The Future of X1/9 parts and Group Buys/Consortium

I think this is an international problem, and we need to think internationally. The manufacturers need to know numbers before they decide to make parts. If we go and say make 10 struts they will say, yes 1000Euro please, But if we can say look there are "x" x1/9 clubs world wide with "x" hundred cars between them and here are the list of specialist suppliers who may be interested in stocking the parts then the manufacturers may make a serious production run. This may have been the case with the europa club.

Yes it would be nice to have our own stockpile but the logistics and costs is not in our niche market budget. The suppliers may need to sit down together and get orginised, nationaly and internationally. Why? So that thier market does not vanish.

As said before, the cars are expencive for parts and that alone has lead to the destruction of many x1/9's.

Glad to see that this can of worms has been opened again... as its a very important issue I think! However a few people took me the wrong way - I wasn't implying that the Club step in and do this and end up in the mess of having to organise the money, having unsold parts lying about etc. etc.

What I meant is what happens on other car forums all the time - "Group Buys" whereby a part is sourced that if it is bought in bulk a discount is offered, everyone who wants the particular part puts their name down on a list, manufacturer agrees - people pay individually which is easier or one person acts as the go-between and collects the money. For example given the lack of performance exhausts on the market, if I was able to get a tubular SS exhaust system and silencer made up cheap enough I would get enough takers to make it viable to one of the custom exhaust fabbers to tool up for X1/9 production!

Group buys is still a limited run. Unless the suplliers were invited to the group buy as well.

It's a numbers game and I don't think the numbers are there to entice suppliers and manufacturers to take any notice apart from exhausts which in any case, there are already a couple of nice free flow systems available.

could we set up a section not just on the forum but open to the public where they can request these hard to get parts on the basis that when 10 people want the same thing we get them. As like what Jim said with his Delta I have aThema and on one of the consortium sites when 5 people sign up they have a person who will remanufacture a full alcantara interior but these offers are open to the Joe soap public. As what I know from the motor trade in Ireland is that the old school boys who could make these parts are dying out very quickly as we could join in with Steve and Sue and CASCU to help them get the parts cheaper and leave a future stock.

Just been wandering round the web as you do.. and found that Valeo have a web catalogue, which still lists the x1/9's and has a smattering of parts listed, with part numbers. clutch parts, brake parts alternator and starter.

A quote from a locost forum regarding QH parts "They (QH) still make ball joints in Colwyn Bay although they tend to go for smaller batch runs min of about 200 or special requirements. They continue to produce standards although the big runners ae made in India because it,s cheap." that was in feb 04. so there is hope!

anybody got any contacts with our french colleagues, so we get access for our club members to these shocks ?

LOOK AT THE DETAILS ON THE RECENT TRIP TO FRANCE

TWO Members of this club are based in France !

And one of them speaks lousy french!..... Me!