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vaughn bros.
Samba Member
Joined: October 13, 2003
Posts: 2398
Location: Hickory, NC
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 Posted: Mon May 30, 2011 7:28 pm Post subject: Vaughn Bros Z-Plates story. |
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This is my Z-Plates story.  1992. It was a mess. My brother and I started making a Spring Plate step up bracket and thought the whole world would want them.  What a joke. Anyway they worked great and we had a blast traveling to bug shows and setting up a little table. We had Z-Plates, T-Shirts and Flyers with our own artwork.
We had to have a demo car for testing and ads. We had a buddy with a nice 65 that didnt care what we did to his car. We installed them, set the toe, and its off to the road. We did a cool photo shoot. Actualy it was pretty first class. I took the photos using a few cameras. We settled on one and used it in the ad.
Started by having a local shop Laser cut our design. We made 75 complete sets ( qty 450 pieces ). The shop owner thought he would be seeing us each week with another order. So much so that he included a picture of them in his business brochure.
We welded them up in a nice jig, boxed them with bolts, instructions and a disclaimer.
The beginings of the artsy design for the ad. Used the "logo" on a big hand drawn colored poster (still have it in the shop). This was pre computer days for most of us. If we could have just waited another year INTERNET DAMMIT!
We decided to have a try at advertising in HotVW's. The lady on the magazine end could not understand what we wanted our ad to look like. No Fax No Computer, just verbal. It was a mess. It was our fault mostly. We actualy had pasted on layers of paper to create the ad. HotVW's knew they were dealing with first timers but didnt offer to help. Not even at $850.00 for 2 months up front. So when it appeared in the magazine, it was a joke. Even I counldnt understand it. oh Well WTF. The ad was layed out with scissors and kinkos.
There was also a table top display made from a 50lb cast gear. We sacraficed a axle for the display. Display is sitting around the shop somewhere.
We ended up selling all but 8 sets. Im using one set now. We sold all of the shirts except for the "small" size.
Last edited by vaughn bros. on Mon May 30, 2011 9:28 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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lovethatconvertible
Samba Member
Joined: August 22, 2008
Posts: 1434
Location: Las Vegas N. V.
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| Posted: Mon May 30, 2011 8:14 pm Post subject: |
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| So that was a learning curve hey. Wonder if any Z units are still in use besides the ones you have? Your Artwork I find is always amazing plus you got the skills to pull it off paper and make it happen. Fun Story from the Life and Times of the Vaughn Bros. |
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vaughn bros.
Samba Member
Joined: October 13, 2003
Posts: 2398
Location: Hickory, NC
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| Posted: Mon May 30, 2011 8:23 pm Post subject: |
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| lovethatconvertable wrote: |
| So that was a learning curve hey. Wonder if any Z units are still in use besides the ones you have? Your Artwork I find is always amazing plus you got the skills to pull it off paper and make it happen. Fun Story from the Life and Times of the Vaughn Bros. |
Thank you sir. We used to have a map with thumbtacks in the cities where they shipped. One set went to Japan. One set went to France. Most went to California. Some sold at the shows but not many (too high priced). We stopped because we became scared of some 16 year old getting killed and the investigator see's our name on the suspension. But it was fun. There are a lot of similar units on the market nowdays. Its a universal bracket, nothing ground breaking. |
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touchdowntodd
Samba Member
Joined: April 13, 2009
Posts: 283
Location: milwaukee
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| Posted: Mon May 30, 2011 8:27 pm Post subject: |
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i really like your design.. too bad you dont still offer them.. ive been seaching for a 1.5" drop for my car
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mine - '73 Thing .. brms/drop coming
LOOKING for a pre 67 bug |
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vaughn bros.
Samba Member
Joined: October 13, 2003
Posts: 2398
Location: Hickory, NC
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| Posted: Mon May 30, 2011 8:33 pm Post subject: |
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| touchdowntodd wrote: |
| i really like your design.. too bad you dont still offer them.. ive been seaching for a 1.5" drop for my car |
Thanks. Your more than welcome to copy or improve them. They work and were real simple. 1.5 inches is just before the issues can start. Just enough to notice.
I made a few Spring Plates right after the Z-Plates. But they were even a worse mess. I'll stick to the sidelines and let the pro's handle all the big decisions from now on.
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Skim
Rants Master
Joined: April 15, 2001
Posts: 17095
Location: GFK 31 Year Vet
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| Posted: Mon May 30, 2011 10:09 pm Post subject: |
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interesting...
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GFK
Samba since before the towers collapsed. Still here.
1953 Kabriolet
1954 Sunroof
1959 Lowlight Ghia vert
1960 Lt Grey Double Cab SMZ LEGIT
1963 Deluxe Turkis Walk Thru 15 Window OG Paint |
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rgdedge
Samba Member
Joined: October 17, 2006
Posts: 865
Location: Seymour, TN
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| Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 2:24 pm Post subject: |
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I remember talking to you at Farmington in the early 90's. I still wear the T-shirt and it was part of the idea for the volksrod I built.
Tim |
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Reddd
Samba Member
Joined: November 27, 2010
Posts: 79
Location: Midlothian, Tx
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| Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 3:58 pm Post subject: |
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good story....
| touchdowntodd wrote: |
| i really like your design.. too bad you dont still offer them.. ive been seaching for a 1.5" drop for my car |
jerfab makes the spring plates with the drops. |
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touchdowntodd
Samba Member
Joined: April 13, 2009
Posts: 283
Location: milwaukee
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| Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 4:31 pm Post subject: |
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jerfab makes GREAT ones, but i want a small drop like 1.5"
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mine - '73 Thing .. brms/drop coming
LOOKING for a pre 67 bug |
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Motomazzo
Samba Member
Joined: June 02, 2009
Posts: 792
Location: Texas
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| Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 4:41 pm Post subject: |
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Sell the idea to someone like Pete at Airkewld and charge them small royalties on your 1.5" idea. Just a thought.
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Be Plant-Strong!! Watch "Forks Over Knives" on Netflix
'66 Sedan Project - http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=410718
R.I.P. - Mikayla. I miss you Baby girl. |
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vaughn bros.
Samba Member
Joined: October 13, 2003
Posts: 2398
Location: Hickory, NC
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| Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 9:12 pm Post subject: |
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| rgdedge wrote: |
I remember talking to you at Farmington in the early 90's. I still wear the T-shirt and it was part of the idea for the volksrod I built.
Tim |
Whats happening Tim!! I checked the shop attic and I must have 20 of the small shirts left. They all have a dirty haze thing everywhere. I may send you some to use as shop rags. See ya at Farmington. |
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Joe Bence
Samba Member
Joined: March 14, 2004
Posts: 501
Location: San Diego, CA
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| Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2011 1:53 am Post subject: |
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| I remember the ad. Very interesting to hear the story behind them. I was in High school at the time, I thought it was a good idea. I can’t believe you only sold 8 sets. It looks like you put a lot of time and $$$$$$$ into them. $850 for two months of HotVWs ouch, $850 was a lot of money back then. Back in those pre internet pre Samba days it was probably virtually imposable for the little guy to put a product out there and make it fly the internet/Samba changed that. If you put them on the market today you would sell a lot more than 8 sets………..Joe |
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chickengeorge
Samba Member
Joined: August 18, 2004
Posts: 5676
Location: Spokompton Warshington
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| Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2011 7:10 am Post subject: |
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| Joe Bence wrote: |
| I can’t believe you only sold 8 sets. |
"all but 8". |
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Joe Bence
Samba Member
Joined: March 14, 2004
Posts: 501
Location: San Diego, CA
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| Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2011 11:07 am Post subject: |
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| Ooooooh, I missed that. Late night posting gets me every time. So 67 sets sold that's not so bad……………..Joe |
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rgdedge
Samba Member
Joined: October 17, 2006
Posts: 865
Location: Seymour, TN
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| Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2011 6:24 am Post subject: |
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| vaughn bros. wrote: |
| rgdedge wrote: |
I remember talking to you at Farmington in the early 90's. I still wear the T-shirt and it was part of the idea for the volksrod I built.
Tim |
Whats happening Tim!! I checked the shop attic and I must have 20 of the small shirts left. They all have a dirty haze thing everywhere. I may send you some to use as shop rags. See ya at Farmington. |
That would be cool. See ya.
Tim |
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lawn ninja
Samba Member
Joined: January 02, 2006
Posts: 1020
Location: Round Rock, TX
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| Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2011 7:28 am Post subject: |
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Funny thing is I still have a set of these laying around in storage.
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Jason
My 64 1500 S Notchback project here
My 58 sedan project here
My 63 Ghia here |
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volksgroove
Samba Member
Joined: October 19, 2010
Posts: 239
Location: Apopka, FL
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| Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2012 3:32 am Post subject: |
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hey, man... thanks for the kind words on my thread regarding my drop plates, and the lame ass accusations from a certain "original" drop plate creator that thinks he created the idea...
I love your story, and you inspire me to continue developing our own products for the VW community... our drop plates will be available mid Sept. hopefully...
and you should definitely get back out in the shop and create some more cool products!
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1969 Riviera "Ethel"
1965 beetle father/son build
1988 Scirocco 16v father/son build |
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vaughn bros.
Samba Member
Joined: October 13, 2003
Posts: 2398
Location: Hickory, NC
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| Posted: Thu Feb 06, 2014 8:25 am Post subject: |
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Found our original prototypes. These were the first set we made using 1/4 plate, saw, file, and a drill. They were super heavy but they worked. Thought I would put the picture in the thread because they got hauled off to the scrap yard with a ton of other scrap steel this week.
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davebuckholts
Samba Member
Joined: February 06, 2004
Posts: 2173
Location: South GA
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vaughn bros.
Samba Member
Joined: October 13, 2003
Posts: 2398
Location: Hickory, NC
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| Posted: Thu Feb 06, 2014 11:53 am Post subject: |
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| davebuckholts wrote: |
| Why the small holes around the bolt mounting holes, and all but one one of them? |
We made this first set to be "dead on"?!? right where we wanted them to sit. So during actual install, one hole had to be elongated. But we were prepared to elongate all 6, the hard way (drill then file).  |
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