Rene Harger's back in business

[mbstude]

Rene and Bonita Harger are back doing original upholstery. Here at the Ashville meet, I saw the two of them with a booth full of original type Stude interior bits. Now under the name "Southeast Studebaker". I asked Rene what was going on, and all he'd tell me was that the non-compete clause from his previous business has been nullified.

https://www.southeaststudebaker.com

Matthew Burnette
Hazlehurst, GA

[jimmijim8]

Great news. jimmijim

Stude Junkie+++++++Do it right the f$$$$ Time. Never mind. Just do it right. When youre done your done. You'll know it.

[Dick Steinkamp]

I find it hard to believe that high end Studebaker upholstery will generate enough volume to support TWO vendors. I wish both companies luck, but I think it will be a tough go.

Dick Steinkamp
Bellingham, WA

[Roscomacaw]

Well, the question that begs asking is whether or not anyone here has had or knows of someone who's had work done by the other guys - the NEW Phantom.[^]


1957 Transtar 1/2ton
1963 Cruiser
1960 Larkvertible V8
1958 Provincial wagon
1953 Commander coupe
1957 President two door

[barnlark]

I've had some. I've seen their work close up and talked to them often at meets. They are within an hour of my house, too. They have a large stock of original material from the original business, too. Very nice, committed to quality folks. There's a story to go along with that original business transaction, however.

[Dan White]

I bought a carpet set from the "new" Phantom and was well impressed with the quality and efforts made by the new folks to make sure it was absolutely correct. I agree with Dick I find it hard to believe the market is big enough for two high enders plus at least two mid-priced ones.

Dan White
64 R1 GT
64 R2 GT

[53k]

quote:Originally posted by Mr.Biggs

Well, the question that begs asking is whether or not anyone here has had or knows of someone who's had work done by the other guys - the NEW Phantom.[^]

Actually, the question could be asked about the old Phantom. The previous previous owner of my '64 Daytona convertible was quite unhappy about the front seats done by the old Phantom. For one, they were done in '63 style rather than '64 and the vinyl used was very light weight compared to the rest of the original upholstery. When he complained he got a "so what" response.



Paul Johnson, Wild and Wonderful West Virginia. '64 Daytona Wagonaire, '64 Daytona convertible, '53 Commander Starliner, Museum R-4 engine, '62 Gravely Model L, '72 Gravely Model 430

[bige]

I bought a turquoise Avanti interior from the Harger Phantom. The turquoise dye started coming off while I was installing it. I thought it was me but now that it has worn away from any area that actually gets any kind of use I know that I pissed $2,000+ away. Ask me who I would do business with...

ErnieR


On its way to a 15.097 Island Dragway Great Meadows NJ Spring 2006.

[wcarroll@outrageous.net]

Then there's the Rack & Pinion front end kit they brought to market and sold which is now being sold by Slick Street Stuff.

Buyers beware -it is not completely bolt-on as advertised and it has some serious design flaws (they can be addressed but for $2000+ you shouldn't have to deal with such issues)
[V]

http://community.webshots.com/user/s2dbaker?vhost=community

[bondobilly]

This is an interesting turn of events. By the time everyone of you start slaminng me I will some where over the North Atlantic. I had interiors for my 56J made by BOTH COMPANIES, one car two sets of interiors. One made it wrong and did not use my NOS stainless steel I supplied and used my old stuff and sold my good stuff on E-Bay, the other company re-made the interior but did not have the right mylar so it isn't a correct $1500 set of panels.What angers me so much as I was told that they were "holding the last of the correct mylar for me". When I got to York, before they opened the box I was informed that "some body in the company used my mylar for someone else". The way I see it both comapnies have less than three or four workers and if my name was on the mylar why was it given away or sold away. One company made me a new carpet, but screwed it up by using a BLACK rubber foot pad when all 56J's had matching color rubber on the carpeting. This incorrect carpet cost me $500, and does not look like it will fit correctly. Since two Christmas seasons ago I have heard rumblings... rumble rumble rumble (Stand Freberg Presents The Unites States od America 196?)

A minmium of 8 people from below the Mason Dixon Line knew this was happening, and two from the Upper US also knew about this.

I have the only set of $3200 interior panels that are still incorrect. I am very lucky I don't take the HFH to Studebker shows. Where we take it nobody knows what it is and say how nice it is, and I grin

[buddymander]

certainly not with your "help" Dick; considering the interior in that Lark...

[Dick Steinkamp]

quote:Originally posted by buddymander

certainly not with your "help" Dick; considering the interior in that Lark...

Dick Steinkamp
Bellingham, WA

[barnlark]

Some ugly stories above. I did have one dealing 10 years ago. Wrong vinyl. Sewn well, but looked like the vinyl was cheapie stuff from Tijuana. He did take it back and reimbursed my deposit. If it's wrong, send it back.

[58PackardWagon]

Nicole and Nick at Phantom did an absolutely outstanding job for me. I took everything to South Bend a few years ago in my trailer because of the mouse smell. They bagged it and took it home. It is an interior for my 63 R2 Lark Custom trim line. They did not have the pattern for the dielectric process so we had one made. I received the interior about 7 months later (which was agreed upon on the front side) and it is absolutely positively perfect and very, very high show quality. They price was very reasonable. They dipped the metal, painted it, retied everything, used extra pad for a nice ride, used quality material with the correct grain and thickness. I couldn't say more, their quality and communication were beyond my expectations!



57 & 58 Packards and Larks

[T-CAB]

I Purchase a complete blue interior for my 1964 Daytona 4-door. The door panels were dead on. Only a pro could tell the difference from NOS. I have not installed the seats yet. They look good. They did not have the correct Daytona Cloth, so had to use Commander cloth. Again only a Stude nut would know the diference.

The only items I did not like were the sunvisors. The material was too white.

T-Cab

[/IMG]