LeBaron Bonney Co.

HalcyonDays

HalcyonDays

Senior Member
Back in August a few people voiced concerns about the future of LeBaron Bonney Company has anyone had any recent dealings with the company?
 
What a shame.My dad would deal with LeBarron Bonney in the sixties and sometimes Lee Atherton himself would be on the phone. My mom always kidded dad when he would get a call or a package from "Bonney". I dealt with them 11-12 years ago last time and it was a good catalog and good products and communications,this was for an early V8 Ford. Luckily all I need on the Model A for now is the panel that covers seat back springs in rumble seat compartment. Catalog online is very confusing to me with Hampton Coach Chevy products intertwined.
 
I used to love dealing with LB. New management not so much. After the last snafu I will go elsewhere next time.
 
Sounds like some one doesn't mind losing a heap of money. Why do people buy a company, then run it into the ground? Incompetence? Stupid? What?
I've dealt with LB and thought they were a good mob to work with. I don't think I'd bother trying them now.
 
I have sold two very successful businesses over the last 25 years. In each case the new owners ran them into the ground within a couple of years. New owners think they have a better idea of how things should be done than the old owners. Especially, if the previous owner is older!

95 percent of businesses are sold under duress. Look at Mac’s. Whether you liked them or not, they have changed since being sold. For the better?
 
Classic or Classtique ???? from Wisconsin or Minnesota, I've heard a lot of good things about them and they were a little cheaper the L-B. I answer to the question of why companies get sold and then they are "Run into the ground". There're a lot of reasons. Paying hard money for something as ephemeral as "good Will" which can evaporate with one or two wrong words. Start up costs (Rent, taxes)were a lot less than now so the original owner had less of a "Nut" to make.The owner's specialized knowledge of vendors, suppliers,etc, developed over the years may not be passed along. This may be critical to the business' survival. Imagine if you were suddenly the owner of say, Brattons or any of our vendors. The inventory alone would be daunting. Then, The new owner's just may not be serious about the business, Actually running the business may be far different than it appeared before the transaction. There are more and different reasons, I just listed a few.
Terry




HalcyonDays said:
What alternatives are there?
Click to expand...
 
I ran a successful business for 25 years during which time I was fortunate to have assembled a loyal and talented staff. When I announced my retirement the owners decided to sell the business. The new owners were clueless and treated the employees so poorly that many soon quit. That business went belly up within two years.
 
My initial order for a '29 Special Coupe interior was placed Feb, 2018. With almost weekly phone/email conversation, the kit arrived in August. Material in the kit was back-ordered from the supplier, and when finally received the dye (material color) did not meet LB specs, which caused supply delays.
I did stick with the original order, which eventually did arrive, was installed (after cutting and fitment adjustments), and all turned out well.
IMO.. another "experience" in Model A ownership, I'm sure we all have a few.!! kb
 
I got a complete kit for a 30Fordor .I got a lady that had done several cars to lnstall it. She made many phone calls to the Co as she had to add material to get it to fit when doing the seats.about three months later we found out that the seat springs that a big supplier sold me were too high and I had to wire down the springs For some reason All these repo parts don,t fit .There was nothing wrong with the kit it was very good .Allso bought a new rad and the spout is 3/8” too high . I manufacture a few things and If it is not better than the original one I won’t sell it .
 
Just sad to hear an excellent supplier has become way less than excellent. I purchased and installed a LeBaron Bonney kit in my coupe in 2002. It still looks like the day it was installed.....
 
I was just getting ready to order the interior kit for my '31 CCPU indented firewall project. Any suggestions where else I can get a quality kit? Has any one purchased anything from LeBaron Bonney during this transition??
 
holdover said:
I was just getting ready to order the interior kit for my '31 CCPU indented firewall project. Any suggestions where else I can get a quality kit? Has any one purchased anything from LeBaron Bonney during this transition??
Click to expand...

Bought a coupe 12 years ago that came with a Cartouche kit (Mac's- Ecklers now) that was OK but the door padding was too thick. The window cranks rubbed on the Mohair. Similar materials to Le Baron Bonney. See the Classtique videos on their website. I did order some carpet pieces from LeBaron (2016) before some long time employees including Wendy P. departed because their material was a close match. They messed up one piece but re-did it fairly quickly.
The CCPU kit may be OK because there are not too many interior pieces involved like a large sedan ??
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top