FYI Only: Rodney Dickman Automotive Accessories - Updated Plans (Page 1/2)
Vintage-Nut DEC 29, 11:03 PM
I been reminding members that Rodney will close his doors in spring of 2024.......

From his site, this is Rodney's Updated Plans:

quote
I have not found anyone to take over my business. So:
We built a home in Denver. A 55+ community. We have had it for two years now. We go there for a week every two months or so. But we are not happy there. The lot size is minuscule and I only have a smallish 3 car garage. So we are selling it and looking for a different home in the Denver area. An existing home. We do not want to go thru a new build again. We both want a larger yard and most important is I want more garage space. All my life I have been a garage person and I like to make things etc. Ideally we will find a home where I can add on to the existing garage or put in an additional garage. So my plan now is to take my business to Denver. But: I am not making much of anything anymore in my shop here. I am also not restocking many items. You may have noticed some of my parts are out of stock now. That trend will continue. Once in Denver I will probably just sell out my existing stock and as I run out of things discontinue them. Hopefully this all happens in 2024. Once we start moving out of our home here in Wi there will be a few/several months when I will not be able to sell anything.

--
Thank you,
Rodney Dickman

------------------
Original Owner of a Silver '88 GT
Under 'Production Refurbishment' @ 136k Miles

1985 Fiero GT DEC 30, 11:32 AM
Yeah I've telling fellow Fiero owners that, as well as buying everything I could possibly need, on the plus side, he is likely getting much more business very recently, I've gotten like $800, all the bushings for the pedals, shifter, transmission linkage, new shifter cables, EGR tube, stickers, speakers, etc. And all of that has made a very very noticeable improvement to the look and feel of my Fiero, hopefully improves how it drives as well, but it's winter, so I can't test that. Like with any retailer there is the occasional shipping error, sending the wrong item, or missing something, etc. But the way that Rodney handles that is superb, no questions asked, just resends what was ordered. All of his parts are the highest quality, and 99% of the time do exactly what they are supposed to do exactly the way they are supposed to do it (only part I've found that doesn't seem to meet original specs is the early clutch master, still feels really good, and I still use it) Thank you Rodney for all the work that you have done for the Fiero community, it is sad that you are having to close down to retire. Did you ever think of remaining owner and "hiring" someone or a group of people to do the actual work, run the website, pack orders and assemble products, that way you would have a reasonable passive income from the business, and not need to do everything. It would end up being no more work for you to do that then it would be to train the person who buys the whole business, and then it would be able to keep its name and everything. Just a thought.
Cliff Pennock DEC 30, 11:54 AM
"A small 3 car garage".

I would give my left nut arm for a small ONE car garage.
cvxjet DEC 30, 12:33 PM
It seems like the Fiero Store should be interested in taking over Rodney's operation- maybe not any new development, but the stuff already perfected...
sdgdf DEC 30, 09:36 PM

quote
Originally posted by cvxjet:

It seems like the Fiero Store should be interested in taking over Rodney's operation- maybe not any new development, but the stuff already perfected...



Can we organize something where a bunch of us just keep calling them and bugging them until they do this?

I’m really not looking forward to Rodney’s business being gone. It’s going to be a lot harder owning Fieros very soon
fierogt28 DEC 30, 09:37 PM
Actually, that would be great if TFS would / could step up and buy Rodney’s business. It’s in their area of expertise, and some parts they currently don’t offer.
Technically, I’m worried in various ways about Rodney’s business because for over 15 years, I have bought so many 88 specific parts for my 88s, and if he didn’t offer these reproduction parts, my 88s would of been the cars they are. All simple parts no longer from GM.
Rodney has always had reproduction parts that were superior than GM replacements, especially the shift cables, and clutch master and slave cylinders.
Many other odds and ends he sells making our Fiero better in every way.
Every American “speciality” or unique car out there should have a guy with a parts business like Rodney’s to keep the hobby alive for car enthusiasts like us.
He does deserve a retirement party in his 3 door garage. 😋

------------------
fierogt28

88 GT, Loaded, 5-speed.
88 GT, 5-speed. Beechwood interior, All original.

1985 Fiero GT DEC 30, 11:26 PM
It would be great if the Fiero store was able to, but the Fiero store is a business, without as much personality, Rodney's stuff is clearly made with love and care, and if someone who didn't care as much or a bigger business like TFS bought it, unfortunately quality would inevitably go downhill, and there would be nothing that could be done about it, and no one's fault particularly, just the difference between mom/pop shop and Walmart, except that that mom/pop shop is rivaling "Walmart's" product list, while maintaining quality. Pretty much impossible, and amazing that Rodney lasted so long. Putting care into a dozen products distributed in one town is one thing, but that same amount of care into hundreds of products shipped many times over, all over the world for decades is extremely impressive.
sdgdf DEC 31, 12:23 AM

quote
Originally posted by fierogt28:

Actually, that would be great if TFS would / could step up and buy Rodney’s business. It’s in their area of expertise, and some parts they currently don’t offer.
Technically, I’m worried in various ways about Rodney’s business because for over 15 years, I have bought so many 88 specific parts for my 88s, and if he didn’t offer these reproduction parts, my 88s would of been the cars they are. All simple parts no longer from GM.
Rodney has always had reproduction parts that were superior than GM replacements, especially the shift cables, and clutch master and slave cylinders.
Many other odds and ends he sells making our Fiero better in every way.
Every American “speciality” or unique car out there should have a guy with a parts business like Rodney’s to keep the hobby alive for car enthusiasts like us.
He does deserve a retirement party in his 3 door garage. 😋




What kind of parts do people probably need to stock up on? Both of mine are 88s. So far I’m only thinking of getting those headlight motor bushings and clutch master/slave cyls with adjustable banjos etc.
TheDigitalAlchemist DEC 31, 12:26 AM
Rodney Dickman, I LOVE you.

Thank you for helping keep several of our Fieros on the road the past few decades.

You are the best.

ps - did I mention I LOVE you? sorry..... but I DO! xoxo (can you feel my wife's endless jealousy?)

#whoopsie

(hope someone is able to keep it going)
cam-a-lot JAN 01, 10:03 AM

quote
Originally posted by sdgdf:


What kind of parts do people probably need to stock up on? Both of mine are 88s. So far I’m only thinking of getting those headlight motor bushings and clutch master/slave cyls with adjustable banjos etc.



You are too late. Pretty much all the 88 specific/rare stuff is sold out