Looking for feedback from enthusiasts...

npca-fud · Post by **npca-fud** » Sun Aug 10, 2003 7:57 pm

Hey all, I have been thinking for awhile about getting a bit more serious in my Patrol hobby. I have thought about starting a side hobby business that deals with Patrols. This being mostly based online, a web site where you can get info on Patrols from part numbers to changes during various years, this being only 60 series Nissan Patrols. I am considering taking it a step farther with sales of imported Patrols both LHD & RHD on this web site. These being rigs I source outside the USA and bring in myself. Rigs like truck cabs, wagons, G60's, Fire trucks and the "H" heavy duty models. Also I would carry lift kits in different sizes and brands, shocks, bushings, hubs and other various parts new and used. I have thought about having starters, water pumps, distributors, radiators, carbs, fuel pumps all rebuilt and then offered for sale on the web site, ready to install. Windshield gaskets that are new and fit plus weather stripping I can also get and resell to the public. I could even get wire harnesses made that are ready to install in your rig with or without added wire for lights/winches. My network of Patrols is large and spans many countries, if I take it a step further it will only get bigger. I have been organizing all my Patrol info and it is a lot more than I though with many connections for parts. So when I come across things like PTO winches and boxes, heavy duty rear ends and drivelines I can buy them and then offer it to the public. Right now I am set in my own projects so I am turning down a lot of things like this I come across. I would probably also have things like parts manuals and service manuals available in reproduction form to purchase such as the 1980 microfiche on CD. I can get things like S/T kits made that are copies of the two styles sold in USA as I have both in original form plus probably have a kit KL60 hardtop owners could use without cutting the body. Canvas can be made to match stock in a variety of colors and also in insulated form. Also things like tail light upgrades, brush bars, winches, rims, roof racks and mounts for high rise jacks or axes/shovels for those who want to modify there Patrols...maybe even in the future adaptors becoming available again for mod projects. All this made to fit on a 60 series Patrol. So what do you all think?? Would you use a website where you could go and look up part #'s then order the parts from me? Or you would not have to buy from me you could just use the site for it's info. To build a nice webby will cost a bit of money by it's self so if nobody will use I do not want to spend my cash. I realize most of us do it ourselves these days but it seems so much easier to just have a place where you can get it all instead of looking around the world for the things to keep a Patrol running and also restore one. There is a lot of info here on this site but is hard to sort through at times and you can not buy anything on the site as it is for the club. My idea involves organizing all the info on the web and all the info I have into one location but also make things like lift kits more available to us enthusiasts here in the USA and elsewhere. Possibly even have tech sections and a forum open to the public where we can compile info about Patrols. Basically bringing all the people together like Alex who makes shirts and window channels plus people like Jeff and Jim who have tons of used parts for sale. It is hard for them to sell there parts by themselves just here on this webby and by word of mouth. So in other words I am talking about starting a Patrol website and business that is run by me but also involves the entire Patrol community making life easier on all us Patrol owners as well as the up and coming owners. I have thought about taking things like fenders, windshield frames and other body parts...have them cleaned up and then primed by a body man. So you could possibly even buy things like fenders on my webby that would be just like new. I realize it is a small market but that is why it would be hobby business for me. The Patrol interest is growing in the USA and it will only grow more yet parts are just harder and harder to get. I f I do this it will not be big to start, very small actually but if interest is there then it will snowball and in the coming years I could be offering a lot to the Patrol community as I have discussed here. I am not out to make a bunch of money off this I just am way into Patrols and have a ton of time into it now. For me it would just be good to have something I can channel all my Patrol energy into. At the same time give something back to the Patrol community because I myself am an owner and know how hard it can be getting what you need. Of course there would be a mark up on stuff but only a small percentage as I do not need to make money off this just have it pay the bills it creates. I already have a ton of time and money involved in my hobby but before I thought harder about taking things a step further I figured it would be good to get feedback from the Patrol community. So what do you think...?? Thanks for your time in reading my long post and if you respond thanks that much more! Ian *64 L60 *64 KL60 *66 KL60 *67 KL60

npca-4x4xjonx4x4 · Post by **npca-4x4xjonx4x4** » Sun Aug 10, 2003 8:32 pm

; To me, it sounds pretty good man! I would love for parts to be more available. What I could not modify from other trucks, or find around here, I would MOST DEFINITELY buy from you.Help STOP SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE*

npca-hoss · Post by **npca-hoss** » Sun Aug 10, 2003 8:41 pm

do it.

npca-firepatrol · Post by **npca-firepatrol** » Sun Aug 10, 2003 9:59 pm

; Count me in for Financial Backing.; ; Bob G. THE ONLY FIRE PATROL on THIS SIDE OF THE PLANET.

npca-honda guy · Post by **npca-honda guy** » Sun Aug 10, 2003 11:53 pm

Sounds like a great idea to me. When it is a go, you can count on me to buy a lift kit and a set of factory wheels if you have them. Not to mention the other little odds and ends. I think you would definatly get all our business.

npca-rogelio · Post by **npca-rogelio** » Mon Aug 11, 2003 8:56 am

OK,, sound greate, go ahead, and if i can help youfrom Colombia just let me know.Hector RuizBogota, Colombia.P.D. Remenber? i ofer you tail ligths made in Colombiabeing in training in Japan, now i am back in mycountry, and here is very easy to get body parts,manufactured in colombia, if you need/want more infojust ask me. --- Fud escribi: > Weattempted to deliver this message to you with> HTML formatting. However, your e-mail program does> not support HTML-enhanced messages. Please go to> your E-mail Settings for this group and change your> E-mail Preference to "Text only".>http://groups.msn.com/NissanPatrolClubA ... tings.msnw> > MSN Groups> > _________________________________________________________Do You Yahoo!?Informacin de Estados Unidos y Amrica Latina, en Yahoo! Noticias.Vistanos en http://noticias.espanol.yahoo.com

npca-vern · Post by **npca-vern** » Mon Aug 11, 2003 9:46 am

Ian, Great idea, getting it started would probly be the hardest part but I bet it would go like a house on fire. Vern

npca-44s baby · Post by **npca-44s baby** » Mon Aug 11, 2003 10:54 am

I agree, GREAT idea. I too have thought about it, but I'm too small time, and just don't have the time or money to get started. B.C., Canada seems to be a hot spot for Patrols so I'm sure you'd get Canadian business too.

npca-aptos-patrol · Post by **npca-aptos-patrol** » Mon Aug 11, 2003 6:23 pm

When will it be online?!!! I'm sure I can speak for all of us Patrol enthusiasts that we are all in complete support. Especially when you have better connections than I....... and I work at a Nissan dealer! Chris in Santa Cruz,Ca.

npca-fud · Post by **npca-fud** » Fri Aug 15, 2003 1:13 am

hey all...bunch of you who replied I know! It will not be online for at least a few months, I have lot's to do with it and with life. The first things I will offer to the public is info, a forum, tech section and lot's of pics. Next will come the parts....I got to organize all my parts, clean them up, keep what I need and get my connections all dialed in. I also have a 67 to completely disassemble! The lift kits will be ones I have tested, the Dobinsons for example..I hope to be able to supply these directly from Oz and always have a few in stock. I will also have a vehicles for sale section as to finnance this I will have to move rigs, might even sell off some from my current collection. Other parts that will be for sale first will be brake stuff like lines, cylinders, MC and kits for MC. Body and eletrical parts like tail lights and turn signals will also be first as I have extras. Tune up kits and parts too as I got lot's of spares. Otherwise we will just have to see.... Ian