Important Notice : Please Read This .....

[lancelot link]

In the Words of Bob Dylan , '' The times they are a-changing'' but also listening to Corporal Jones' wise words ...'' don't panic ....''

The way the Sammio range is being packaged , presented , sold etc is changing a little...

THIS WILL NOT AFFECT CURRENT ORDERS....TIMES , PRICES , COLLECTION POINT ETC.....ALL ARE UNAFFECTED.

I have joined forces with our most active Forum member , Andyp57 , to make some positive changes and hopefully , improve our service to customers as well as giving the product room to grow...Andy will be controlling Spyder and Cordite sales , the G46 will not be part of the agreement , that stays with me .

For the foreseeable future , kit production for the Sammio Spyder and Cordite will remain in Poole and you will be able to still collect your kit from Poole , but there will be an option of collection from Preston for all these kits and sundries etc.

Some kits may be available from stock soon....

All ordering , enquiries etc will be made via the new , improved website www.sammio.co.uk

There is a short news item on there as well , explaining these changes as well as new Paypal payment options and news of current discounts.....so if you are lurking and/or thinking of ordering , please read about the offers available for the next month or so.....

Basically , Andy is taking over the kit sales side of things ....we have been discussing this for a while now and I have had many offers from people wanting to be agents on a sale or return basis , but Andy actually stepped forward with a financial commitment that showed he meant business and has satisfied me that he is passionate enough to take this forward with me...

For me , it means I can concentrate on a few things that need sorting....

primarily , trying to organise kit production , sales , enquiries etc. and manage build projects , has meant that we have been getting behind. The G46 is the most notable example of that.

The G46 has been pushed back by its more popular cousins , I haven't had the time to finish the first build , introduce alterations etc...we have also gotten behind on the partial builds we undertook.

So our time over the next few months is going to be spent getting the projects sorted ....G46 build and 2 x 550 builds are the most pressing ...

We are nearly finished on Barry's Spyder and we have 3 G46 bodyfits to get sorted...

When I can see some light , I will look at developing the G46 further ....this may mean removing it from sale for a short period of time.

I am also intending on building a few Turnkey style cars a year and still undertaking turnkey builds and partial builds as well.... The idea is to attend various shows throughout the year with a finished car for sale as well as regular listings on ebay , pistonheads etc.

Some of you may wonder why I am doing this and its pretty simple....

I haven't enjoyed things in recent months , I am very passionate about my 'babies' and also protective as well. The pressure of working 55-60 hour weeks has taken its toll....It has affected me both in my private life , financially by sinking every spare penny into development in a shortish period of time and my relationships with my son and his mother have been affected as well....I chose to miss out on key events in Sams life , holidays etc. to pursue the dream and that's not great...Mike has been fantastic during this period , he regularly works later than his paid timeslot , attends shows free of charge , works Saturdays free of charge etc. etc. , but it has been strained on occasion through financial restrictions as well as just being 'knackered constantly'

I feel the Sammio range is at a stage now where it stands on its own , is well known enough worldwide and is documented well enough for this next level of growth to happen without me being the one to guide it...

By taking this path and Andy lifting some of the weight off my shoulders , Mike and myself can get back to doing what we do best , designing , creating and building cars and hopefully better working hours....

We will be attending shows with Andy , my involvement in promotion of the cars won't alter , I'm not going away just trying to get back to normal !!

THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ THIS.....

[tlrtone]

Well done Gary, get your life back on track mate.

Work to Live, not Live to Work!

Your lagacy will live on.

BTW I will try and stop by over the next week or so and show off my finished car. Weather permitting!

[GazDavies]

Having seen Andys Facility's and commitment so far to growing his own business I have no doubt that your babies are in safe hands. I look forward to doing business with you both in the near future!

[lancelot link]

Weather permitting!

Weather permitting .....thought you were a hardened biker !

Would be good to see it mate ....we are working Tuesday if that helps.....probably 10-4

[lancelot link]

Having seen Andys Facility's and commitment so far to growing his own business I have no doubt that your babies are in safe hands. I look forward to doing business with you both in the near future!

THANKS MATE ....

I hope most people on here will see this as a positive move , it is the right thing to do....I spent an evening with Andy and his son last week and the entire conversation for about 4 hours was Sammio related !! They are as passionate as I am about the cars and Andys son , erm Andy , saw the G46 in the flesh and went all weak knee'd !! So they might be getting one of those in the future as well !!

[GazDavies]

....I spent an evening with Andy and his son last week and the entire conversation for about 4 hours was Sammio related !! They are as passionate as I am about the cars and Andys son , erm Andy , saw the G46 in the flesh and went all weak knee'd !! So they might be getting one of those in the future as well !!

I know the feeling..... I can never get him to shut up either ;-)
When I spoke to young Andy last he was saying that he liked the idea of the G46 and needed to see one. I've said it lots before but you really do need to see it in person and if Andy taking over things on the Spyder and Cordite side allows you to progress with the G46, I don't see how anybody could take that as a negative!

[JG]

Good luck to you both in your new partnership. Sounds like you have a great plan for the future, onwards and upwards.

If you wanted to have a formal news piece on the homepage, drop me a e-mail with the information and I'll post it up. john (at) madabout-kitcars.com

Cheers John

[Mister Towed]

Sounds like a good move to me. Having met Andy and his little (!) boy recently I reckon the project's in safe hands. Good luck to both of you.

[Straight Sixer]

your own hard work and vision have produced a great product.

It takes a big man to admit to struggling and to ask for help.

This can only be a good step to take for all concerned.

Sincerely wish you, your family and all concerned with the Sammio Car Co the very best.

Now, get back to work.:biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin:

[Roadster]

Good Luck Garry
When the dream becomes a chore or a burden its no longer a dream its a nightmare.
I know the millions of ideas you have going on in your head and the current Sammios have been developed to the point where the money invested should start being returned.
I think that now there are cars being finished and looking very impressive that some of the lurkers are going to take the plunge to build their own.

I for one am grateful that you have an anything is possible attitude and there isn't many in the industry that have the passion and the vision to help a builder fullfill their dreams.

I hope everything with Jeanette and Sam is ok

[davecymru]

As my old WO told me years ago:
"family comes first, then work, then hobbies. In that order. There are NO exceptions or you won't have a family to come home to!"

Best of luck to you all!

[WorldClassAccident]

Hi Gary - Sounds like a good and positive move. You have become a victim of your success but have taken positive steps to resolve the issues.

That is my business consultancy bull sh1t for - Well done, and good decision.

I will email you in a minute about my body shell.

[Paul L]

Hi Gary,

Good luck with the new arrangements, I really hope it does reduce the pressure on you (& Mike).

Take care, Paul. :)

[oxford1360]

Good luck, Gary. You have started a range of products that have brought a lot of enjoyment and pleasure (and bruised knuckles) to a lot of people. I hope that this new arrangement lets you enjoy all aspects of life.

[patoune]

I hope this solution will help you solve your problems and give you the opportunity to answer all my emails remained unanswered.
May be now, can you give me a delivery date?

[Charman.tech]

Gary

Cool, really looking forward to the G46 taking off!!!!!!!!

[Nike55]

Gary

Cool, really looking forward to the G46 taking off!!!!!!!!

Is it a bird?

Is it a plane?

......?


Gary/Andy, I hope Sammio Cars 'V1.2' exceeds your expectations and that of your customers.

Best wishes

PS I've emailed you separately.

[seanick]

Sounds familiar! Good move.

[Patton]

I wish everbody the very best, (not luck as it's hard work based) se you soon PAT

[Welsh 46r]

while i wish you well with the new arrangements can you now say when delivery of the G46 kits will begin , you have had my money for 3 months and i've not had a straight answer once yet when i've called you . Adrian

[Mister Towed]

Great looking donor going on ebay for anyone thinking of taking advantage of the loyalty bonus discount -

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TRIUMPH-VITESSE-RED-/120924986512?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item1c27b0dc90

I'd seriously recommend going for an mot'd car as a starting point, it'll save you loads of time and money later. Don't do as I do, do as I say!

[Nike55]

while i wish you well with the new arrangements can you now say when delivery of the G46 kits will begin , you have had my money for 3 months and i've not had a straight answer once yet when i've called you . Adrian

There are at least two others on this forum who have waited longer than 3 months and whose patience is also wearing a bit thin, so welcome to the queue!

It must have been a bit of a nightmare for Gary of late and if I were in his place I would probably had a breakdown by now, but I hope that under the new arrangements the company is now in a position to speedily complete the unfulfilled G46 orders/conversions and in that respect I hope to have positive news from Sammio Cars VERY shortly.

[lancelot link]

There are at least two others on this forum who have waited longer than 3 months and whose patience is also wearing a bit thin, so welcome to the queue!

It must have been a bit of a nightmare for Gary of late and if I were in his place I would probably had a breakdown by now, but I hope that under the new arrangements the company is now in a position to speedily complete the unfulfilled G46 orders/conversions and in that respect I hope to have positive news from Sammio Cars VERY shortly.

This is one of the reasons I have made the decision I have.....

When Andy approached me with his proposition , the timing couldn't have been better ...things were/are starting to get on top of me ....whilst I cannot complain about the success of the product , a two man outfit cannot perform miracles.....we try , but its not always possible.

When Nike talks about breakdowns , hes not too far from the truth ! It has been tense on occasion and I have not had a proper nights sleep in about 2 years , waking up in the very early hours and spending the rest of the night thinking about finances , deadlines , which customers to keep happy , who to pi$$ off etc. is not healthy , it affects work , homelife , everything...

The product we sell is cheap , thats a factor in its popularity. Downside of that is quantity is what keeps the doors open....the workshop has to generate money EVERY week , it doesn't always do that. We have to juggle jobs in an attempt to keep people happy but also create income. I have been very lucky , most of my customers are pretty good , Adrian included , and have supported us with no question. I started this with no money , no loans , no overdraft , no worries....still running with no assistance financially just worries !!
I take great comfort from the fact my customers believe in us and the products.

Last year I made a few mistakes ...we seriously under quoted jobs on quite a few cars ...me being the kind of guy I am , stuck to my quotes even though nothing was written down , result - we lost money on those peoples cars.

Add to that the 550 development at a cost of about 5-6000 and a sale of the project after a few sales of 2500 , that wasn't great either.G46 investment that is still showing no return ( will need to sell about 15 to get square ) , then we have all the ignored utility bills from previously that caught up with me all around the same time etc etc. and to cut a long story short , we sold something like 60-70 kits , built a few cars and had no money left !!

So , basically , what I am trying to say is , the G46 has suffered a little due to the popularity of the other cars and the need to get funds in asap.

It made it very difficult to finish the factors on the G46 I had to do to offer it in kit form. We have sold 3 so far and they have all been supplied differently as I haven't yet standardized the frame.

Clearing the decks a little is going to get the G46 sorted - fact.

Unfortunately , the first few of you are suffering as a result of my limited time I have been able to give to the car ....Ironically , its the car that owes me the most money but I just haven't been able to get on with it.....

Anyway , you're not interested in my life story or excuses ...you want to know whats going on.

We are switching back to one of my part time laminators this week....his first few jobs are G46's.

We have Adrians package to do , Dan's and WCA's as well as Nike's kit fit.
I found time last week , with Mike , to get the framework standardized , so no hold ups there either.
Its a mammoth body to produce and therefore not as fast as the Spyder/Cordite to create, but I would hope to have your kit fully ready for delivery within the next 2 weeks ....WCA just after and Dan just after that...

Nikes will develop alongside these in the next few weeks as well.....My department

Patrices is about to get hit hard for its preperation for the bodyshop as well...Mikes department.

I am genuinely sorry about the hold ups with this car ....we have had no issues at all with the Spyders up to now , but just too much on my shoulders....Andy's actions are a life saver !

[lancelot link]

Great looking donor going on ebay for anyone thinking of taking advantage of the loyalty bonus discount -

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TRIUMPH-VITESSE-RED-/120924986512?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item1c27b0dc90

I'd seriously recommend going for an mot'd car as a starting point, it'll save you loads of time and money later. Don't do as I do, do as I say!

That is a perfect donor by the looks of it....

If it helps anyone to make a decision on that car , I have a mate in Melksham who I need to collect a Hot Rod body from that he owes me from a previous deal about 3 years ago ! Its not too far up the road from us but I just haven't had the time or inclination to chase it up ( see above for reasons why ! )
I can collect the car for the winning bidder , bring it back to the shop and it could be collected at the same time as a kit or be delivered with a kit , stripped for you , whatever ...... I can store it for a few weeks , no problem ....

No fee , just a drink towards the extra fuel used for taking a trailer would be cool....

[Nike55]

No fee , just a drink towards the extra fuel used for taking a trailer would be cool....

Gary, I think I can see where you are going wrong mate! ;)

--------------

To get as far as you have with these projects with no financial backing in this country, and certainly in the current economic climate, is not short of a miracle and I think you can be proud of the Spyder / Cordite product. I hope the G46 (Mk2?) also develops into a worthy product too.

I'd guess there are a fair few people around with pretty little open top (& damp) sports cars that would not be in the happy position of kit car ownership had you not created the range and we are perhaps fortunate that for every Spyder / Cordite there is gracing our B roads there is one less Cobra / Seven clone.

[Mister Towed]

[QUOTE
I'd guess there are a fair few people around with pretty little open top (& damp) sports cars that would not be in the happy position of kit car ownership had you not created the range...[/QUOTE]

That's certainly true in my case. I'd always wanted a classic Porsche replica - a 356 Speedster, 718 RSK or early 911 (never really liked the 550 though), but knew that I would never be able to justify the £14 to £16K necessary to build one properly. Just as I'd resigned myself to building a beach buggy Gary turns up with a car that looks every bit as stylish as the Porsche replicas (to my eye), with a realistic build cost of less than a third of the average kit car.

As for the delays in filling G46 orders, that's the nature of the automotive industry at every level I fear. I once bought a very expensive new motor car from a franchised dealer. Having paid a sizeable deposit delivery dates came and went, phonecalls went unanswered and sales people evaporated when I went into the dealer to find out what was happening. Which turned out to be the dealer going into recievership. I eventually got my car but there was a long period where I thought thousands had gone down the Swanney.

Buying something as left field as a Sammio is always going to be more of a risk than playing it safe with a Caterham, but I feel what Gary needs sometimes is a little patient prompting rather than a browbeating. I think he's done pretty well staying in business this long and selling, and, crucially actually supplying as many Spyders as he has so I'd like to think you'll get your G46's eventually. Even if I don't think they'll ever be as pretty as a Spyder...

Anyway, that's me done with the soap box for now. Next!

[Nick59]

Not many people can find a job that is their hobby and when the enjoyment goes its time to change things.
Done the work/ home life thing and ended up on my own!....so hope things settle back down and you can get the fun back into "work".

[Welsh 46r]

Thank you for the reply Gary . i hadn't realised things had been so challenging. hope you can start enjoying work again soon . and i do appreciate that the only way many of us will get the style of car we want is through the work you and mike are doing there .

[lancelot link]

Thank You ....

[WorldClassAccident]

I am okay to move back a slot in the G46 queue if it helps. Of course you might prefer my cash. Email me as to when you want to give me the shell. We can agree this via email rather than the forum. Top job so far.
Cheers
Wca

[craigt]

Sounds like a great plan Gary and having met Andy at Stoneleigh can fully understand why you choose him for the job.

Do you think things will be in place at Preston for me to be able to collect my Cordite package from there as it will be a massive plus for me if I can as i'm in Manchester?

If it means being put back a couple of weeks then that's no problem

Cheers

[lancelot link]

I will get Andy to message you .....

Gary

[AndyP57]

Hi all, and thanks for all the positive messages.

Sorry I've not been as active on the forum this last week as I have usually been but I took a week away from the computer to put my own ship in order once I took the Sammio helm.

Things are moving, some more tectonically than others but my own processes are largely in place, the web site is launched, and will continually be improved, both technically and in content, the unit in Preston has been set up and I'm working with couriers to work out a delivery service at minimum cost passed on to the customer. (This may take a week or so but I'm looking at shipping a few advance kits 'up North' to economise on the transit costs). Of course, as production will, at least for the foreseeable future, be based in Dorset, Gary has kindly offered to continue to act as a distribution point for those customers wishing to collect (or have their kits collected from) his workshop.

As Gary said in his post, we will be working very closely together to maintain and grow the Sammio brand. His real strengths are in the design and build of these fabulous cars and by taking the retail effort away, he will be able to devote his own efforts in that direction. Once the G46 is ready for mainstream sales, I will be negotiating a deal with him to bring the product into the Sammio fold. Until that time, he has orders outstanding which he will be dealing with in Dorset. I hear on the grapevine he has some other ideas that may be developed over the year(s) to enhance the product range but more of that when any of them are ready (Certainly not going to put any pressure on).

I see great value in this forum and will be continuing to contribute and enjoy your company. I will also be starting a thread here and there when I think a customer's point of view will help, such as one I'm about to start regarding a 'bonnet badge'. Feel free to ask any questions regarding this move and, as long as the answer would not have commercial implications, I'll answer as quickly as I can.

Thanks again.
Andy
:spider:

[Patton]

Hi Andy, nice to meet you at Stoneleigh all be it briefly and I hope every thing goes well, I don't know if Gary has told you I've started a variation on a theme and will be starting a build thread for Skippy 2 the sequal soon, anyway don't trust to luck just work all the best in your endeavours and weather dependent may catch you at Newark? PAT

[AndyP57]

Thanks Pat, and I hope to catch up soon for a chat about skippy2. As far as Newark is concerned, it's been too quick a transition for me to be ready to put up a stand but I'm hoping (weather and work dependant) to be there myself for at least One and possibly both days. Whilst I'm on here, how many Sammaniacs are likely to be there and what is the consensus of which day you're likely to attend?

[mas123mas]

Hi Andy

I have been trying to get on the Sammio sites to get some more info.

I am looking at a Sammio with twin head rests and a centre bar etc......

Can you give me your new contact details as the websites are not working for me.

Not sure if it is the website or my location (Vietnam), I am back in the UK in three weeks.

Would like to talk to you and get some prices.

Regards


Mike

[Paul L]

Hi Mike & welcome,

Hope this helps...

Website: www.sammio.co.uk

Email: info@sammio.co.uk

Telephone: 07927 175580

Address: Unit 41, SRDC Enterprise Park, Grove Road, Walton le Dale, Preston, Lancs PR5 4AJ

Cheers, Paul. :)

[mas123mas]

Hi Mike & welcome,

Hope this helps...

Website: www.sammio.co.uk

Email: info@sammio.co.uk

Telephone: 07927 175580

Address: Unit 41, SRDC Enterprise Park, Grove Road, Walton le Dale, Preston, Lancs PR5 4AJ

Cheers, Paul. :)

Sorry Paul

Thought I had posted thanks

Regards


Mike

[AndyP57]

Those with eagle eyes may have noticed in Nick's G46 build thread that he picked up his kit from Tribute Automotive rather than Gary's workshop and wondered what is going on..
Since I took on the Sammio line, we have been having our fabrication done in Gary's mezzanine area, kindly provided free of charge as an interim measure with a view to giving his space back as soon as we found an alternative. With Gaz taking on the G46, things got far too big to have both little and large shells being produced there so the race was on.
As it happened, Chris Welch of Tribute Automotive offered his spare capacity to enable us to move fabrication of all Sammio marques to his facility, at least for the time being. Chris has been a friend of Sammio for some time, knows Gary well and has been instrumental in some of the pre-production artwork of the Cordite so knows the product as well as any. We have seen and admired the design and standard of his own line of kits, including the ill-fated B**ntl*y lookalike of last year and now the lovely Ferrarish body conversion for the MX5, the MX250:
http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/ff477/Andyp57/Sammio/MX250-main.jpg
So we know the Sammio range is in good hands. Many thanks Chris.

[WorldClassAccident]

A good looking car. Even better with a V8 and the correct wheel base.
https://sites.google.com/site/g46wca/for-sale---tvr
;-)

[frankenstang57]

Hey guys, Bruce and I would like to import 2 Sammios and 2 Cordites to the U.S. We are are serious and have the funding. (sorry, a divorce took the wind out of my sails for a bit) Bruce is our POC on this, can you guys get back to him? Thanx!

Dave

[BazMason]

No G46's? I would have thought the larger size would suit the American market better.....:thumb:

[Mister Towed]

No G46's? I would have thought the larger size would suit the American market better.....:thumb:

I could be wrong, but isn't the cockpit the same size as in the Spyder?

[BazMason]

You could well be right Towed.


Hey guys, Bruce and I would like to import 2 Sammios and 2 Cordites to the U.S. We are are serious and have the funding. (sorry, a divorce took the wind out of my sails for a bit) Bruce is our POC on this, can you guys get back to him? Thanx!

Dave

Dave, have you contacted the company direct? +44 7927 175580

[Nike55]

I could be wrong, but isn't the cockpit the same size as in the Spyder?

... perhaps WCA can whip out his measuring device..I gained the distinct impression that the G46 was about 25% larger all round.

[Mister Towed]

... perhaps WCA can whip out his measuring device..I gained the distinct impression that the G46 was about 25% larger all round.

I seem to remember Gary posting something that said the G46 cockpit might actually be shorter than the Spyder's?

Anyway, the Spyder fits me fine and I'm not exactly, ahem, small. :ohwell:

[AndyP57]

Hi Dave, Bruce,
Sorry about the delays. Getting a reliable shipper isn't as easy as I'd thought but I am on the case and will get back to Bruce soon.
Hey guys, Bruce and I would like to import 2 Sammios and 2 Cordites to the U.S. We are are serious and have the funding. (sorry, a divorce took the wind out of my sails for a bit) Bruce is our POC on this, can you guys get back to him? Thanx!

Dave

[frankenstang57]

Cool, thanx!`