to encourage buying used parts or substitute? Seems like if you have inventory, that youd want to sell it reasonably rather than sit on it or make a person cry uncle...#&^%$
is it me?
http://gordonimports.com/store/bilge-drain-plug-p-19328.html

Jon if looking for pictures of what those parts look like try

http://amphicar.nu/shop/index.php

it is basically the Europe version of Gordons Imports and they have pictures of all the parts. You probably are not going to order and ship from Europe, but you can at least see what the part look like.
If you are willing to use some good used parts do try calling GI, they have some used parts at cheaper than NOS. Try talking with Bob Gordon at GI, he gives free advice(with lots of knowledge) and will give you the name and number of places to call to find the parts you need. Some other resources and people can be found on the site.
http://www.amphicar.com/
Some great guys with parts or subs are
Jon Capone Great Lakes Amphicar
Gord Souter Amphica Canada / Florida
John Bevins Rocky Mountain Amphicar
Dave the Wave Midwest Amphicar

-but no doubt you will still be paying Amphicar prices, cause it aen't no Chevy

 

[Jon March]

These are all excellent referrals--thanks very much!

 

[Jon March]

Hi Kruser - Jon here - (let me know your name) !

Im wondering if you ever did the 3" rear seat mod?


JON in CT

 

[Kruser]

Jon, this is Tim Kruse. I never did the seat mod, yet. I was too chicken to mod the amphi weeks before I headed down to the Mid Florida Swim-in. I went with the Gord Souter seat topper for the water use anyways. I had 6 people in the amphi for most of the swim-in. I still plan on modifying the seat room, hoping to get 6" on base and 3" on back. But those mods have to wait for the off season(winter time). Maybe I'll be able to show you in person at next years Naples swim-in.

 

[Jon March]

so you live in south d?! did you trailer there?

 

[Kruser]

Yes Dakota. Nope, swim down the Big Sioux to the Missouri to the Mississippi to the Gulf. If the Gulf wouldn't have been salt might have tried it. Yes I trailed it, 4300 miles in an Amphicar! I love my fam, but that might have been to far, plus I would have had to pull a trailer behind Amphi anyways, because would've needed more room for luggage - I live with 3 females.

 

[Steve]

I remember the lady in the blue Amphicar on candid camera wanting to go across the Sioux (off the Missouri) to East Alton Illinois. Sounds like your neighbourhood. I'd love to find the dock those fishermen were on.