Texas Breaker

[William2]

I heard a rumour that there is a guy somewhere in Texas that dismantles Lotuses for spare parts. Can anyone confirm this?

[stugilmour]

Are you thinking of Sports Car World in Dallas?

http://www.sportscarworld.com/page3.html

Stu

[mbell]

Probably Sports car world as Stu said. But it is a lot more than a breakers. they do have a number of lotus cars that are parts cars or to be sold as projects and racks of used and new parts.

They also have a shop that repairs loti and does race prep for loti.

[Esprit2]

As I understand it, eons ago two guys in Dallas, TX had a disagreement on which way to take their business, so they split. Frank Bertrang moved to Evant TX, and ran a successful Lotus (and other) new & used parts business. The 'used' part of it involved a significant salvage operation.

Paul Rego stayed in Dallas and ran another SCW that was basically a restoration and repair shop.

A few years ago, Frank passed away. Paul bought the business from the Bertrang family, and moved it back to Dallas with the intention of getting it back into operation. A couple of years passed in silence.

In Nov 2012, Dave McQuire posted messages on a number of Lotus forums announcing that he was the new parts director, and that SCW was ready to do business. However, phones and e-mails went (still go) unanswered, and I've not yet talked to anyone who has had a good, successful experience getting parts out of them. If the used inventory is still intact, they could have a lot of desirable parts, but getting anyone to talk with you about it seems to be a problem.

In my last attempt to work with SCW, I called several times to order an unobtainium Esprit part, but never got an answer... nobody picked up any of my calls. So finally I left an e-mail detailing what I wanted, complete with part numbers. After two weeks of no answer, I found a part elsewhere, repaired the car and got it back on the road. Three weeks after it was too late, I got an e-mail... (paraphrased) "Thanks for contacting SCW. Tell us what you need and we'd be happy to work with you". I didn't even reply.

I have seen some SCW eBay auctions in recent-past months, but the opening bids were always, IMHO, unrealistically high. I never saw one sell. Also, several of the auctions incorrectly identified the parts... like, they don't know what they're selling.

I'd like for someone to report different contact info and a story with instant response and fast parts delivery; but so far that's not been my experience.

Sports Car World
Paul Rego, owner
Rt 1, Box 21
Dallas, TX 76525
(972) 620-7285 Phone
(214) 879-9717 FAX
http://www.sportscarworld.com/
[email protected]
[email protected] Dave McGuire, Director, Parts
10:00AM - 6:00PM Central Time

Regards,
Tim Engel

[nomad]

I had a good experience with them approx 1 and 1/2 years ago. Bought speedo and tach for my S1. They will have to go to Nisonger(sp) and the bezel's will have to be black but I thought the price was right for what I received.

I had planned on doing more business with them.

Kurt
26/3754

[mbell]

I've not bought anything from them, but may do. I think it's certainly a place that phone works better than email.

Over the holidays I visited with a friend who is restoring a complete basket case europa. He had had a few pieces from them. E.g. part of europa chassis at a very reasonable price.

Had a tour around the facilities with Dave, had a type 79 f1 car also a lotus Carlton which is very rare sight over here. Saw there racks of breaker/project cars and work shops. Very cool place for a lotus nut!