What's up with Bluebird?

[ernieekberg@...>]

When it comes time for us to get a newer model Bluebird- I would make that
purchase, even if Bluebird company went south.
Ernie Ekberg
83PT40
Livingston,Montana
----- Original Message -----
From: Tom Warner
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, February 05, 2007 7:51 PM
Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] What's up with Bluebird?


With all of the uncertainty at BB over the last several years I
thought long and hard about buying another bluebird. After a lot of
thought I decided to keep the 1982 FC35 that I had spent so much time
on since if BB were to stop making motorhomes I knew I could get all
of the parts thru other manufacturers except the bumpers and body
panels. I found out however that I could get any body panel and
bumpers thru my local Bluebird School bus company here in
Chittenango, NY. In fact when I got in the accident with the FC35 in
Nashville, I found out that bluebird did not have the battery
compartment door etc to repair it. The bus company in Chittenango
however told me they could make any one of the panels since they had
a complete body and fabrication shop and regularly did that kind of
work, and in fact they totally repaired and painted it to like new.
They also made me a new generator compartment door for $60 not
including the paint.

I had previously decided that if I were to get a PT then it would be
restricted to the 1985-1987 PT models. So when the 1985 PT 40 became
available from Paul Davis I grabbed it up knowing that there would
not be a problem getting any parts I needed even if BB were to go under.

Many of you know that I have been saying BB would not last after
touring the factory several times over the last 6 years. I believed
that the motorhome business would not be sustainable there with the
corporate changes that I saw, such as the reduction of wages,
elimination of many long time employees and poor quality control. I
have witnessed several other long time extremely strong
companies, Revere Ware in Rome NY and Oneida Ltd in Sherrill ny for
instance that quickly went under when management made changes that
were deterimental to their marketing model specifically the
elimination of salesmen and reduction of quality control. When BB
started making larger and heavier motorhomes with a market cap of
less then 40 a year and lost their major marketing arm specifically
Buddy Gregg I believe the end result was inevitable.

Therefore I believe this forum will be a great assett to those
keeping their BB thru the sharing of ideas and parts sources.

tom warner
vernon center,ny
1985 PT 40

At 09:20 PM 2/5/2007, you wrote:
>I haven't seen or heard anything about moving. However, with new
>owners nothing can be ruled out. It is about profitability.
>Do you know an insider (a mole) that is supplying the
>information? Yes or No would be more that adequate, because I gotta
>keep my bus running. <>
>It could ultimately have a positive or negative affect on all BB
>owners. It depends on what the company does.
>Be careful now, in this electronic world a double agent could be
>listening.
>
>Leroy Eckert
>1990 WB-40 "Smoke N Mirrors"
>Niceville, FL
>
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: scoggins_jim
> To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Monday, February 05, 2007 7:52 PM
> Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] What's up with Bluebird?
>
>
> Talk around the plant has it the parts bunch is moving to Dayton
> (Ohio?) with a body works going to Anniston, AL. Further, there is
> some speculation that Wanderlodge will not be built under the
> auspicies of Bluebird (bought by someone else?).
> I have seen no other comments on this on the collective bird websites.
> Do you all know something I don't and am I just now finding out?
>
> Anyone out there have any details?
>
> By the way, Jessie is now at Bennie's old job and answering up.
>
> Regards,
> Jim Scoggins
> 04M380
>
>
>
>
>
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>Yahoo! Groups Links
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>





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