Coachworks, Ft Valley GA. Auction

[bumpersbird]

The auction was both exciting and sad. The Bluebird Wanderlodge Factory is
officially liquidated. The whole ball of wax has been sold off and now time will
tell if a Resurrection will come to pass. I don't believe that Steve Mitchell of
Parliament Coach bought the Intellectual Property for his amusement. Something
will become of it time will tell.

I can't begin to express my disappointment in not getting to the viewing of what
was for sale sooner than I did, I arrived on wed afternoon after a 10 day
working trip in San Antonio Tx. Tejas to Fort Valley GA, 1173.9 miles in 32
hours I only had 4 hours to look over a facility that that had taken over 30
years to create and that would be sold off in less than 24 hours.

I was overwhelmed at the shear size of the facility and what was on the auction
block. My only regret was not having the foresight to buy more than I did, as it
turns out I only succeeded in winning one item. A pallet of Lifeline batteries,
GPL-4DL, 16 in all for a price that would land you in jail anywheres else. A
blind hog will find an acorn once in a while.

The auction moved along quickly with over 800 items auctioned off on Thursday. I
did not stay for the Saturday sale. One item that I bid on was a lot of BB
Wanderlodge windshields, it went for $1900.00 there were at least 25 windshields
left and right sides! I didn't get them.

After a gruleing , rapid fire sell off of the the lots in the CAGE. the
auctioneererer said that the CAGE would be offered as a whole for $44,000.00
+or- I hesitated and it was returned to it's original bidders.

THE CAGE was the secured area where Wanderloodge keep all the spare parts, you
name it it was there, including items that were supposedly unavailable, I will
regret that inaction for as long as I own a Bird. I would say average price per
lot was under .10 cents on the dollar or less!!!!

The parts are gone, The IP is gone, BlueBird Wanderlodge as an entity is gone,
but what isn't gone is our desire to keep these machine going down the road.

Being at this auction was like a child set loose in a candy store without his
Momma, knowing he can't possibly have everything he's looking at, but wanting it
all. An experience that I will never forget, as sad as it truly was.

A little about Parliment Coach, for now along with all the speculation about a
new coach, Parliament hasn't built a new coach in a year or so neither has
anyone else at least not like before the crash.

The IP has some other aspects as far as value. The vendors list for one, I was
informed they were selling 100K in Wanderlodge parts a month up to the very end.
Now that would peak my interest if I were in that business. The IP went for 55K
the CAGE, existing parts inventory, went for 44K. 100K in sales a month, I'm not
in that business but my interest was peaked!

The Mitchell Family has been involved with the high end coach market for a long
time, Vogue, Featherlite, Newell,These guys have been in and out of this
industry for ever.

Personally I am happy to see Parliament with the IP. I had decided that if
possible I would buy it and had 30K ready to invest in the IP, well that didn't
happen.

Over the years I have had or tried to do business with almost every coach
converter, Most had that mentality of the Harley dealers several years ago, If I
like you and you kiss my A--. maybe I'll sell you something. Parliament did not
treat me in that fashion and since all the industry shake up I can see them,
coming back stronger and better than ever.

My experience with Parliament went like this. I bought a Pt 42 for 20 or 30 K
under wholesale. Back in the day when dealers didn't do that. John Martin spent
6 days working on the coach after I got there to pick it up, I'm glad he's
heading back to Clearwater. Several day of work were done to it before I got
there. No she wasn't a wreak, but she was used by a family that enjoyed her. The
day I went home they fueled her, $900.00 at the time. When I inquired about what
I owed for the labor & fuel, Steve replied nothing it's on me.

You'll be back.

He's right!

As a consumer I'm not interested in personal issues, in house shenanigans, or
shop politics, Even though it makes for great cocktail conversation. I'm only
interested in getting what I need for my coach by the best I can afford.

As the old Zen Master said, We shall see.

If you interested in what will become of the Birds Nest you'll have to go to
W.O.G. and read about it there. Karl the new owner will keep it going some how.

__________________
Kurt Horvath
95 PT 42
10AC