BFY Obsolete parts

[Fish]

Are these still good?

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Prosit!

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# 303 and #156

Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

[rooket]

I just happened to be thinking about restoration parts and went looking at a few shops online tonight, starting with this one.

All I can tell you guys is, besides that I didn't get scammed by him, is that back in oh, I think it was maybe 2004 or 2005, I could tell this kid was crooked. I talked to him on the phone and he had a huge attitude problem.

Rich always was, still is, great. I thought he owned the business when I went in there (?) in 1994-1995 (again I can't remember which year it was exactly for when I purchased stuff in that store). The store was cool back then and I think they had a split window VW on display.

I helped my body shop source parts when I needed them for my car. Darren was really snyde with me on the phone when I told him that I like my car and wanted to get it back on the road. I have no respect for this man. I stopped purchasing there and it looks like my gut instinct paid off.

Hopefully the rest of these guys get their money back. But when I do business with people, any kind of business, especially purchasing auto parts primarily for restoration.. if I get rubbed the wrong way, guess whose money it is? It looks better sitting in my bank than going to some creep.

As it rests, I got my car out of the body shop and they didn't really buy anything at all from him as far as I remember. They were going to buy the rear apron but they were able to repair my factory one. Much of the rest of the parts came from Buggy House in Hayward which is still run by very good people and the original owner is still there in the shop. That place never gave me a single problem at all and their staff are just as cool to talk to on the phone as they are in person. I can't say that of Dudley.

And I agree, a sad ending to a once great vendor. However it isn't the mid 1990s any more either. That was when things were really happening. And I have concluded that was, in large part, due to the fact that they still manufactured the 1964 style VW in Brazil until 1996 so that is why I was able to find so many really good parts for my car. Although, over the years, I replaced most of them with German stuff such as Hella etc. I found good deals on stuff. As matter of fact, when I was going through this ordeal with BFY I managed to source NOS tail lights for my beetle online just out of luck. They are still on the car, they still look as brand new as when I pulled them out of the box. Cost me $15 plus a couple bucks shipped, once they told me the price I just LEAPED on that. Genuine OE Hella parts. It was some old auto repair shop I happened across on a simple google search at the time.
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-Dennis

[JulianH]

[thefladge]

Wow! I was looking for the BFY Obsolete website today without any luck. Then I spotted this thread.

I didn't know they had fallen apart and closed their doors. I used to shop there frequently back in the '80's and '90's when things were great.

I remember going to the store back in 2006 through 2008 and they never seemed to have anything I needed in stock and never had an idea when the item would be in stock.

I gave up attempting to buy from BFY after they moved to the new location.

A sad ending to a once great vendor.
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1957 Vintage Baja Bug.
2110cc engine, 40 IDF Webers on Gene Berg manifolds, Engle 110 cam, Bugpack 40×35.5 Street Pro Heads, W8CC plugs, 12.5 pound Flywheel, Kennedy 1700 pound pressure plate.

[JulianH]

Actually BFY did very nice restoration work, the problem was customers saying who said their cars were restored by them when infact the shop may have only done some service work to it. The legacy was customer orders not being fulfilled, nothing to do with restorations which the company had stopped doing years before it's demise.

[16CVs]

I am looking at a car that was "restored" by BFY and my customers daughter bought it. A potentially nice 60 European rag top ,complete with Semaphores ,locking column and a nice period parcel tray .
The signals do not work, the horn button is on the dash ,there are no markers lights in the in the headlights and the horn holes and signal hole were just filled with Bondo .
I can go on ,but as this thread tells ,his lasting legacy is not great . I will probably spend about 20 hours getting things working just so it is safe and functional .
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1987 Syncro Westfalia Triple knob (bastard)
1989 Syncro Tristar Triple knob "Swedish"
2013 Jetta Hybrid a true "Zwitter"
Samba member # 14980
Call anytime number 650 722 4914 .
Keep Your van running and upkept tastefully for the love of the hobby.
Don't let your van end up in an "abortions" thread.

[kiki1]

[joe13]

So who has some vent window locks for a 69 bus??? i use to go to bfy.. i remember it being a cool shop with some vintage goodies.. another victum of the EconOmy... or poor choices along the way that caught up with you.
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VW sickness

[6Kabrio7]

I agree with KDF I was shocked at what happened with BFY. When I first got seriously into the hobby they were one of the vendors I liked and trusted next to Wolfsburg West. Then their service became worse and worse along with no shipping notifications or tracking which only added to the frustration. Darren really let a lot us down sadly i'm just grateful I wasn't one of the ones who made a large purchase.
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67 Convertible July 67 Yukon Yellow
67 Sedan May 67 Zenith blue

[kdfwagon]

I remember going to BFY alot in 2004 and 2005. I am a truck driver and would stop by there every time I was in southern Cal. I bought a ton of parts from Darren. In my opinion he was alittle quirky but I found him very entertaining. In fact I remember he had purchased these Swedish pumps that used a 36 horse power engine and one was sitting in the showroom. He actually talked to me about transporting them across country for him but it never panned out. I had left the hobby for awhile to concentrate on my trucking business only to be fustrated because I could not find the BFY website. Then I came back home, The Samba.com, and to my surprise read this thread. All I can say is wow... I would have never expected it to end like this. I miss the BFY I use to always make time for.
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Brianna's Grandpa

[whynotvw]

It's been years since I checked this thread. I remember getting a lot of heat for posting this thread. Never thought it would turn out like this. I Feel bad for all the people that lost their time and money. I guess my complaint was legit after all.

[VintageVeeDub65]

I just ran across this thread today, and I would like to express my feelings on BFY. I have ordered from these guys for a long time and about two years ago I placed another order with them. My stuff finally arrived after three months. I was given the run around during that time and was told that some stuff was on back order. I was also told that part of my order was in the mail. Anyway, i was given the wrong shocks, and my tail light seals never came. I guess they are still on back order too.. Thank God we still have WW and some other reputable parts suppliers!! I hope the guys from BFY learn a lesson.. Life is a big circle, jackass!!!
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60 Ragtop Beetle
62 Vert Beetle
63 Beetle

[bugninva]

[ALLWAGONS]

This is Corporate America. That's why as soon as some business start making money they become incorporated, if the business bombs, the owner is not liable for any bad debts, specially if he declares bankruptcy. he can keep his own assets, but it's the business that goes under. Now don't start writing five pages on different chapters of bankruptcy, just pointing out how it is all legal. I am self employed business owner and I have chosen NOT to become incorporated. Some people may consider this dumb, but I have integrity and if my business owes money, I owe money and I will pay. BTW, I don't owe anyone money.
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I'd be UNSTOPPABLE if not for Law Enforcement and PHYSICS.

I recycle old cars and parts, other than when I rot, that's as Green as I am going to get.

Thanks to my Tesla driving neighbors, I feel more relaxed driving my SUBURBAN and old VW's.

Everything sounds good on paper!

[bugnut68]

[Dave24]

Neither.

['55oval]

Any word on these crooks?? Are they on the chain gang yet??
steveo

[mr.burnout]

i just printed out my custumer complaint form and will be sending it in shortly. here is a link to the form http://www.orangecountyda.com/docs/consumer_complaint_form__2_.pdf

[e_bingel]

I think he went to Denver Colorado He has a house there. His house was for sale in Orange last i herd. I don't know anything else.
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Ethan
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DBK

[keifernet]