NLA, what they will and won't sell to replica owners

It sounds more like he is being realistic, and trying to save replica owners time and maybe money. I'm sure he has had complaints over the years about how his products don't fit replicas.

It's nice, though, to be able to buy original parts, etc. for these cars, if you have the ability to work with them.

sounds to me that they are concerned about complaints rather then worrying about the purist running out of parts......

After seeing the post under shops about NLA and the fact that they won't sell to replica owners. I decided to email Brad Ripley at NLA and get the straight story. I have bought over 2500 dollars worth of stuff from them, including my chrome bumperettes, speaker grills, beehives, windshield washers (turret style) and miscellaneous stickers and emblems. I have never had any problem with them, but I have had other people say that if you tell them it is for a replica they won't sell it to you. Here is Brad, the owners, response to my email asking if they do or don't sell to replica owners

" In general, our "replicar policy" is: we sell only emblems for those cars. The reason is: virtually no other original parts will fit, or can be used, on replicars. For instance, hub caps don't fit the usual 4-lug wheels on those cars. None of the rubber can be used. Even the windshield glass has different dimensions. As you know, for the last 30 years, there have been many replicar "manufacturers", each one making a different car, some really different!"

Guys, he is right and wrong with this philosophy. They are running off perfectly good business by being so beligerant. And yes most of the original spec parts don't just bolt right on, you many times need to adapt them or the car has to be adapted to make them fit correctly. If your unsure of what would or wouldn't work, ask here first. I know for example, ordering an original super hubcap will work, but it isn't perfect and some adaptation has to be made. It will also have a little edge that wouldn't show on the original. Now if you look at the parts I ordered you can pretty much tell that with little or no adaptation they were put on my car.

You just have to figure out if the piece is going to work on your car and then buy it without telling them it is a replica. I think what they are really saying and doing is that they don't want to try and figure out if the part will work on your replica. I can understand this because too many times we don't know exactly what we have and they certainly don't know or want to figure it out.

I don't think they need to be have such an aggressive nature about replicas, but hey, some of the parts they have are very hard to find anywhere else so I still appreciate them for that.

I understand, completely where they are coming from and I'm hoping other people will to. That way you will know what kinds of parts they are good for and which ones just aren't going to work.

And I'm sure the return rate has a lot to do with there attitude on the subject so in a lot of ways they are probably justified.

The NLA policy sounds OK to me. I note that in most cases the items you bought did not generate a 'fit' issue. If someone wishes to assume the risk for fit, then don't tell them it's a replica. I wonder how many 356A owners have purchased replica parts when necessary, like maybe Vintage gauges. It can work both ways.

Well put Charles, that is what I was trying to say in way to many words.