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MG MGA - Thank You from Eclectic Motorworks

In another thread, George Goeppner mentioned that I'd told him, "I have sold our MGA jigs and fixtures to a shop in Colorado and we're focusing on other things" at Eclectic Motorworks. I'd like to take an opportunity to thank all of you and tell you the rest of the story.

First of all, thanks to all of you on this and other communities for the support and kind words you've given Eclectic Motorworks over the years. When I started Eclectic Motorworks in late 1999, several of my friends in the business thought I was crazy to focus on high-end metalwork for British cars. When I quickly narrowed much of the focus to MGAs, they thought I was even dumber--they didn't think there was a market there. But I had found there was a great market of great people and we had the opportunity to participate in the restoration of about 35 MGAs from all over the country, including some of significant history. Along with that we ran a few hundred people through our training seminars and got to know many of you very well.

What many of you don't know is that while Eclectic Motorworks has been and continues to be a full-time bricks and mortar business for most of this time, I've never been involved on a full-time basis. As other aspects of my career and business interests grew and as my three children have been growing, it was beginning to get clear to me that I was running low on time and some adjustments would be necessary.

When an opportunity arose to sell my MGA fixtures, tooling, and patterns to Paul Dierschow at Sports Car Craftsmen in Arvada (near Denver) Colorado, I realized this was a chance for me to focus on other things and keep these legacy services available to the MGA community. I had already trained his metal man at one of our seminars and I knew their work to be of top quality. Paul is well known and respected in the MG community and especially in the trade as a person with a wealth of knowledge and a mountain of spare parts--he often works with major suppliers and businesses to supply patterns, feedback, and support for improved products we all use.

Paul moved our fixtures and tooling from Michigan to Colorado in Spring 2008, and has recently set it back up and started using it. We've been waiting for him to have it in use before making any announcements. You'll be seeing press releases in some magazines and some postings on this and other messageboards as Sports Car Craftsmen takes over this business.

Eclectic Motorworks has stopped restoration work and is continuing primarily in service and performance work. I'm much less involved in the day-to-day operations. I'll be continuing to offer seminars, including the hands-on MGA sheetmetal restoration seminar, and a set of new seminars in the future (some for Hot Rods, not just British cars). I'm also continuing my writing for Classic Motorsports, Grassroots Motorsports, and some club magazines. Moving away from the sheetmetal restoration business is allowing me the time to better develop some of these other areas and concentrate a little more on my family life. We'll be reorganizing the Eclectic website soon, but will not take any of the MGA pictures down so that any of you who want to use them for reference can continue to do so.

Sorry for the long-winded explanation, but you've all been so good to me for the past 9 years and I thought I'd share the whole story with you.

Thank you again for all your support.

Sincerely,
Carl Heideman
Eclectic Motorworks

p.s. contact info for Paul:
Paul Dierschow
mowogman@comcast.net
303.422.9272
Sports Car Craftsmen, LLC
5635 Kendall Ct.
Arvada, CO 80002
(no web site at this time)
Carl Heideman

Carl,
I appreciate what you've done for the MGA community, and it has been a pleasure meeting with you and attending your seminars. I hope to continue.
Mike Parker
mike parker

I have seen and admired the work done on Eclectic's web site. The information shown there has been a wonderful resource. I am glad to see that it will continue to be made available to the community.
Thank you Carl.
I have known Paul Dierschow for years and can recommend him and Sports Car Craftsmen to anyone.
This change should help them expand their already stellar business. When I read Georges posting I hoped that the "shop in Colorado" was in fact Paul's. It is exciting to see this service here in Colorado.
R J Brown

The pictures have definitely been a huge help to me, thanks for leaving them up.
Del Rawlins

Carl

Could Barney perhaps put all the information onto his site?


dominic clancy

If Carl wants to offload them some day I would extend an open invitation to transfer his stuff to my site, but for now EMW's pictures are apparently fine right where they are. As always, just don't let the stuff disappear without notice or backup.
Barney Gaylord

Carl,
Thanks for taking time to explain. You've done a great service to the MGA community and you will be missed. I hope that the work you've done will be carried forward.

Best regards,
Gerry
G T Foster

Carl has been and I am sure will continue to be a great asset to the LBC community~ the Enthusiast and restoration shop Enthusiast alike.

Kudos to Carl!

-BMC.
BMC Brian McCullough

Thanks Carl, your site has been both a source of information as well as inspirataion for a lot of us. When the time comes and my MGA is on the road again it will certainly be thanks to you and the information gained from Eclectic Motor Works.
Bill Young

Carl, I feel I was lucky to have my car be your last restoration (the twin cam on the front page) I hope it didn't drive you out of the business! (just kidding). The car is coming along slowly. I am almost done with the paint. The body is impecable. I have finished the engine and am going through the transmission before I drop the drive train back into the chassis. Both you and Alan are fine folks and were a pleasure do do business with. Hopefully you will get to see the completed car in person one day. Have a great new year! Hiram
Hiram Shepard

Carl I was just at the hunting camp and was in the stand with Classics mags your writing and photography is great . The Modern midget is so cool and Thanks for doing that car . Get back to the computer and write some more articles ! There are deadlines coming up .
Karl LaFollette

This thread was discussed between 12/12/2008 and 29/12/2008

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