$459 for rear CST side panels?

[Green Monster]

The holes in my current rear CST panels from the previous owner's installation of 6X9's are driving me crazy. I just got replacement carpet and figured I should replace the panels while I'm at it. Looked around and http://www.brotherstrucks.com is the only vendor I can find that carries the panels.
$459. That is increadable. I was thinking $250, but $459 + $28 for shipping? C'mon. What's up with that? I don't get it. Why so pricey?

[vtblazer]

They've been @ 500 bucks ever since I can remember.

IMO, they are big $$ because they can be.

Where else ya gonna buy em? They have the market unfourtunately.

[blazerboy72]

Does anyone know which company reproduces these?

[jakeslim]

I would think that if they were cheaper, they would sell a ton more. I doubt the cost is anywhere near the retail price, but could be wrong?

[special-K]

These are Blazer only,that`s why they`re fairly expensive.Compare to a door panel,which is much smaller to begin with.They are the same on a Blazer,Panel truck,Suburban,P/U,Cab`n`Chassis,10-60 series.The first generation Blazers were only made 4 years with more than one design and only a portion were CSTs.It`s a low production restoration part,not a service part.It`s not like you "need" them.If you want them bad enough,they are the only way to have a really fine stock interior and they will help increase the value of a Blazer/Jimmy to a higher level.They are large and delicate,$28 from California sounds resonable.Guys that are in this fairly limited specialty market need to make money to keep supplying us.I understand sticker shock.But if you think about it,it`s not unreasonable.Look what people pay for bucket seats or buddy buckets that need rebuilt & covers.Look what a pair of restored buckets & console go for,a new dash pad,or a reproduction steering wheel.To me it`s all in line,not cheap.I wonder if that $9,500 K/5 you posted would be worthy of the expense of these panels.I hope I`m not offending,I`m just answering a question,giving some perspective,and defending a board vendor a little,too.Where would we be w/o them?

[jakeslim]

Originally Posted by jakeslim

I would think that if they were cheaper, they would sell a ton more. I doubt the cost is anywhere near the retail price, but could be wrong?

Let me rephrase my statement. I'm not criticizing their pricing. It is their product. I am suggesting that if these were cheaper, more would sell....I'd buy some at less than $300 for example. That being said, I do not now the cost so the above statement is just an opinion. These are not NOS or original, these are Mfg'd so there is always negotiotion involved with cost. It is possible to make more money at less cost.

MFG'ing cost is driven by qty of orders as you know. Perhaps a vendor could approach it as a pre-order situation or exploration of potential demand.

No issues though with said vendor or any other here. It is their business!

[Classic Heartbeat]

Those panels are hand made with the original walrus grain material with original saddle scroll pattern embossed in them. (In the USA) Walrus grain material is no longer being reproduced, so once it is gone, it is gone. The price, and where they are made reflects that. Large numbers of these panels can not be reproduced, because they would soon be out of the material. This is why if you try to purchase blue seat covers from this manufacturer there is an additional $50.00 charge just for the color. (because they are almost out of the blue) WES

[bouncytruck]

It all breaks down to SUPPLY & DEMAND!

Green Monster - if all that is wrong with your current panels is the speaker holes, I'm sure you could sell those to another board member to help off-set the cost of the reprops.

[Green Monster]

I'm not bashing the vendor... I was just surprised at the price being almost $500. Limited market, I understand. But Wes put a better perspective on things indicating the walrus material is limited. Now it starts to make sense. Basically, buy them now while you can. They will either run out or the price will go up.

Who is the manufacturer Wes? Are their seat covers better than others? I could use a nice set of font seat covers, mine keep cracking.

[Classic Heartbeat]

pm sent

[jakeslim]

Thanks for the explanation Wes. That helps....heck, makes me want to buy some now that you explained the walrus grain availability. Is this the same material used to make the seat covers?

Also, i'm sure you may not know, but how limited is this material if someone wanted a roll of it?

[71RestoRod]

Don't know how bad you want the original look, but if you have an old panel to use as a pattern it's not tough to make your own. I used automotive panel board and, using a spray adhesive, covered it with a thin layer of foam and then vinyl. A local upholstery shop had several types of black vinyl including the walrus grain which matched the seats perfectly. All told, the materials were well under $100.

In my case, I'm not a big fan of the saddle scroll pattern anyway. I replaced the door panels with the simple ABS plastic ones.. and the seats with houndstooth. These ended up being exactly what I wanted.

This is not the best picture but you get the idea...

[jakeslim]

I have original panels, but they are not originally black so I painted them with vinyl paint. They are in excellent shape though.

I would want to purchase roll of new walrus in black to mak new panels using mine as templates. Something tells me it would be cheaper to do this

[Green Monster]

Originally Posted by 71RestoRod

Don't know how bad you want the original look, but if you have an old panel to use as a pattern it's not tough to make your own. I used automotive panel board and, using a spray adhesive, covered it with a thin layer of foam and then vinyl. A local upholstery shop had several types of black vinyl including the walrus grain which matched the seats perfectly. All told, the materials were well under $100.

Resto Rod:
Your interior looks great. I love the seats and carpet. The smooth panels work with your theme since you got rid of the scroll pattern. I'm kinda nuts about having things look original... it's an illness, I swear. Since I know the scroll pattern CST covers exist and are suppossed to be, I have to have them. Yours look really nice though.

What type of backing did you get on your carpet? Latex (soft) or Poly (stiff)? Just curious because I purchased the molded poly backing carpet set with some extra material in latex so I could wrap my speaker boxes under my seats. I'm starting to think I should have purchased all latex backed carpet, it seems to be easier to work with and I could get the carpet to conform to the floor better.

[71RestoRod]

Originally Posted by Green Monster

What type of backing did you get on your carpet?

It must be the latex (flexible). Whatever comes on the ACC replacement carpet. It was easy to work with.

[LUV2XCLR8]

I have a set for "GQ" that the PO purchased, very nice pieces, but big $

[Green Monster]

They look nice... I really want a set now.

[jkade]

I feel good now about only paying $860 for my whole interior job and they made me the panels. I kind[ATTACH][/ATTACH]s went with the factory look or not.

[red71cheyenne]

Do they make them in that dark green like your seats, Green Monster?

Would be cool to see a set of them. I'm going to make mine like Resto did. Diane made me a pattern of her side panels before she sold her Blazer and thats what I'll use. I'll just cover them in the same color blue as my seat covers. The seats will all have to be recovered anyway, and this will make it all match.

[Green Monster]

According to Brother's website, they make green that will match. I know it says 70-71 door panels, but this is the color selection that was offered on their site.

[Green Monster]

I told myself and my wife have to get these panels before they become obsolete. I finally broke down an ordered the panels from Brothers. $459 for the panels and $60 for S&H. Grand total = $520. Two hours later I get a phone call.

"Mr. Green Monster, this is JC from Brothers Trucks. I'm calling about the green rear Blazer panels you ordered this morning. We don't have any in stock."

I'm pissed... thinking I missed the boat on getting the panels.

Then he says, "I can get them in two to three weeks from our supplier."


Cool... I sure hope they are what I expect them to be. Can't wait.
The 6x9 holes bother me.

[lilpup69chevy]

they charge what they want because they can and they know you will pay it cuz where else you gonna go??? they got ya by the balls in other words

[LUV2XCLR8]

Originally Posted by Green Monster

and $60 for S&H.

Taht is cheap all things considered, I hope they are not damaged

[red71cheyenne]

I still can't wait to see them in there. Hurry up UPS!

[special-K]

They are expensive,alright.That`s not to say they`re not worth every penny.Unless I had a totally original restoration,I wouldn`t let the speakers bother me and just enjoy the tunes.