SPECIAL REPORT
The Historic and Classic Vehicle Alliance is spear-heading an initiative to improve the quality of parts being supplied to the classic car industry
The Historic and Classic Vehicle Alliance (HCVA) is forging ahead with its scheme to certify quality parts and flag up below-par items. Its online form allows business owners, mechanics and restorers to report issues with parts, which can then be fed back to suppliers.
This follows calls from HCVA members with many stating that they would be more than happy to pay more for a better quality part and avoid the hassle associated with poor quality items.
Jon Crocker – group sales manager for Web Engineering and British Classic Car Parts –revealed the demand for part quality assurances and the value that a charter mark means for the industry: ‘Some at the organisation’s Heritage Matters conferencee workshops say that they are “buying three parts to get one good one” and similar concerns were raised against new-old stock and deteriorated older parts. This is about working with the industry to ensure a better practice for all.
‘Getting quality parts fitted the first time around benefits everyone. Happy customers are returning customers. Equally, returning faulty parts costs money and it costs even more to shops and restorers when they have to re-fit parts at their own cost.’
The HCVA’s online form offers plenty of scope for detail and asks contributors to include images of parts, drawings, and as much information as possible when submitting details so that it can provide practical feedback further up the chain.
It is also looking to produce a seal of quality on known parts and said that a charter mark could instil confidence in customers and vehicle owners.
When Jaguar specialist William Heynes asked if a scheme similar to ‘Red Tractor’ food labelling could see the HCVA support repair shops when fitted parts go wrong and customers come back the HCVA’s executive director, Guy Lachlan said: ‘We will take that idea on board but the problem is that under UK consumer law, the liability is on you as the end person in the chain to rectify issues.
