Classic Jaguar (USA), Inc. wrote:
To all members of the E Type list at Jag-lovers.org., and to Mr. Anthony
Parkinson.A statement by Martin E. Robey I can say that Vicarage did not have any
‘Full
Martin Robey System Bodyshells’ built for them by us.
That is a lie … as Mr Robey knew well we worked with Neil Smith at XK
Engineering and bought several of our shells from them…better price and
terms… which is still true today…
Vicarage only ever
had a small number of ‘Sub Assembly Units’, which required all the doors
and outer panels fitting, welded, and lead loaded.
It was the tub sub assembly which caused the problem… the door fit and panel
fit in those days was horrendous …and as we had perfected our body work to
establish a universal 3/8" inch gap at alljoins.
Technically speaking, apart from breaching the UK Trade Description Act, it
is impossible to build a new car from used parts, let alone the main
monocoque.
The main bullkhead is required in this instance to maintain the vehicles’
originalJaguar designation.
MR. I was under the impression that you have no connection with Vicarage,
let alone employ panel beaters. Is this true?
We have a pending dispute with Malcolm Woolhead who was a Vicarage Licencee and
operated the Vicarage franchise under M&G spares ltd. 2 years after I moved to
Florida.
Where are your workshops?
Our UK work is now performed at Renascence Racing…
I see from your signature and advertising that you claim to have facilities
in the United States, England and Holland. Is this true? Are there
Vicarage workshops in any of these countries with which you are
legitimately associated?
In addition to the UK facility we have Wim vanginhoven ( who developed the
convertible top for the Vicarage MK II convertible) and Mark Vandenbrand in
Uden with whom I have been working for over 9 years…
I have today spoken with Vicarage Ltd. in
England, and they assure me that you have absolutely zero connection
with their company whatsoever.
Not their company … There is a legal dispute as Malcolm proceeded to avoid
filing Uk corporate tax forms and then reregistered the company in his name …
rather dishonest but typical …
What qualifications do you have to
criticize our components?
The only letters after my name are MBA (from Wharton) … and the one did not
need more than that to see the quality of the work…
When I dealt with Vicarage in the late eighties,
I was informed that you were the PR man, and not involved technically at
all.
Interesting, how you fail to remember our meeting in your office with Niel
Smith… Oh, we do lie Martin… In fact, technically I designed the MK II
convertible top with Wim although I do not profess to be a welder … I employed
very good ones in those days… Andby the way, Martin , is it common for the
PR guy to make sure all suppliers were paid out and customers satisfied when I
have to put the company in receivership in 1991… no I don’t think so Mr
Robey… you do know better.
You have never seen one of our finished, completed bodyshells, let alone
bought one.
Rubbish…
. We can incorporate the very
early features, and even reproduce the various errors …
And that was the problem as we produced a car which was far superior to the
original…
All jig built, the accuracy and quality of these units are
renowned. They are continually used by the world’s leading restorers.
They are bought for their guaranteed quality and strength.
I have no problem with that statement…
The fact that you had problems with poor panel fit is because your company
was fitting the panels.
Quite to the contrary… porr panel quality led to poor fit… you even
tried to hire our panel beaters… how quicly you forget… when it is
convenient…
The problems Vicarage had with cracking
windscreens is true. I have today spoken with the engineer that solved the
problem for you, Mr. Malcolm Woolhead.
Malcolm was not even associated with us then!!! What a wonderful fabrication…
like your panels…
He explained to me that Vicarage
were having screens crack on every one of their E Type restorations,
Not true… that is total rubbish…
whether FHC or roadster, any series, including original bodied cars, but
never one of our built up bodies - because you simply never had any of
them.
Again rubbish … we only had the cracked windscreen problem on three
occasions with your tubs…
The problem was caused by the error of bonding the screens in place while
the body was sitting in the air on jack stands with a twist in the vehicle.
When the vehicle was eventually sat on the ground, it naturally settled and
the twist came out of the monocoque. Because the screen was rigid, and
incorrectly bonded in place, it couldn’t move - hence it cracked.
They did not crack on the factory floor ( which was much cleaner than your pig
sty)
When I visited Vicarage during this period, I was horrified by the
derelict, filthy condition of the premises. The Mk II bodyshells were a
cut and shut patchwork, covered in lead and bondo.
\Now we get tothe good part… as our lead loading capability was renown… we
gave fgactory tours to several american groups including a big do for the San
Francisco club ( steigenberger … maybe was one of the participants?)
You couldn’t sit
anywhere due to the layer of bondo filler dust that covered everything.
Totally without merit and Libelous… in fact we used a specially created
coating after the car was lead loaded to achieve a perfect body contour which
the original cars never had…and a finish that you could not achieve with
hand layed up lead loading
The only complaint I ever received from Mr. Parkinson was ‘bleating’ that
Country Classics and other restoration companies were receiving
preferential treatment to Vicarage.
That is true… so does the supposed “PR guy” complain about a business
decision… not likely Martin… you have proved yourself a lier…
Mr. Parkinson mentions the ‘Lynx Eventer’. The prototype vehicle, the jigs,
and the production kits for the Eventer were all built by Martin Robey Ltd.
Fact.
No problem with that…
We offer, designed
by the writer, inner sill reinforcements that give extra rigidity, if
required.
Not true… we designed ( bob the panel beater) the inner sill strengthener and
if the writer designed it I wonder where he got the idea! In fact I personally
defined that as a problem with the car and bob provided the solution…
Well I really don’t know who you
are dealing with ‘today’, Mr. Parkinson, if anybody, but it’s certainly not
me.
As we had our disagreements then we have them today… so we do’nt deal with
you personally…
the Robey products are as good as it gets…but do be aware that
when you are making panels from old molds or new molds set up from poor
panels to begin with you will always have some problems…:
This is my statement and it is exactly the way it is… we have no beef with
Robey products per say…We just stated a fact and confirmed that we use the
panels today…
It may actually surprise you just how many of our
panels are manufactured using the original tooling.
No surprise at all…as we toured your factory together ( not exactly hand in
hand but clearly enjoying the prospect of our business relationship… we
also commented about the poor quality of the orginal molds and their defects
…
Any Jaguar lover is more than welcome to visit our factory and see the work
in progress for yourself.
A good idea and worth the trip… no problem here…
For the information of the group… Vicarage provides a 5 year anti
perforation warrantee on all Vicarage Jaguars…together with a comprehensive 1
year mechanical warrantee… Does any other restorer do that? I rather doubt
bondo will hold up for 5 years ( it doesn’t)…
One of our V12s ( done in 1993/4) is now in NY … I am arranging with Mike
Frank to set up a meeting perhaps late in Sept or mid October to view that car
and my personal road race car which is there as well… Lets let Mike look
over the car which has lived on the Panama City Beach in Northern Florida for 5
years to see the bondo and rust… after which we will let the lawyers get on
with it… Luckily my lawyers are not very busy - like Mr Mooney’s)…
BTW… with all that “bondo and poor fit and messy shop” do you think people
like Alex Obrist ( famous Swiss Ferrari collector), Tom Walkinshaw ( Jaguar
Racing)… Edsel Ford ( The Ford Motor Company), Peter Livanos (former owner of
Aston Martin), Bill Hayden ( 2 Vicarage Jaguars -immediate past Chairman of
Jaguar Cars Ltd Coventry), Hajime Tanaka ( owner of the Tanake Formula One
track in Japan - 2 Vicarage Jaguars), Mr Matsuda ( acknowledged to have the
finest sports/classic car collection in the world exhibited in three museums
outside of Tokyo) …and Sam Bardor ( now racing the fastest etype (1997/8 prep)
in the world in Mexico City)…among over 120 Vicarage Jaguar owners would
continuue to own and respect our mark?
And what about the over 200 articles that have been written about Vicarage …
the most recent in Jaguar World ( Paul Skilleter) featuring on the cover my
XJ13 and then the SIII XJ6… shortly Sports Car Intl has an article by Winston
Goodfellow… on my Oyster Etype road race coupe shown at Scottsdale… Did
they get something wrong… no I don’t think so Mr Mooney and Mr Robey…
Kind regards as always…
VICARAGE JAGUAR… Specialist Jaguar Restoration
Anthony Parkinson - Owner
USA/uk/Netherlands
Florida Tel 1 305 866 9511
fax 1 305 866 5738
Web Site: http://www.jagweb.com/vicarage Email: @Anthony_Parkinson