This is a read-only archive of the old Madabout Kitcars forum. New posts and replies are no longer possible, but every thread is still here to browse and read.
The name isn't so important to the builder as I said but there are very good reasons why it had to be changed.
I agree wholeheartedly. When all the filler and paint has dried and the skinned knuckles have healed, I will own a Triumph with a new body. I hadn't dreamt of owning a "Sammio". I wanted to build a great looking car. Gary allowed me to do that by selling me one of the many parts that I needed. One of the things that we all like is the fact that a Sammio wasn't a kit or a complete car.
With Andy taking the company in a new direction and developing the products, I think it makes complete sense to bring a new identity. Of course there is risk attached, but if there weren't, life would be a bit boring.
Risk can also be fun. Going against the 'experts' is too. When I briefly ran the concept behind the next projects (No I'm not going to publish a spoiler. You'll have to wait) the greybeards from the press were somewhat perplexed.. 'Why would you want to do that' (Translated 'But that won't look like a Lotus 7') but it ain't stopping us. Both Gaz and I want one and that's enough of a reason to have a go. If others join in the fun then Bonus
That's Ribble as in the LANCASHIRE River (Next to the unit....)
After all, 'what's in a name'
About a million hits via Google. thats whats in the name.
I was recently sourcing some veneers. The company I had used for 20+ years phone no longer answered.
After a few hours over a few days of talking to the wrong people who had the wrong prices I finally found a company who talked sense.
As a parting shot I mentioned where I used to get my veneers from. "oh, we bought that company when he retired" he said.
Well why didn't you keep the same name, said I. Its in every search engine, directory, and yellow pages. Your company was on the forth page of Google.
So will there only ever be six G46's Gaz?
and they will all be different.
I was considering a changing the v5 from
Reliant Scimitar GTE to
Reliant Scimitar G46 or
Reliant Sammio G46
But it may now have to be a Ribble Scimitar GAZ
As you are moving to Wigan you should call the company Douglas after the river that flows through Wigan
Douglas dragonfly
Douglas dolphin
Douglas dodo
But good luck to you, I worked for a company that went into administration and the managers bought the company. They spent a lot of time changed and promoting the new name and released lots of new products, but they took their eye off the the old products, the ones that made the money and customers still wanted. It didn't last more than a couple of years as they ran out of cash.
You might want to consider keeping the sammio spyder as a product running in parallel with your new products line until you have established a good number of orders for your new improved kits.
Most potential customers like to see that there are other completed kits about. Look at cobra and sevens.
I've deliberately not brought up any renaming of the G46 in my previous post as it hasn't come up in our conversation. I know Gaz isn't actively pushing the marque until he has a running demonstrator so I'm sure when the time comes he'll announce the plan.
Is that Ribble as in the Yorkshire river?? Sounds a bit wet to me.
Mind you ribble sounds like rubble....and rubble is a bit rough.
To be honest............stick with Spyder and Cordite. Good names and well known.
Anyone following these cars knows the car has changed hands, and as long as the revised product is as you hope it will be, sales will not be a problem.
Whatever you do, it will have to be quick or the momentum and following that Gary and Mike built will be lost........
So will there only ever be six G46's Gaz?
and they will all be different.
I was considering a changing the v5 from
Reliant Scimitar GTE to
Reliant Scimitar G46 or
Reliant Sammio G46
But it may now have to be a Ribble Scimitar GAZ
As you are moving to Wigan you should call the company Douglas after the river that flows through Wigan
Douglas dragonfly
Douglas dolphin
Douglas dodo
But good luck to you, I worked for a company that went into administration and the managers bought the company. They spent a lot of time changed and promoting the new name and released lots of new products, but they took their eye off the the old products, the ones that made the money and customers still wanted. It didn't last more than a couple of years as they ran out of cash.
You might want to consider keeping the sammio spyder as a product running in parallel with your new products line until you have established a good number of orders for your new improved kits.
Most potential customers like to see that there are other completed kits about. Look at cobra and sevens.
Good Luck make it a success
HM
HM
Feel less guilty about registering ours with no reference to Sammio in a way there were never any completed Sammio G46 cars so all the g46 cars being built are unique.
It's either going to Be a "charmarati" or a "charmarini" which ever it will have G46 V8 MK1 as a suffix
as you say there are only a hand full and they will all be distinctly different but they will have Garry's DNA.
Although saddened by the circumstances that have led to the change of ownership, I do wish you well with the relaunch.
Unfortunately if someone mentioned the name 'Ribble Pilot' or 'Ribble Navigator' to me I would automatically think of fibre glass boats... or the Ribble Pilot pub in Preston, but certainly not Algy or Ginger in 1950's styled sports cars ...
In addition the names seem to engender visions of flat caps, whippets and woodbines - very nostalgic but probably not the image being aimed for!
... but there are very good reasons why it had to be changed...
Hi Andy & Gaz,
Based on this comment, I assume there is something else going on behind the scenes.
In which case, if the name has got to change, it has got to change and so be it.
Although it is not clear whether you are referring to just "Sammio" or "Sammio Spyder", etc.
In which case, is there any chance of the names changing to "Ribble Spyder" & "Ribble Cordite"?
I think that might provide a suitable link between the new Ribble venture and its Sammio origins.
You've clearly put a lot of thought into the future kit packages & it all sounds good to me.
If it was possible for the new door arrangements to have frame mounted hinges, even better.
My only words of caution would be around the risks associated with expanding the range too quickly.
Gary himself has admitted the Sammio business grew too fast for him to keep on top of everything.
Good luck, Paul.
PS
I'm still working on some ideas for your website, so I'll PM you separately about that.
To all past Sammio customers, future Ribble customers and interested parties of all ages may I extend all the very best wishes for the Xmas holidays and may your garage remain warm and busy through the New Year.
Cheers All. I look forward meeting more of you soon.
Hi Andy,
like the rest, I am not sure about the name change, but respect you have your reasons which you may or may not be able to disclose at present.
I am not too sure about the ribble name, after all what if you were located next to a massive sewage works? Would it be called the Ribble Sh*t bag or T*rd.
I got interested in the Sammio concept because of the name being so suited to the ethos of the car. As all us older members will agree, never forget your roots. Really like what you are doing and where you are going, but feel that while you might need to distance yourself from the names, we all need to "belong".
I think it must be hard to defend your decision, when I get the feeling it is not a good time to explain why. Due to my marital situation this year the car has gone on hold and hence I didn't buy a "Sammio Spyder" body. I still want one and hope to buy one shortly now things are almost totally over. I will buy your Ribble valley whatever but will exercise my ability to use the Sammio name. On a more serious note can you tell me what the implications might be if I start with a Sammio chassis and reciept, and then "fit" a Ribble body with it's reciept and then take it for inspection with our lovely VOSA people.
Hi Andy,
just a quick one. Are you aware that there is a pub probably close to you guys called the Ribble Pilot? Just didn't know if there would be some sort of copyright or legal right on the name before you committed to it,
Regards
1958 Rocker
Hate my first post here to be negative in anyway but Ribble are a fairly well established and respected bicycle manufacturer in Lancashire with a well established web site it.
I've been lurking here a while since I first discovered the Spyder via Ebay and watching the various build sites and blogs. I'm slightly dismayed now that it sounds like its all going to go a bit up market (expensive) before I can get the money together for a kit but I suppose that’s better than going bust before I get the money together.
Good luck with the move and rebranding, even if I'm not a fan of the name, it has moved me to join the form which is one step nearer buying a kit
Gents, A Very Happy New Year to you all. I've just popped my head above the parapet and will be posting much more about the changes being made soon but I thought it a good idea to allay the fears set above:
1958 Rocker: Yup, I know of the Ribble Pilot Pub and have had a few nice pints there whilst looking over the old Preston Docks. The pub is named after the same historical navigational assistant as the cars are now and as such, hold no ownership of that name. It's unlikely there will be any confusion around buying a kit car or a pie 'n' pint. As for DVLA, there won't be a problem there as the donor V5 will say Triumph ******, the receipt from us will be for a 'pilot' shell from 'Ribble Kits and Classics' and you can call the finished product whatever you like (For a precedent, there is the 'Martlet Special' seen here some time ago). I certainly don't have an issue with the naming of the final car. It's YOUR blood, sweat and tears that have gone into it and you certainly have the right to name it!
Cycle2Work - Yes, I do know of Ribble Cycles, as I also know of Ribble Motor Services, Ribble Steam Railway and many other local companies who have a pride in their location. Once established, it shouldn't be too confusing to people searching for Kit Cars or Bicycles to differentiate between companies. Your worry about going up market is completely unfounded. I have no intention of exceeding inflation, if at all, and if anything, I'm looking for ways of bringing the cost DOWN! (Mainly by introducing commonality between models and easing production times).
CarNoob - Each to their own with regard to liking the name. As I said before, the name of the finished car is up to the builder but your examples... AC, Is 'Auto Carriers' really a power name? ... Aston Martin, the Surname of Lionel Martin, one of the founders and their location (look! a precedent) of Aston Clinton combined? ... Triumph, yes I give you that as a good name, created by two Germans in 1885 building bicycles in Germany... Names get a 'hold' once the product is known and really it's the product and not the name that does the selling.
There is, as you would expect, a lot of work going on in the background so at present I have to make a call between fixing the current moulds, keeping production going (albeit slowly), designing a new model for the line up (and writing software to keep the bills paid whilst the slow period takes its toll) so writing to the forum may be sporadic but I'm here to read your comments when I take a breath. I look forward to a full re-launch at Stoneleigh (maybe with a new product on the line) and look forward to seeing as many of you there as possible. Intentions are currently to take an outdoor patch so as many of your vehicles as possible can join in the fun.
Back soon with more news
How about AUDI for a convoluted naming...
'The company name is based on the surname of the founder, August Horch. "Horch", meaning "listen", becomes "Audi" when translated into Latin'
My first thought was the Ribble Dibble - the driver has to have loads of burnt cork dotted on his face (I wonder how many non ex RAF will understand that one?)
sounds te,ribble 
? 