December 2020 North Texas Automotive Report 1 VOL 23, NO 4 www.AutomotiveReport.net DECEMBER 2020 Monthly News for the Local Automotive Industry in Northeastern Texas, including Body Shops, Mechanical Shops and Dealers Don’t miss next months issue as we go exclusively on-line at www.automotivereport.net Survey Findings and More: Auto repair industry news items you may have missed during this one-of-a-kind year By John Yoswick COVID-19 doesn’t kill demand for body Not surprisingly during the near-total eco- appear. Even in April, more than one third techs nomic shut-down in April, 61 percent of of shops said they would hire a qualified It’s been a year like no other, so it seems As slow as business was been in many shops said they had no current openings body technician if they had an opportunity likely that some industry-related news and markets in the early days of the pandemic, for any shop position. But some demand to do so. trends flew under the radar for many col- more than one in four shops (27 percent) for body technicians remains. The other positions that the most shops lision repairers. Here’s our annual look said they still had a current opening for a Throughout 2019, more than 60 percent were looking to fill in 2019 were body at some of the headlines you may have body technician, according to a CRASH of shops said they had a current opening for helpers and painter’s helpers, with more missed in recent months. Network survey of 416 shops last spring. a body tech, and even more — 80 percent than a quarter of shops saying they were — said they would hire one if a qualified in need of one or the other. But this last applicant walked in the door. Though those spring, fewer than 1 in 10 shops said they numbers dropped this year, they didn’t dis- Continued on page 6 Retired shop owner: Discounting doesn’t add up By David Bry decades of experience: Offer a quote, one that’s aligned with your business plan and When the phone rings and there is a reflects the value of your shop’s commit- potential repair customer on the line, you ment to the highest standards of automo- have a choice. You can offer a price quote tive repair and your years of experience and hope that it’s not too high and scares providing quality repairs. them away. Or you can take the approach Here’s Lynn Cardwell’s take on this sub- of a fellow mechanical shop owner with Continued on page 10 Auto Doctor of Franklin - 8 The Muntz Jet - 14 NTX1220 Presorted Standard U.S. POSTAGE PAID Franklin, TN Permit No. 357 Dated Material 2 North Texas Automotive Report December 2020 Mopar: New 807-hp Hellcrate Redeye percent increase in oiling for valve # 68303091AA) is available to order springs and rocker tips for improved today for a U.S. Manufacturer’s Sug- lubrication and cooling gested Retail Price (MSRP) of $21,807. Supercharged HEMI® Crate Engine Single-groove collets on valve stems The new Hellcrate Redeye 6.2-liter for improved stability. Oil pan and Supercharged Crate HEMI V-8 engine windage tray optimized for high accel- joins four proven power plants in the By FCA Press Release said Tim Kuniskis, Global Head of Alfa eration – tested up to 1.8 g. Each engine Mopar Crate HEMI engine family: Romeo and Head of Passenger Cars – is dyno-tested for 42 minutes before “Hellephant” 426 Supercharged Crate November 6, 2020 , Auburn Hills, Dodge, SRT, Chrysler and FIAT, FCA being shipped. HEMI (part # P5160194AC) 1,000 Mich. - Mopar is unleashing the most – North America. “The new 807-horse- This complete engine assembly horsepower and 950 lb.-ft. of torque powerful production muscle-car engine power Hellcrate Redeye crate engine includes a supercharger with throttle $29,995 MSRP ever available to builders and enthusi- gives any pre-1976 vehicle owner body, fuel injectors, coil packs, water “Hellcrate” 6.2-liter Supercharged asts with the launch of its newest crate another opportunity to become a mem- pump, front sump oil pan and flexplate. Crate HEMI (part # 68303089AB) 707 engine – the 807-horsepower Hellcrate ber of the Dodge Brotherhood of Mus- Builders who prefer a manual trans- horsepower and 650 lb.-ft. of torque Redeye 6.2-liter Supercharged HEMI® cle by tapping into the Dodge//SRT mission can purchase the following: $20,215 MSRP V-8 engine. power that wasn’t available then, but is Flywheel (part # 05038113AD) 6.4-liter Crate HEMI (part # “With the addition of this new super- now.” Flywheel to crankshaft bolts (part # 68303090AA) 485 horsepower and 475 charged HEMI, Mopar now offers five 06504398) lb.-ft. of torque $10,060 MSRP HEMI crate engines with a range of If you know, you know. If you don’t, Clutch and pressure plate assembly 5.7-liter Crate HEMI (part # 375 to 1,000 horsepower,” said Mark the new Hellcrate Redeye power plant (part # 05038769AB) 68303088AA) 375 horsepower and 410 Bosanac, Head of Mopar Service, Parts features significant upgrades versus the Clutch to flywheel bolts (par t# lb.-ft. of torque $6,550 MSRP 06508880AA) Mopar HEMI crate engines are cov- Also available is a Front End ered against defects in materials and Accessory Drive (FEAD) Kit (part # workmanship for a 90-day period (parts 77072492), which includes an alterna- exchange only). For more information, tor, power-steering pump, belts, pulleys customers should visit www.cratehemi. and mounting hardware. com. • The Hellcrate Redeye 6.2-liter Supercharged HEMI V-8 engine (part Auction of rare automobiles once owned by businessman nets $44 million ELKHART, Ind. — An auction of hundreds of rare and antique automobiles that once belonged to a northern Indiana businessman has generated more than $44 million in proceeds in a bankruptcy case. Held the last weekend in October, the auction of the 240 autos as well as automotive memorabilia once owned by Najeeb Khan drew more than 2,500 live and remote bid- ders from 53 countries, The Elkhart Truth reported. Khan is the former CEO of Interlogic Outsourcing Inc., an Elkhart-based payroll processing firm that was sold after filing for bankruptcy protection last year. RM Sotheby’s said the auction grossed just under $44.4 million in sales, including eight cars that went for more than $1 million each. The auction house said it expected the collection to sell for $35 million to $40 million. A bankruptcy court had ordered the collection auctioned off to help repay more than $100 million Khan owes to KeyBank National Association and more than 120 other companies and individuals. “We are extremely pleased with the results, especially considering the complexities and challenges of executing such a high-profile auction with multiple constituents in the “Hellcrate Redeye” 6.2-liter Suopercharged HEMI V-8 engine (part#68303091AA) is rated at 807 horse- current market environment,” said RM Sotheby’s President Kenneth Ahn. power and 717lb.ft. of torque. Some of the vehicles in the auction were among only a handful built or came from a rich racing pedigree. The highest prices were fetched by a 1952 Ferrari 225 Sport Berli- netta by Vignale, which went for $2.8 million, and a 1953 Fiat 8V Supersonic by Ghia, and Customer Care for FCA – North standard Hellcrate engine, including: which sold for $2.04 million. America. “All Mopar crate engines Larger supercharger – 2.7 liters versus Three rare Jaguars — a 1955 D-Type, a 1963 E-Type Lightweight and a 1957 are quality-tested and factory-backed 2.4 liters XKSS— sold for between $1.3 and $1.9 million. And a 1955 Cooper-Jaguar T38 Mk to deliver proven performance to our Increased boost pressure: 14.5 psi ver- II — the second of only three made — sold for $1.7 million. (AP) • enthusiasts.” sus 11.6 psi Rated at 807 horsepower and 717 Higher rpm limit: 6,500 rpm versus lb.-ft. of torque on 91-octane pump 6,200 rpm PARTS ON THEIR WAY IN 3, 2, 1... 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This same 5150 alloy gun-drilled camshaft opti- www.dallaspdc.com supercharged HEMI engine powers the mized for high rpm performance and industry’s most powerful muscle cars, decreased weight We’re dedicated to helping you decrease cycle time by delivering quality Mopar® including the new Dodge Charger SRT Forged high-strength alloy pistons; and Magneti Marelli Offered by Mopar Hellcat Redeye, Challenger SRT Hellcat 30-micron increased piston-to-bore Parts fast. Call us today for exceptional Redeye and the high-horsepower halo of clearance support and competitive prices. the lineup in 2021, the new 807-horse- Powder-forged connecting rods; power Challenger SRT Super Stock. upgraded shank and big end; revised “2021 marks the year that Dodge is ultra-high tensile fasteners 100 percent increase in piston-cooling distilled to a pure performance brand ©2020 FCA US LLC. All Rights Reserved. Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Mopar and SRT are registered trademarks of FCA US LLC.