Basically, me and my Dad have thought and discussed this a few times now cos to our knowledge, there isnt much in the way of Ford only breakers in Scotland.

Just through friends and word of mouth, we get asked fairly regularly for parts or cars which sometimes we have, sometimes we havent. Just curious how this would fare as a business venture. I've read about a few places in England like Mad for it etc which have built up over the years and are now successful companies - as mentioned to our knowledge there isnt any places like that around here.

I think to start with, the emphasis would be on breaking cars and gettin the stock together etc along with some routine maintenance and see how it went.

Any opinions or advice would be very much appreciated as its something we've been thinking about more and more recently.

CheeRS

 

led to believe that they are no longer in business

steve

 

go for it, might be an idea to at least start with a few different makes than just fords though?

 

Planning consent may be an issue as to do things properly you will need a change of use consent - unless you already have that for your site.

Good plan though.

 

Thanks so far - not got site or that as yet. still an idea but thanks for help.

Anythin else?

 

As said above, planning permission for the lans if you pan to keep the cars in large grounds.

Paul at North Yorks Spares does well, and i being from Scotland would be interested.

Maybe worth speaking to him?

But i wouldn't leave it to only fords, you could try and specialise in the RS / ST models, but you wouldn't survive on fords alone i don't think.

I think it can be a very lucrative, but very competitive market.

 

Aye good point, It would be all Fords covering everything, RS/XR down to base models etc

Was in the scrappy the other day and a guy got charged Ł50 for 2 mondeo headlights and he had to remove them!!!! I'd charge about Ł10 each and they would be off and cleaned up!

Yeah, the specialists like Paul and Jay is it? seem to be doin ok just cant think of anythin about this area that does it.

 

Nothing ventured , nothing gained , is all id say

 

Keep it small, build up stock and grow as and when you need too.

Do a mix of vehicles, keep the market open, but could specialise in a few makes.

Ebay would be a good way to keep stock moving and reach nation wide audience, plus get a website done )maybe one that you can constantly update yourself and have the link on the ebay auction.

The servicing side will mean alot more in terms of land, insurances equipment etc etc. but could be something to expand into

 

Not got a Scooby about what headlights are worth.... but my tip is don't be toooo cheap!!!!

 

Yeah, don't give stuff away, always make sure you at least break even for what you bought the car for, otherwise it's all for nothing.

Considering that i think if you were to buy a set of headlights new from ford, you would be looking at around Ł100. So don't under sell the stuff!

 

I sold an xr3i to a ford breaks a few years back, 2 weeks later i needed a set of clocks, they wanted Ł25, I only got Ł50 of them for the whole car

They let me have them for Ł15, but to be fair, that is business, and the Ł25 was about right, and the Ł50 I got paid was scrap value and that is what the car was.

 

Lots of rules and licensing apply to anyone breaking cars now - and that means H&S and environmental busybodies sniffing around and raking in money for compliance costs.

 

AYe thats true have to check out the costs and legal aspects and that.

Headlights were just an example, but at the moment there are loads of Ł50 mondeos and escorts so just thinkin about how much you'd make back

 

Would be good to have a trustworthy breaker in the area, heard too many stories like your own, with people being over charged.

Some good points have been made:

- Keep your market open, don't cut yourself off from an particular segment of the market until you know where most of the money can be made, then once found try and establish yourselves

Good luck if it all goes ahead.

I must say you do have a knack of finding good cars and parts

 

Deffo give it a try , as already mentioned us local jock fordy peeps will be interested obvioulsy but try at website trading etc aswell

maybe need to do more than ford tho ,usual suspects vauxhall,pugs etc common cars that peeps modify,crash,restore bla bla bla

best of luck if you do it

 

Think there is a place just up the road from you in Kinglassie?

I have been a few times (although, not recently). Think he also does Peugeots.