AMD's response to discontinuing some MoPar product

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I called the distributor of all the AMD metal east of the Mississippi yesterday, and got the same story pretty much word for word. I don't need anything for my Duster, but need a few things for my 70 A66 Challenger. They told me not to worry about the Challenger stuff.
 
I called the distributor of all the AMD metal east of the Mississippi yesterday, and got the same story pretty much word for word. I don't need anything for my Duster, but need a few things for my 70 A66 Challenger. They told me not to worry about the Challenger stuff.
Stevens Performance? I wonder how much Ted keeps in stock? He might gear up if things are going to sell out soon.
 
How many AMD parts have you purchased?

None...haven't needed any just speaking for the A-body crowd,If I need something in the future looks like I'll be out of luck,or get robbed by the people who are stock piling up on them now so they can rape,the A-body crowd!!!
 
I've seen this explain before and that's a simple answer they can't do just short runs. Let's just say that a normal run is 100 fenders and they have to sell 60 fenders to just pay for setting up the tooling the labor the metal the boxing them up to getting them over to storage I mean all of the logistics to make it happen. Now let's say they set that all up to do like you said it short run a 40... They've already lost money....
Just to be straight up with you, I have nothing against you or your opinions, as a matter of fact, I like your posts and the discussions they create!

Oh, I know what you are saying, and I agree with it.............to a point.
I work at a plant that produces products (mainly Canola oil, shortening, and margarine) and we have runs of 10,000 units per week to 300 per month.
The volume ones are the most profitable for sure, but the low volume ones are still deemed necessary to keep the customers happy.
To my employer, it is all about keeping the wheels turning and producing something instead of the machines sitting idle, and to keep people moving.
My point is, that sometimes companies need to cater to the low volume stuff to keep their name out there even if the profit margin isn't that high, and that is what keeps the consumers happy............to a point.
Also, by having a wider variety of products for sale, there is potential for future growth to the low volume buyers if they decide to expand their product line and grow their business, and then they are the first ones to approach the company that provided the short runs with their increased needs. I've seen it happen several times in the 18 years that I have worked there.

Sure, supply and demand shapes companies and their profits, but if a company like AMD sells (for example) Nova fenders like hotcakes, then why produce the slower moving parts for the same car (or other cars) at all?
There wouldn't be as much profit in them as the fenders.
They do produce the other parts as well to support the fender sales, and to keep the consumer happy buying their brand exclusively.
It needs to be more rounded to keep the customers happy and buying their products and only their products.

So, it follows in my opinion that if AMD takes a small hit in profits on quarter panels, then the floor pans etc. will still sell because people are more apt to save cars and fix them if you can get reasonably common rust out or damaged panels for them.
I'm sure you remember the days of when there was NOTHING available for Mopars in general when it came to body panels, and your only option was to go to a junk yard (or 20) and scrounge for parts.
This of course was way before the internet!
Just think of all the cars parted out and crushed because it's all that there was to choose from.
(Again, supply and demand)
Now, we are blessed with a lot of reproduction parts for our cars, and that's awesome because the older cars in junk yards have all but dried up now...........

You won't have the demand if you don't have the supply, it's a vicious circle...........

A good example of my point is with the new(ish) Trick Flow heads for Mopars.
I'm sure that they sell a lot more heads to Chevrolet and Ford guys, but they tapped into the Chrysler market i'm sure to take away business from Edelbrock and others, and continue their name and to build their market share.
They have arguably the best product out there at this time for the money.
Why did they do this?
My speculation is it's the same as what AMD did, they were willing to take a chance on tapping into a market hoping that a lot of people wanted better quality parts for their builds, and were willing to pay more for them.
Brand name marketing at it's best!

Who knows what the future of cars and parts will bring with us baby boomers getting too old to restore cars or dying off?
I guess time will tell............
 
I think I heard that they sold more mustangs in 65 than all ten years of Barracudas. When you think about that, the reality of the situation is pretty obvious.

From it's April 1964 debut until the end of 1966 model year production, 1,287,500 Mustangs were built. Add another 780,500 for 1967/68, and a further 900,000 from 1969 to end of 1973 production. Compare those numbers to the 379,370 Barracuda's produced from 1964 to end of production in 1974 and it's fairly obvious why reproducing parts for theses cars is not a profitable venture. Break that down to 1964 through 1969 production and the total is 265,991 cars built. In 1965 alone, 559,500 Mustangs were produced.
 
Decades ago there was no repop parts but some NOS that was not gold. Then NOS becomes gold! Boneyards had plenty of old parts cars Then the aftermarket repop stuff slowly starts. Then the boneyards start to vanish, NO old cars. If so, you have to travel 2 days to get there!
The good project cars are gone and guys are restoring projects that are not even good parts cars. Now people restose cars that have been restored already one. They think they are survivors with low mileage, after all the speedo reads 35,000 mi. AMD got into Mopar sheetmetal how many years back?.. I bet Ted had something to do with it maybe. Their business is Ford and Chevy, we know that. They just built a larger new facility, they are making $$ but not really with some of the Mopar stuff! Mostly E and the right B body models makes them some profit.
Maybe lack of A body sheet metal will help a good car bring a fair price?
 
Stevens Performance? I wonder how much Ted keeps in stock? He might gear up if things are going to sell out soon.
Yep....Ted. He keeps a pretty good bit, but drop ships some too I think. They usually bring a tractor trailer load to The Nats, if you need something and will be there. I'm close enough to AMD's GA warehouse that I can buy it thru Ted, and just run down and pick it up to save shipping $$.
 
So in other words.."screw us A-body guys/gals" once AGAIN!!..like I always say "A-bodies rule!!!

and thats because too many abody guys want things made but once made they don't want to pay for them.

We are still developing hundreds of new tools and decided it made more sense to invest in the new items instead of items that we know from history will sit on the shelves for years.
 
None...haven't needed any just speaking for the A-body crowd,If I need something in the future looks like I'll be out of luck,or get robbed by the people who are stock piling up on them now so they can rape,the A-body crowd!!!

Nobody is getting screwed or raped, unless they go to the party, first.

That's pretty much what I got, too. Although sugar coated.

How many parts did you buy from AMD?

I own both an Abody and Bbody, so if AMD is only gonna supply parts for my B body and say well its a numbers game, and they don't take care of my needs on one and not another then i will do business with another vendor that tries both, they have the ability to run 10 or 1000 parts at once, its no different than going to Auto Zone for one part and Orileys for another, if Advanced Auto have both, even at a higher cost , then i will give my business to Advanced Auto instead of running to the other two, simply for the fact they are willing to supply me with my wants and needs. AMD need to realize sometimes your profits rely on more than just the top end needs, that sometimes supplying customer needs now lead to more customers thru social media and word of mouth than any amount of advertising..... I am a small business owner myself, i do stain glass windows for churches, i do a small church wanting 4 windows versus a church i just finished doing 52 windows for, long story short, as i was doing the small church windows install, the pastor of the church that wanted 52 windows passed by and stopped when he saw me doing the small church, which turned out being the reason i got a 14 month contract and the job of 52 windows... as i said earlier word of mouth is the best advertising going,, that's just my 2 cents worth.

And O'reilly's, Autozone, Advance, etc. don't stock gaskets for Jay Leno's 1909 Stanley Steamer why? I mean, he has other cars that they stock parts for, so they should be expected to stock everything he needs for everything he owns.....but if they're not gonna stock the parts that most people don't buy, but he needs..... screw 'em!

Right?

Do you stock glass for all the churches, in your service-based small business? Got glass in stock that's an inch thick? some church somewhere might need it some day, so you should stock it.

AMD has to stay in business. Not cater to crap that doesn't sell because 10 people think a die costing $100k justifies it.
 
How does Laysons work then? thousands of parts including slow moving 65 A's and still in business. If you could make a run of 50 instead of 1000, it could happen. Panel beaters unite!
 
How does Laysons work then? thousands of parts including slow moving 65 A's and still in business. If you could make a run of 50 instead of 1000, it could happen. Panel beaters unite!

in the past they would just take your money and not get you the part.. :)
 
T:thumbsup:he part about making panels for 66 67 B bodies got my interest.....Finely!!
 
You mean to tell me there is more 66-67 b's out there then Dusters. And then they woke up. LOL
There are way for Dusters out there no doubt. But, if the parts do not move, then what.
The 66-7 B body rear qtr panels that have been out there are total junk. That crowd knows it, I bet if AMD cranks out some good qtr for those, they will sell! Different model, different crowd in general, different mindset.
But I agree, seems like enough Dusters out there that there is a good demand, maybe their sales experience says different? Dunno know.
 
So next time you’re parting out that rusty old turd, think twice about scrapping the structural and body panel’s you think nobody wants. Repairing rust beats beating panels from scratch.

it’s nobody’s fault but our own, falling in love with mopar’s most unloved car, the A body. Really nobody bought them when they were new, 60k barracuda’s a year made to .5M mustangs and .5M Camaros made a year.
 
^^^ Most of our hobby is a guy doing one car, lives in the burbs, no where to store parts much less a parts car. I have always been lucky to have in the sticks.
 
It sucks for us now but I'd personally rather see AMD continue to grow and expand as a business to be around for the long run than continue to make unprofitable parts and stay stagnant for the next 5-10 years then all of a sudden "What happened to AMD?!?!?" It's already happened to a few companies now. Either you find ways to make changes and keep profits coming in esp. when things get rough, or your business dies. Not that I am IN ANY WAY an expert in business it just seems to be 'the way things work' from what I've noticed.
 
I have no problem with what AMD is doing. I just thought a thread would open the eyes up of the dreamers and get the parts while you can.

Do you know how many cars I inquired about that were not for sale because they were going to fix them one day.

"They make everything for these cars now" That is always the come back answer.

Well unless they get their **** together that day has come and gone. These threads should open peoples eyes up. There are only so many of these cars left. You can't make parts for trailer queens that never need them. You will close up.

I know I will have a loaded mint 340 4spd Demon and a super quick mint Duster. And if things get better financially I may even keep the brown one for a grandson. I have a love for the graphics on 71 Dusters and Demons. I like Cudas and Darts also but they would have to be big blocks or Hemi's. And My pockets are not that deep. I keep wishing for the winning ticket though. LOL

With all this said many guys are placing orders now that their eyes were opened by these threads. I know I have gotten calls for jobs and when they can get panels welded and work done. I just got another shed to store sheet metal.

Only we can keep some of these parts alive. "Get em while you can" is the word, Spread it
 
Nobody is getting screwed or raped, unless they go to the party, first.



How many parts did you buy from AMD?



And O'reilly's, Autozone, Advance, etc. don't stock gaskets for Jay Leno's 1909 Stanley Steamer why? I mean, he has other cars that they stock parts for, so they should be expected to stock everything he needs for everything he owns.....but if they're not gonna stock the parts that most people don't buy, but he needs..... screw 'em!

Right?

Do you stock glass for all the churches, in your service-based small business? Got glass in stock that's an inch thick? some church somewhere might need it some day, so you should stock it.

AMD has to stay in business. Not cater to crap that doesn't sell because 10 people think a die costing $100k justifies it.

I've bought probably about $2200 worth over the last ten years. Does that count?
 
I've bought probably about $2200 worth over the last ten years. Does that count?
You only buy them if you need them. The lucky owners never need sheet metal. But if you bought a project for the future I would suggest getting your wallet out now. LOL
 
You only buy them if you need them. The lucky owners never need sheet metal. But if you bought a project for the future I would suggest getting your wallet out now. LOL

Well this last car, my Valiant, AMD didn't offer what I needed. I helped two friends in the past with their projects though and I have purchased from AMD there.
 
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