Fairline Factory Visit (aka Jolly Boys Outing)

[Deleted User YDKXO]

I can't see why, in principle.
As was previously debated, it wouldn't be fair (and there's no legal basis for that) to expect new FL to take charge of previous debts etc..

Because any investigation just might have affected the administrators rights to sell the assets of the failed company and the very last thing an investor wants is any uncertainty about the ownership of the assets he's just bought from the administrator. Apart from that and perhaps more likely is that a new investor would certainly not want adverse publicity surrounding an investigation into the old company's affairs affecting the image of the new company. After all, it is the brand name and its positive image which the investor is really buying

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Back in the 60s, I would have rather paid a deposit for an Alfa Romeo spider than for a Lotus Elan, but there's no denying that the Elan was a great car! :encouragement:

It would have been interesting to see which one would have broken down on the side of the road first

 

[MapisM]

Because any investigation just might have affected the administrators rights to sell the assets of the failed company

Yep, I did agree beforehand on the image side.
But having said that I can't be positive about UK regulations, I'd be very surprised if a previous fraud (if any) would affect the operation of legally appointed administrators, assuming that they acted properly and at arm's length, which we have no reason to doubt.

 

[MapisM]

It would have been interesting to see which one would have broken down on the side of the road first

Oi, I don't think the old acronym for Lotus was invented down here in IT...!

 

[jrudge]

This was the new elan mid 80s. They made a fortune !

The original ones they did well on as well. A kit car attracted no special car tax (10. Per cent ) so lotus sold the dealers a kit that they could complete in a day.

I had an Alfa spyder with a friend. Whilst driving it the wheel fell off!

 

[Nigelpickin]

This was the new elan mid 80s. They made a fortune !

The original ones they did well on as well. A kit car attracted no special car tax (10. Per cent ) so lotus sold the dealers a kit that they could complete in a day.

I had an Alfa spyder with a friend. Whilst driving it the wheel fell off!

I bought a final edition spyder in 2004, only car I've ever had to tow back to dealership on the same day I bought it
Still my Abarth doesn't put any foot wrong so maybe the Italians are getting better or perhaps its American know how seeping in...

 

[henryf]

My dad was a lotus dealer. For decades they were a niche seller - then the Elan came along and the took several hundred £1000 deposits at the motor show.

The right product at the right price sells.

Fairline have a unique position of having clear decks. They have a less favourable unique position of having nil cashflow until they sell boats - so lets hope they deliver on their plans.

Absolutely right.

If they can find the magic design formula and put the boats together well at reasonable cost there is no reason why they shouldn't sell lots of product. In all of this no one has said FL can't build boats.

A workforce of presumably the best people within old Fairline who are more motivated now than at any point. Having stared job loss in the face they have been handed a lifeline which they will want to work.

If the quoted orders are true then there is cash coming in. As I understand it they earmarked a 6 figure sum to ensure orders in progress at the time of the failure are honoured, once those are sorted they can bank the sales revenue.

A clean sheet of paper, no massive debt looming overhead. Some investment in terms of new product but a golden opportunity in terms of design options. There won't be any ties to designers or manufacturers - I know old Fl had a problem when they tried to move away from Olesinski.

There will be a massive temptation to raid the current parts bin, let's hope they resist and produce the very best possible solutions. As I've said before the competition has set the bar extremely high but let's see what comes out of the door. I wonder if they will have anything ready for the Swanwick Show?

Yes I am joking of course but hopefully by Southampton there will be plans to show and maybe by London 2017 something tangible to see touch and smell.

In the meantime if Princess are reading this and sh1tting themselves I'm always up for a quick knee jerk deal. A nice 88 MY with the garage transom conversion that starts with a 1 would be ok


Henry

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

I'm sorry I'm so late to this thread - I had to go straight from the Fairline visit to a work thing (I had a very hilarious moment valet parking my work transit van at the Chester Grosvenor on Tuesday...).

Petem, thanks very much for organising this and being the liaison with Fairline Yachts. It felt like a rare privilege to get such direct access to the very top of the new organisation - the md, head of design, and directors of marketing, business development and operations. And, in the context of having signed an nda, what frank and open access we got. Amazingly insightful and they've got some properly exciting stuff in the pipeline. Although they are still dealing with the fallout of site rationalisation and the resultant production planning headaches, you really get the sense that they've turned a corner and they are already getting back into production. You can see that they are trying to organise themselves slightly differently to the previous organisation, and I think they've got some good ideas. A really interesting day: we were expecting to be there for 2-3 hours, and in the end it was nearer 6. Great stuff - thanks again.

 

[MapisM]

I had a very hilarious moment valet parking my work transit van at the Chester Grosvenor on Tuesday...

LOL, reminds me of the Top Gear gag, valet parking a model T...

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

I'm sorry I'm so late to this thread - I had to go straight from the Fairline visit to a work thing (I had a very hilarious moment valet parking my work transit van at the Chester Grosvenor on Tuesday...).

You're lucky you got into the Fairline car park. It was only thanks to Pete that the security guard didn't send you around to the goods entrance. I have to say though that the van is in a very vivid colour. Nobody could accuse you of being white van man

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

You're lucky you got into the Fairline car park. It was only thanks to Pete that the security guard didn't send you around to the goods entrance. I have to say though that the van is in a very vivid colour. Nobody could accuse you of being white van man

Yep, in my van you definitely know when you've been Tangoed!

 

[gjgm]

You're lucky you got into ... Fairline ....

I do hope they still have the thick mauve cordage drawn across with a charming lady checking your "appointment" and keeping the riff raff out ...

 

[petem]

I do hope they still have the thick mauve cordage drawn across with a charming lady checking your "appointment" and keeping the riff raff out ...

Actually, I haven't discussed this with the new management but I hope to god they change the way they run their boat show stands in the future.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

I do hope they still have the thick mauve cordage drawn across with a charming lady checking your "appointment" and keeping the riff raff out ...

That is a very good point and something we failed to bring up but should have done. The Fairline gatekeeper system at exhibitions is something that has wound me up big time at boat shows. Lets hope the new team have different ideas

 

[Time Out]

Have you lot not twigged yet ? They only put up the barriers to keep forum members out ...

I suspect their show presence will be very different this year. For a start they will need a new position.