I sure can ask now!
Preferably, I'd rather
wait and see if there's some more interest here - and I
repeat - to anyone
who is on the 59SportFury.net board - the Imperial Club - or
the WPC Club -
or any related organization, to see how much interest we can pick
up. I'd
rather approach Koni with "all guns blazing" with a significant
interest,
rather than going off half-cocked. Help, please!
At least then, we could
see at what price point Koni would
be.
John
________________________________
From: Michael Moore
<mailto:mmoore8425%40aol.com>
To:
John <mailto:spiers%40rocketmail.com>
Cc:
christopher beilby <mailto:thelastbestgenius%40hotmail.com>;
mailto:alumcantandthd%40aol.com;
mailto:l-forwardlook%40lists.psu.edu;
mailto:chrysler300%40yahoogroups.com;
mailto:63-64chryslers%40yahoogroups.com
Sent:
Tue, July 26, 2011 12:13:29 PM
Subject: Re: [FWDLK] [Chrysler300] Shocks -
Koni
Hmm.
John,
Do you think its unreasonable to say something to
them like like:
"It's a little difficult to measure the interest in
something people don't know
the cost of. Could you give me a budgetary price
for x pieces (25 sets?) of
front shocks for these cars? Some people may be
willing to buy multiple sets to
make up the volume, but they need to know
about a range of how much they cost".
I certainly understand not wanting to
exercise Koni, but its a chicken and egg
sort of thing. If the price of 50
sets was low, you'd sell out immediately. If
too high---well, we'd know that
too pretty soon.
Mike Moore
.
On Jul 26, 2011, at 8:12 AM,
John wrote:
There is no price. I wouldn't even ask unless we had enough
interest.
>
>John
>
>
>
>
>
>
________________________________
From:
Michael Moore <mailto:mmoore8425%40aol.com>
>To:
christopher beilby <mailto:thelastbestgenius%40hotmail.com>
>Cc:
mailto:spiers%40rocketmail.com; mailto:alumcantandthd%40aol.com; mailto:l-forwardlook%40lists.psu.edu;
mailto:chrysler300%40yahoogroups.com;
mailto:63-64chryslers%40yahoogroups.com
>
>Sent:
Tue, July 26, 2011 11:07:24 AM
>Subject: Re: [FWDLK] [Chrysler300] Shocks
- Koni
>
>Have they said what the price would be in a lot of 50
pieces?
>Mike Moore
>300H
>
>On Jul 26, 2011, at 7:53
AM, christopher beilby wrote:
>
>Can I suggest that for an easier
start/option, that you just look at getting
>orders for front shocks - if
so I would take two sets if the price not much more
>than a $100 a
shock.
>>
>>Konis are brilliant on the front of a car that
needs good control. I have maybe
>>3 good original 300C factory fitted
shocks, they currently not on my 300Cs. I
>>have put a pair of KYBs on
my driver 300C, but they still do not feel as good as
>>they could,
nor maybe better than the original 300C front shocks that I removed.
>>
>>My mother had new a late 50s big block Ford Ranchwagon, and we lived
up bush at
>>the time. The factory shocks lasted only around 15k miles
on aussie country bush
>>bitumen roads/tracks, this in then 70-80 mph
everyday cruise speeds.
>>And the front felt just like 300Cs with KYBS
- not out of control, but a bit
>>sloppy over dips etc. I fitted
Konis, and boy what a car it made of it - now
>>cruised everywhere at
80-90 mph on good radials. And so I put them on the rear
>>of another
newer aussie Ford V8, a hotted up one that was good for 125+ mph,
>>quarter mile in around 14 secs. And in the next few years, I did
180,000 fast
>>miles in that car, over 120k of those I worked out
recently at over 100mph
>>cruise speeds. (A cop pulled me up once,
said he had tailed me from about 1-2
>>miles behind for last 15 miles
- told me he clocked my speed never below 108mph,
>>and up to 115mph,
but after bouncing car to check shocks and seeing top quality
>>high
speed radails, said it perfectly safe, just don't do it when cops were
>>around!!) And when I removed the shocks, they were still like new re
>>axction/reaction, despite the steel casings near shotblasted/dinted
to
>>hell/nothing, by untold 100+mph stones/grit etc, never mind they
often buried in
>>dust/mud.
>>
>>Owners of 300s
that are trailer queens do not bother with Konis - but everyone
>>else, if Konis can make a shock to suit our 300s, especially the
needy 300
>>front, it will put the biggest country and town smiles on
our/your faces, it
>>will make the car 30-50% more
fun/safer.
>>I have Konis on my old early 70s Lamborghini, rear of my
BM 6 series coupe, and
>>recently I have discovered '77/78 TBirds -
the ones with 400s and C6 autos - and
>>all those combo ones lack to
be a real fun driver's/punter car is better/right
>>shocks, and if
Koni make a not too dear one for them, at least 2 of the 4 of
>>them
will get them as I can afford. A good driver performance car can be made
>>into a magic drivers/fun car with Konis - boring, more lackluster
cars, will
>>gain little from them though.
>>
>>Get
those 300 order numbers any way you/we can, you will not be disappointed.
>>Hemi and crossram 300s were just made for Konis to make them even
better fun. Go
>>for Koni fronts first, this cheaper than all 4 at
once, and if we can, then go
>>for the rears as well
later.
>>
>>my two bobs worth - backed by owning/driving over
100 cars from many
>>makers/countries - and my heavy right foot is
still younger than my
>>brain/commonsense.
>>Christopher in
Australia
>>
>>
>>
________________________________
To: mailto:mmoore8425%40aol.com
>>CC:
mailto:alumcantandthd%40aol.com;
mailto:l-forwardlook%40lists.psu.edu;
mailto:chrysler300%40yahoogroups.com;
mailto:63-64chryslers%40yahoogroups.com
>>
>>From:
mailto:spiers%40rocketmail.com
>>Date:
Tue, 26 Jul 2011 07:01:30 -0700
>>Subject: Re: [FWDLK] [Chrysler300]
Shocks - Koni
>>
>>
>>Hi Mike -
>>
>>I included you and your 300Hs in the "4-1/2" count of
possible buyers for
>these
>>Koni shocks.
>>
>>I think there is not enough interest worldwide - so far
it's me, you, another
>>person from the 300 Club Int'l, and possibly
Rick from the Forwardlook list
>>(who
>>didn't say how
many). So, I have not asked the Koni rep anything further than
>>the
initial availability question below - right now, there is no pricing and
>no
>>consideration to place these back into
production..
>>
>>The low interest in these shocks may just be
the nature of the owner of these
>>cars - most drivers of these cars
take them out on slow Sunday drives, and
>have
>>had them for
many years, when there were nice runners available for four
>weeks'
>>pay. In 2011, for many folks, paying more than a modest dinner for
two out on
>>the town for a set of four shocks is considered excessive
- and is reflected
>by
>>the near-zero interest this is
generating here.
>>
>>Myself, I get out in the cut &
thrust of I-95 in South Florida and have to
>>out-maneuver the
media-estimated 30% of drivers who have NO car insurance at
>>all. The
added control afforded by the $130-$140 KYBs have saved my butt on
>>many
>>occasions - but there's room for improvement. I
consider the KYBs good
>>insurance, and for a one-time purchase, an
excellent investment. And the car
>is
>>more pleasant and fun
to drive - I can only imagine what the Konis would be
>>like. I would
surely never go back to the stock-type shock absorber, ever.
>>
>>I am copying this discussion over onto the Forwardlook
list, and I welcome
>>anyone to bring it to the 1959 Plymouth list,
the Christine clubs, or any
>other
>>related Mopar auto
forum.
>>
>>John
>>
>>________________________________
>>
>>John,
>>I
wonder what price range they are considering.
>>
>>I paid
$800 per car set for my Jaguars (6 shocks) .
>>They made such a
terrific difference that I would be willing to buy 2 sets if
>>necessary. If they're thinking $100 each, I wonder how it would
change if we
>>thought in terms of $200 each.
>>
>>I would gladly pay $800 for a set of Koni shocks
designed by Koni for my car.
>>I also wonder just where all the same
shocks (as ours) were used originally,
>>and hopw many of those folks
we could interest.
>>Mike Moore
>>
>>On Jul 25,
2011, at 9:13 PM, John wrote:
>>
>>> CanMan &
All!
>>>
>>> I sent the email below to see if there is
any interest in Koni shocks for
>our
>>> 1957-1964 Mopars.
>>>
>>> So far, not including ole CanMan, I have heard
interest in the Koni shocks
>>> totaling four and a half car sets.
Only 45.5 sets to go!!
>>>
>>> The Koni US factory
representative said fifty CAR SETS would be the minimum
>>> amount
required to have the factory in Holland make a production run.
>>>
>>> Konis are an adjustable, super-premium shock at a super-premium
price, used
>>on
>>
>>> many expensive
high-speed European sports cars because of their superior
>>>control
>>>
>>> characteristics - a car
set of four shocks for many cars often runs $600 or
>>> more. I
know it is nearly impossible to convince someone who is used to
>>paying
>>
>>> $15/each for shocks that one
could be worth 10x the price. Heck, even the
>>>KYBs,
>>>
>>> which I like very much and have on a couple of
my early 60s Mopars and
other
>>> cars, are beyond the pale for
many at $30-$40 each - and they are
well-worth
>>>the
>>>
>>> price in improved handling. I find it a little
irritating that the KYBs are
>>> made in the Far East, though, but
they have proven to be a long-lasting,
>>> well-made product. At
least the Konis are made in Holland.
>>>
>>> To tell
the story in more detail, I've only had Koni shocks on one car, a
>>1962
>>
>>> Morgan Plus/4. When I got the car
in 1980, with well over 100,000 miles on
>>it,
>>>I
>>>
>>> ordered Konis right away. Much to my surprise,
when I cleaned off the
>surface
>>> rust on the old shocks,
they too were Konis, with a 1964 date of manufacture
>>>on
>>>
>>> them! The new ones I installed hardly made a
difference, and the old ones
>>>still
>>>
>>> had one more "click" of adjustment left on them
to stiffen up the rebound
>>> action, even being 16 years old at
the time. I was impressed, and drove
that
>>> car 65,000 miles
in my ownership, with never a concern about shocks.
>>>
>>> One thing that just came to mind - There are US manufacturers
that are
>making
>>> high-performance shocks for the likes
of Camaros, Mustangs, etc., - I wonder
>>>if
>>>
>>> any of them would take a look at a set of KYBs
as an example, and come up
>>with
>>>a
>>>
>>> shock for us? Maybe there's a close fit that
can be adapted - I'm messing
>>> around with a '72 Pinto wagon (who
knows why?!), and installed KYBs all
>>around
>>>-
>>>
>>> I had read, and since confirmed, that 1980s
Camaro rear shocks fit and work
>>>very
>>>
>>> well on the rear of the Pinto.
>>>
>>> Cheers.
>>>
>>> John
Spiers
>>>
>>>
________________________________
>>
>>>
>>>
How many do you have signed up, to get a set?
>>>
>>>
How soon is this gonna happen?
>>>
>>>
Thanks,,,,,,,,,,,,,
>>>
>>>
>>----------------------------------------------------------
>>>
>>> To continue forward with this discussion about shock absorbers
at the 300
>>Club
>>
>>>
listserver:
>>>
>>> Koni once made front and rear
shocks to fit our cars.
>>>
>>> I recall having read a
thread on the Imperial Club's website. I found it,
>and
>>>
here it is, complete with misspellings:
>>>
>>> Tip
from Philippe:
>>> Just a little story about shock absorbers, I
think that it could help you
>and
>>> the Imperial owners.
Last year I bought a 57 wrecked Crown (no glasses,
rust
>>>
everywhere, transmission « out »). This car was neglected since 1966 so all
>>>the
>>>
>>> parts on it were never
replaced with aftermarket parts ! Except one thing :
>>>the
>>>
>>> shock absorbers! Maybe the original « Oriflow »
weren't as strong as
>Chrysler
>>> said! I was very
surprised when I removed the shocks : they aren't « made
in
>>>
Brazil or Mexico » as actual sold by K....R or B......M. There are KONI
>>>shocks,
>>>
>>> a very reliable &
famous make (more expensive also). But I don't know if
>Koni
>>> make them always. Summit has Koni shocks on his catalog. I give
you the
>>> reference (as they are the same from 57 to 65) : Front
: 80 C 1229 Rear :
82
>>> 1066 Date of manufacturing : 11/64 If
they are always manufactured, buy
them
>>>and
>>>
>>> don't buy $80.00 for four : I bought 4 gaz
charged absorbers (from kanter)
:
>>> after one year, one was
leaking and one was jamed ! Mexico made ...
>>> >>Follow-up
from Dietmar:
>>> >>>You are right- KONI is the worlds best
qualitiy shock absorbers for
>street
>>>and
>>>
>>> >>>race cars. They will serve You a
100 000 miles without any complain. I
>use
>>>them
>>>
>>> >>>on my IMP 60 so this havy car dont
swim nor incline in the curve, I use
>>>KONI
>>>an
>>>
>>> >>>all sports car I
have.
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>>
>>>---
>>> >>>
>>>
>>> So
I sent an email to Koni North America, inquiring about the above
>mentioned
>>> part numbers. Here is the
reply:
>>>
>>> From: "Mclaughlin, Paul - ITT Motion
Technologies"
>>>
>>> Haven't had those part#'s for
years... I think u have to buy 50 cars sets
>>each
>>>
>>> to get run made in Holland.
>>>
>>> Paul McLaughlin
>>> Koni Shock
Absorbers
>>> ITT Corporation
>>> Racing Technical Sales
Rep.
>>> 1961A International Way
>>> Hebron, Ky.
41048
>>> 800-922-2616 option 6
>>>
>>>
---
>>>
>>> I checked on prices of Koni shocks. They
are much more than the KYBs - for
>>> example, on Koni's website, a
pair of front shocks for a 1970 Dodge
>>Challenger
>>
>>> lists for $320/pair (online price, $240) and the
rear pair list for $380
>>>(online
>>>
>>>
price, $285). And they do go for upwards of $500/pair in some
cases.
>>>
>>> To make the minimum order, I think it
would be difficult to convince a total
>>>of
>>>
>>> 50 people worldwide, between both 300 clubs,
the Imperial Club, both
>>Christine
>>
>>>
clubs, and all the members of the Forwardlook list, to drop $600 on a set
of
>>> Koni shocks, when there are discussions of the KYBs being far
too expensive
>>at
>>>
>>> over $100/set . .
. and I wouldn't drive another one of these cars without
>at
>>> least KYBs on it. The difference, to you who don't know, is
like AM radio
>>> versus satellite radio.
>>>
>>> I personally would buy at least 2 sets of the Konis, after
experiencing the
>>> profound difference of KYBs, and knowing the
Konis are another quantum leap
>>> forward - I've only run them
65,000 miles on one car I've owned (a '62
>Morgan
>>> +4)
and was very impressed. One important and interesting feature of the
>>>Konis,
>>>
>>> is that they are
adjustable for firmness/softness in their rebound action.
>>> http://www.koni-na.com/comp.cfm
>>>
>>> Cheers,
>>>
>>> John
Spiers
>>>
>>>
________________________________
>>>
>>>
>>> There are some H.D. choices out there. Not many cheap one
though.
>>>
>>>http://www.amazon.com/Bilstein-Heavy-Duty-Shock-Absorber/dp/B001HIAMWU/ref=au_pf_pfg_s?ie=UTF8&Model=300%7C2489&n=15684181&s=automotive&Make=Chrysler%7C39&Year=1970%7C1970&newCar=1&carId=001
>>>
>>>1
>>>
>>> Bill Huff
>>>
>>> At 7/21/201111:58
AM, Michael Moore wrote:
>>> >I installed those on my 300H and
was grateful to get them.
>>> >I wish they were stiffer
though.
>>> >Its almost as though there are no shocks on the car,
but insofar as
>>> >I know, that's all thats available.I wish
Koni made a set to fit.
>>> >Mike Moore
>>>
>300H
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >On Jul
21, 2011, at 8:41 AM, Tony Bevacqua wrote:
>>> >
>>>
> > KYB shocks. KG4507 and KG 5511 are the correct ones. I just made
a
>>> > > purchase for my 57 (shocks are correct for 1957 to
1964, I believe).
>>> > > $116.32 for the 4 shocks, plus
handling, etc.
>>> > > Tony
>>> >
>
>>> > > -----Original Message-----
>>> >
> From: mailto:Chrysler300%40yahoogroups.com
[mailto:mailto:Chrysler300%40yahoogroups.com]
On
>>> > > Behalf Of Marshall Larson
>>> >
> Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2011 8:26 AM
>>> > > To: mailto:Chrysler300%40yahoogroups.com
>>>
> > Subject: [Chrysler300] Shocks.
>>> >
>
>>> > > Any suggestions for an appropriate brand and
model of shocks for a G. I
>>> > > don't need anything exotic,
just proper ride and to deal with the
radials
>>> > > that
are on the car. All suggestions appreciated.
>>> >
>
>>> > > MN Marshall
>>> >
>
>>
>>[Non-text portions of this message have been
removed]
>>
>>
>>
>>=
>
>
[Non-text
portions of this message have been removed]