My new MKIII Supra business idea...looking for your opinion....

Spaniard

Banned
Oct 21, 2005
524
0
0
La pearla PR
Hey guys, some of you may know me very well and some may know I am a well known local on the forums here or on SF. I have been thinking of creating my own business and I have pretty decent financial backing to do so. I love cars and especially my MKIII Supra, but I wanted to know what sort of demand there really is. In my opinion MKIII owners typically dont shell out good money for our 16+ year old cars, so I am wearing about making MKIII specific parts. If you want to let me know what you think or sort of parts there is a demand for whether it may be 7M or 1JZ or MA70 body itself.

But to be specific, I am looking to make carbon fiber body parts like CarbonFX did back in the day. I feel that it can be done and at a decent price as long as there is demand.

Also, if anyone else has some good business idea's that is car related and wants to go into business with me, I am more the open-minded to any suggestion.

Thank you everyone.
 

SPD TRP

Formerly 3rdtimearound
Apr 12, 2005
526
0
0
63
Katy Texas
Spaniard said:
Hey guys, some of you may know me very well and some may know I am a well known local on the forums here or on SF. I have been thinking of creating my own business and I have pretty decent financial backing to do so. I love cars and especially my MKIII Supra, but I wanted to know what sort of demand there really is. In my opinion MKIII owners typically dont shell out good money for our 16+ year old cars, so I am wearing about making MKIII specific parts. If you want to let me know what you think or sort of parts there is a demand for whether it may be 7M or 1JZ or MA70 body itself.

But to be specific, I am looking to make carbon fiber body parts like CarbonFX did back in the day. I feel that it can be done and at a decent price as long as there is demand.

Also, if anyone else has some good business idea's that is car related and wants to go into business with me, I am more the open-minded to any suggestion.

Thank you everyone.

I would like to see a good and reasonable set of LED tails. Clear corners is the only one I have seen and the price is rediculous. Search on ebay for led tails and see how many hits you get. Lots.

Just my .02.

Wayne
 

Blackfin

Beach Bum
Jun 16, 2005
205
0
0
John's Pass, Florida
I would be interested in a full carbon interior. Dash, center console, doors panels, inserts, the works. Options may include carbon - leather and carbon aluminum. Graphite color first. Kind of hold the stock lines but smooth things out.
 

LilMissMkIII

That Aussie Chick
Aug 18, 2006
4,110
0
0
40
Aussie Land
You have to wonder WHY there aren't many businesses catering solely for MkIII owners... There really aren't that many of us who are willing to spend thousands on our cars. It's a great idea, and maybe if you branch out to things other than the MkIII it will be successful, but you need to be realistic about it.
 

supra_ed

New Member
May 30, 2006
415
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ohio
tuner market is kinda goin down hill...but the muscle is making a comeback, hell yeah!! just wait till the next fast and furious movie comes out. ricers will start buyin shit again.

seriously though, if ur gonna make carbon firber stuff, start with hoods. should be a decent market for that (myself included). decently easy to make and u could copy some of the mk4 designs to get started. keep cost at a reasonable amount and u should be good.
 

BlackMKIII

Hardcore Lurker
Jan 6, 2007
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Norman, Oklahoma
www.facebook.com
Honestly? MKIII owners are mostly cheap-asses. No offense to anyone who has spent tons of $$$ on their MKIII, but most of us are tight.

I am one of the few that believe in buying GOOD parts ONCE. Paying MORE for QUALITY, and not looking for the cheapest way out. (Hence why I am paying $6k to have Aaron from Driftmotion do my 1JZ swap)

Unfortunately for you, I'm one member of a rare breed. Sorry.
 

Jaguar

Permanent Ban
Apr 4, 2005
489
0
0
46
SoCal
www.supramania.com
Don't waste your time. Having been in the game since 2003, I know how stingy MKIII owners are, and I have seen many a group buy fail because when it came time to pay up, everyone was suddenly MIA. Please, learn from other's mistakes. The businesses that seem to make it offer a wide range of products and services, usually focused around restoration, jz swaps and jz upgrades.

Already in this thread u have somebody asking for l.e.d. tail lights, another asking for a custom CF interior which inevitably would cost more than the car. It's just not worth it making specialty items. You'll never please everyone, and the ones that you do please, won't have the cash when the time comes.
 

Blackfin

Beach Bum
Jun 16, 2005
205
0
0
John's Pass, Florida
If you study the trends, you will find that more and more people are going all out on the MKIII. This means that there remains a viable market for high end aftermarket parts. If you question this, compare the best builds today to the best builds several years ago.

This trend should continue until the MKIII evolves into a true collector car. Then the focus will be on 100% stock and mint condition vehicles.

Accordingly, if you look into the future and want to serve the MKIII community, your should start stock piling restoration parts; especially items that are very hard to find in great shape such as dashes or typically tossed during build-up and will become hard to replace down the road.

In the interim, I still would like to have a full CF interior.
 

tissimo

Stock is boring :(
Apr 5, 2005
4,238
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40
Melbourne, FL
i dunno if it'd be the best business idea.. i'd be more generalized..

I'm toying with the idea of starting a shop as well..
 

Mr. Sinister

Member
Aug 30, 2005
192
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49
Chicago
The problem is that most of the guys that are willing to spend the money already have. You'd have to wait until a lot of the younger guys who don't have the money now start making more money that they can spend on a car.
 

LilMissMkIII

That Aussie Chick
Aug 18, 2006
4,110
0
0
40
Aussie Land
Blackfin said:
If you study the trends, you will find that more and more people are going all out on the MKIII. This means that there remains a viable market for high end aftermarket parts. If you question this, compare the best builds today to the best builds several years ago.

This trend should continue until the MKIII evolves into a true collector car. Then the focus will be on 100% stock and mint condition vehicles.

Accordingly, if you look into the future and want to serve the MKIII community, your should start stock piling restoration parts; especially items that are very hard to find in great shape such as dashes or typically tossed during build-up and will become hard to replace down the road.

In the interim, I still would like to have a full CF interior.

I'm not going to blatantly disagree with you until i see some proof of this.

I think that we can all count the "great MkIII builds" (in the WORLD) using our fingers and toes and therefore cannot see it being viable investing tons of money into a business that solely provides for MkIII owners as i do not see this "trend" (or lack thereof) changing much at all in the near future.

As already said, a business that provides for MkIII owners AS WELL AS other cars would be a much more viable option.
 

TealMetallicDream

Team Dragst@ Member
Jan 3, 2006
105
0
0
Detroit
BlackMKIII said:
Honestly? MKIII owners are mostly cheap-asses. No offense to anyone who has spent tons of $$$ on their MKIII, but most of us are tight.

I am one of the few that believe in buying GOOD parts ONCE. Paying MORE for QUALITY, and not looking for the cheapest way out. (Hence why I am paying $6k to have Aaron from Driftmotion do my 1JZ swap)

Unfortunately for you, I'm one member of a rare breed. Sorry.
Same reason why my car has been down for over a year. I dont wanna cheap out on anything either, but im not going to buy stuff that i dont need. example carbonfiber interior parts. Im sure there are people that would buy parts, it be nice if someone made a full carbonfiber exterior like the old HKS drag supra. That is something i could actualy see people buying, looks cool and puts the fat pig on a diet.
 

supradavenz

LOL HIES!
Apr 1, 2006
159
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AUCKLAND, New Zealand
Prolly better off doing parts on the side and getting a work shop. if you want to be mk3 orintated. You may sell the odd CF hood, spoiler etc but they wont sell that much or that fast. but things like manifolds, turbos, IC setups, FFIM's things like that would sell nicely IMO and a workshop run by a mk3 enthusist does seem welcoming in my eye.
 

Blackfin

Beach Bum
Jun 16, 2005
205
0
0
John's Pass, Florida
LilMissMkIII said:
I'm not going to blatantly disagree with you until i see some proof of this.

I think that we can all count the "great MkIII builds" (in the WORLD) using our fingers and toes and therefore cannot see it being viable investing tons of money into a business that solely provides for MkIII owners as i do not see this "trend" (or lack thereof) changing much at all in the near future.

As already said, a business that provides for MkIII owners AS WELL AS other cars would be a much more viable option.

Miss,

"viable market" was a bad choice of words on my part at the very least. I agree with you that a business based on a single line of niche items, such as CF, for MKIII's is probably not viable.

Nonetheless, I believe there is a short term market for Supra CF products. Cnewingham just sold a CF center console and armrest. I think these were pieces previously made by Duane. Cnewingham didn't give them away and they did not last long at all. The center console lasted about an hour and the arm rest lasted about 27 hours.