"new" rear wings?

Post by **PSL184** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 8:39 pm

Looks like it, yes...

Post by **jonathon** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 8:47 pm

They are Hadrian wings, but alas not made in the UK. Only the Heritage ones are UK produced.

Post by **croft** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 8:58 pm

Great! definatley Hadrian then. Was tempted to go with them because my local motor factor deals with them and I get a good discount off him! I had heard so many horror stories of wings not lining up or having to be dramaticaly modified, holes not in right places etc etc. So thought I would ask and see who others thought where good.
From what I understand, Hadrian, a small manufacturing co, in the North East of England where taken over a number of years ago and have since taken over several other small manufacturing companies Hendric and Lmc are just two of them. Apparently they will soon to be able to offer rubber parts, hoses, screen rubbers etc.

Post by **croft** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 9:02 pm

Do you know where they are made then Jonathon? I keep hearing about Charlie wares factory in malasia? have you ever seen anything that was produced there? if so any good?

Post by **MarkyB** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 9:18 pm

Charlie Ware has a place in Sri Lanka which I visited recently.
Pictures here:
http://marksrilankaholiday.googlepages.com/durablecars

Post by **d_harris** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 9:33 pm

Considering the quality of some SL panels I've had (not obtained from CW I add) I will NEVER be buying any panels from there again.

Steel shouldn't glow green when you weld it......

Post by **Dean** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 9:57 pm

When I enquired I was told heritage modify the later wings into the earlier ones. But were £150 + VAT and a four week wait! I bought two early wings off ebay for £22... a bit of repairing to do but definately a huge saving. I got a early boot lid thrown in too.

Post by **jonathon** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 10:13 pm

I'm led to believe that Hadrian panels are made in the far east, some are made over here, but cannot be specific in which ones.
The problem with Hadrian is that they are now too big and cannot or are unwilling to produce their full catalogue of parts. Minor parts only make up a very small % of their production and as such often take second place to the more profitable lines. Unfortunately it could be seen that they are buying out the competition, then failing to produce so that demand is created , and this demand then increases prices.
As for the other supplier, we avoid their products for the reason that Dan mentions, and the general poor finish. The actual panel fit however can be far superior to both Hadrian and Heritage, but the quality of finish and metal chemistry are dubious. The alledged 30% cheaper seldom filters through to trade or customers. I certainly would shy away from any car rebuilt soley with these products (personal opinion)

Post by **IaininTenbury** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 11:32 pm

jonathon wrote:I'm led to believe that Hadrian panels are made in the far east, some are made over here, but cannot be specific in which ones.

That'll be the wings and front panels with the 'MAde in Taiwan' stickers on them then! As already said on here, the rears seem to fit ok, the fronts you take your chances with, and the front panels aren't formed right on the slots below the grill, but you never see those when the bumpers on anyway... Far as I know the rest of the Hadrian range is UK made at the factory in Warminster Wilts. (Different paint finish on the far eastern bits).

jonathon wrote:The problem with Hadrian is that they are now too big and cannot or are unwilling to produce their full catalogue of parts. Minor parts only make up a very small % of their production and as such often take second place to the more profitable lines. Unfortunately it could be seen that they are buying out the competition, then failing to produce so that demand is created , and this demand then increases prices.

Yes, they seem to do a big run of certain panels, and if they're sold out before they've got through the list they'll be out of stock for some time. Anomalies abound too, such as the plentiful supply of van pickup outer rear valences, but not able to give a supply date for inners, a situation that has been going on for some time (though may be ok now).

jonathon wrote:As for the other supplier, we avoid their products for the reason that Dan mentions, and the general poor finish. The actual panel fit however can be far superior to both Hadrian and Heritage, but the quality of finish and metal chemistry are dubious. The alledged 30% cheaper seldom filters through to trade or customers. I certainly would shy away from any car rebuilt soley with these products (personal opinion)

Having just spent a certain amount of the day modifying upper and lower rear cab valences, fitting missing double skinned bits and correcting mistakes on 'other supplier' sourced parts which were supplied with that job, I'd tend to agree. Some of the sill sections however fit nicely and have the drain holes in, which you dont always get with UK panels. But as for the steel they're made of...

Post by **Dean** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 10:15 pm

Can I just ask what may seem a silly question? When looking through your welding mask, how can you tell the steel glows green? I sometimes pull the mask away to see a weld blob with a red glow to it... is this what you mean but in green?