After more than 27 years of working on Fieros, I've decided that I'm going to semi-retire.
Over the years, we've build over 500 V-8 Fieros & I've sold at least 2000 V-8 conversion kits. Many of my customers are now my best friends.
I still love Fieros & I'll always have one & I'll still be playing with them until I die.
I'm getting older, my wifes health is not good & I'm sick & tired of living in the snow belt. I hope to never push a snow blower again.
Over the years, we've built some very special Fieros for some very nice people.
I've been lucky to have 2 great employees (Rob & Kris) who can & have built some really nice cars. I feel (know) that they are the best at building custom Fieros in the country. There is nothing that they can't fabricate or build for a Fiero. I'm sure that they would like to continue to work on Fieros. However, I'm sure that they could work & do well at any Hot Rod or Custom Car or restoration shop in the world. I can't get over how good Rob & Kris are & how lucky I am to have had them working for me. It is with great sadness that I write this today.
My plan is to wind this operation down over the next 2 months.
If someone comes along & wants to buy me out. I think that Rob & Kris, under the right circumstances, would love to continue to build Fieros. If someone buys me out I'll just retire & help the new owner as much as I can & as much as he wants.
Otherwise, I'm going to sell off my non V-8 operations & continue to sell V-8 kits & support my many customers. (<~~ that's what I call semi-retirement) In semi-retirement, I'll sell some V-8 kits & maybe install 2 or 3 a year.
What's my plan? In retirement or semi-retirement, I'm going to move out to Las Vegas to be close to family & I'm going to keep participating in the Fiero community.
I'm going to sell off all the body kit molds & tooling that I can't handle myself & also that can help to make the the move easier. I'm not planning to sell my ChopTop Fiero but everything else is for sale.
I know that there are people out there that may have been planning to have us build a car for them. It's too late to get it in now, but if you speak up now, you may help someone to decide to continue this operation. Everyone knows that Rob & Kris have been the guys that have been building all of the cars for several years. For those that may have been planning to have us build a car for them, I hope that someone comes along & buys the operation & keeps those guys on. Then those that have been waiting can be assured that they will still have a place where they can get their car built the way they want it by the best 2 builders in the Fiero community.
I knew this day would come, just not when. Sad that V-8 Archie could be closed, but happy for you on the retirement side of life. Good Luck from one happy customer. After 10 years still driving this one, Have a Great Day Gary
Completely floored about this event.... Archie your retirement is well deserved I wish you a long life enjoying it ......hope spomeone buy you out and continues the V8-Archie way !!! you have a PM (final order for my F40 swap) greatest regards Danyel
Wow... I'm shocked at the suddenness of the news but in retrospect, no one should be surprised. You've been the best in the business for many, many years... right from the beginning with your highly successful and brilliant V8 engine swap kits to the more recent spectacular one-off cars such as the Muira, GT40, and Dino projects (among others), as well as your ever popular, drop-dead gorgeous wide body and chop top designs.
You deserve every second of your retirement. Though your shop may not continue on, rest assured that your legacy as the premiere Fiero hot rod shop will never die. Wishing you good luck, best of health, and many years of relaxation in Vegas.
I have never met you other than to read and look at your large number of contributions to this community. wishing you the best in retirement. It has already been said your legacy will live on through the vehicles you have brought to life. Price of V8 Fiero's just went up!!!
It is sad to see another vendor closing up shoot but nice to see it being done on a positive note unlike so many others. Good luck with retirement and enjoy the nice warn weather out in Vegas.
Congratulations on your retirement , you have defiantly left your mark on the Fiero community. I'm pretty sure your shop has built more cars than any other Fiero shop in history and I really doubt anyone will ever match what you have done. I'm proud to call you a good friend and have really enjoyed the trips I have taken with you to several large Fiero shows and the many visits to your shop. Now hurry up and move to Vegas so I can come visit you. Looks like I'm going to have to make a road trip up to Rockford soon.
sad to see a good vendor go... hopefully someone keeps the finale molds alive, I was planning to saveup for that one after I buy my house in the next few months.. (probably been a year or so before I got to that point to order it tho)
ehhe any chance in retirement youd wana donate that kit? lol ..
First of all congratulations on the semi-retirement it is well deserved. You have not only been a good friend but a great supporter of NIFE and Fierorama. You, Rob and Kris have done so many innovating things and awesome designs to bring custom and V8 a new meaning in the Fiero community. You have helped out in more ways than one can express, a thank you just seems so small compared to what you have brought to the Fiero community. A standing ovation is what you deserve in my eyes for all your time and dedication to the Fiero and the Fiero community.
Enjoy your new start in Las Vegas were we may send a little snow your way from time to time so you do not forget about us in northern Illinois. We wish you, your wife and family happiness to a new beginning/ new chapter and good health.
Sincerely, Mike, Amy and Addison Kroyer
On a side note would you be ok with us posting your message to our NIFE Facebook page in case the people on there do not have a Pennocks account?
Enjoy your (semi-) retirement! If I'm ever near Las Vegas (or if you're ever in the Netherlands), let's have a beer together! I'm sure we have some things in common to nag about!
In retirement or semi-retirement, I'm going to move out to Las Vegas to be close to family & I'm going to keep participating in the Fiero community.
Sorry to see you go, you've been an icon in the fiero community, but glad you're moving out west! We'd better see your retired ass at the west coast shows every now and then..
Here's to wishing you the best on your semi-retirement. Though I have no plans to put in a V8 in my Fiero, I know TONS of people are. Here is hoping that someone does indeed buy you out, keeps your staff, continues to build V8's and puts some money in your pocket in the process, you deserve it!
Enjoy your well deserved retrirement, and feel proud of what you have created and how it has changed peoples lives, after 12 years with my V8 Fiero I still get a buzz when I drive it, and as soon as all the dam snow/salt is gone from the roads thats what I plan to do !!
------------------ 84SE, aero body, 4 speed and an injected 355 V8
Archie............ it has been a long run with lots of memories, I still laugh ever time I watch your 1st VHA tape of the #1 V8 job you did. Good luck and if you make it to the Dells this year we will have a drink together. Good times and good friend.
I knew this day might come someday. I'm happy that my car was able to visit your shop (twice) and I got my car chopped and V8 installed (well kind of) while I still could. I would love to drink a beer with you in Vegas one day!
I hope that for the Fiero Communities' sake Rob and Kris are able to continue building Fieros. If not, I hope they go to Gas Monkey Garage in Dallas and start a Fiero department. Then I wouldn't have to trailer so far the next time.
I am sorry to see that you are going to semi-retire. I believe that you are one of the must influential people in the Fiero community. I don't know how many times I have said that if I could, I would have you do a LS swap on my car.
Thank you sincerely for all you have done.
I wish you the best and I hope you stick around here
I hope someone at the very least picks up the hatch and widebody molds from you. Those were in my plan for a while, but haven't had the cash 'til more recently.
That said, on one hand, I'm sad to see you go. On the other, you've more than earned it. Congratulations and I wish you the best. Happy semi-retirement, Archie.
I knew this day might come someday. I'm happy that my car was able to visit your shop (twice) and I got my car chopped and V8 installed (well kind of) while I still could. I would love to drink a beer with you in Vegas one day!
I hope that for the Fiero Communities' sake Rob and Kris are able to continue building Fieros. If not, I hope they go to Gas Monkey Garage in Dallas and start a Fiero department. Then I wouldn't have to trailer so far the next time.
Speaking of DFW and Rob & Kris...would you guys consider relocating for the right pay...if so PM me please.
