Here is one I found a little while ago

Good range of spares for lots of different makes. I have brought a couple of items off him and he is very helpful if he hasn't got it he will do all he can to find it.

http://www.bowdenengineparts.co.nz

Cheers
Shane Bradley
System Support

Infinity Solutions Ltd
PO Box 2390, Wellington
Ph: 04 471 5605, Mob: 027 291 5630
Fx: 04 472 6796
www.infinitysolutions.co.nz

I enjoy dealing with you Jim because you meet these criteria, and also because I can just email you about stuff – email and the internet is a really convenient way to get stuff.  Of course, if I can buy stuff by walking into Repco or Super Cheap (which I can sometimes) or get generic things like wheel bearings at the bearing shop I will, but it's becoming increasingly difficult.

Peter Rudland in Sydney is always helpful for Alpine bits or advice on them; Auto Spares Galore in Melbourne have given me good service.  I've imported stuff from Alpine West Midlands and had good service but that was ages ago when the $A was worth over 50p

Cheers Jim and keep up the good work

Vic

Oh, just one further note.  I have never dealt with Victoria British in the USA but have heard some ... er .. 'discouraging' reports about them on the Alpine list.

Vic

Vic,

I had meant to ask about "Spares Galore".  I have dealt with them in the past and they were kind of hit or miss.  Supposedly they had a huge inventory of old Rootes parts acquired from ex-Hillman dealers throughout Australia.  Have you visited them?  What do they have?  Prices?

Thanks,

Jan

Jan,

I've dealt with them a few times over the years and they've always been pretty good at knowing what I was after and supplying the right bit – I had one problem with them 2 years back with a piston but it was understandable and they fixed it quickly at no extra cost to me.  The only thing I wanted once that they weren't able to supply was the correct overdrive switch.

I'm not sure of their inventory size.  They changed their name from Hillman Spares to Auto Spares a while back and I think they now carry quite a bit of stuff for other old British cars.  They are 700 kilometres from me, in Melbourne, I visited them once and they seemed to have stuff for BMC, Rovers (real ones only, not Hondas) etc.  It was a reasonable size building, not huge by any standards – there were 3 or 4 Hunters out front, probably for dismantling.  I'd taken my indicator switch to get the right bits to repair it and the bloke wandered off out the back with it, cleaned it up, put the bits in, tested it to make sure it worked and brought it back, no charge other than the parts.

They seem to have a fairly low key approach and the owner can seem a bit grumpy at times but that's just his way.  Prices have always seemed fair to me.

Perhaps Jim (also in Melbourne) can offer some comment on their inventory?

Umm, isn't this the company owned by Norm Withers – father of "our" Jim Withers of Classic Cars, and with which Jim was previously associated before striking out on his own?

I may be totally wrong (I often am).

Ron

Then that has to be your Dad's Imp (racing number A62) pictured on page 134 of Bill Tuckeys "Australia's Greatest Motor Race" (the original 1981 edition).  This was in the 1968 race, I can clearly see the "Imp Spares and Repairs" sign on the rear mudguard.

Vic

HCCSA Webmaster's footnote : Amongst the clubs in southern Australia, Jim Withers has a very good reputation for friendly and helpful service.  I haven't heard any adverse comments at all.  I met Jim for the first time at All British Day in the Adelaide Hills on 13th February 2005.  He'd brought a station wagon full of parts across from Melbourne, and set up a stall with minimal signage – so little that I walked past without knowing whose it was.  After asking friends where Jim was, I returned to see him helping a potential customer find a part at another dealer's stall (where it would more likely be found).  In his usual low-key approach to life, he didn't ask for this photo to be taken, but co-operated without hesitation when I asked for permission to take it and post it here.

I can confirm this endorsement.  I have bought stuff from Jim for about half the price quoted by a supposed 'discount' auto parts place – identical parts, same manufacturer.

Cheers, Vic

Bob in Oceanside