J & P Cycles founders to step down

It seems the end of an era is upon us.  J & P Cycles, the world’s largest motorcycle aftermarket and accessories sellers, has recently found themselves under new management for the first time in the companies 31 years.  Founder and President, John Parham, and his Vice President wife, Jill, announced this month that they would both be stepping down from the company saddle in exchange for the sweet sound of retirement.  This comes as a great loss to those in the motorcycle inner-circle, but all things, even those as good as the Parhams is bound to come to a close.

Since 1979, J & P Cycles has strived to thrive in the motorcycle aftermarket game; an industry that has constantly grown over the decades.  John and Jill Parham have been at the core of this industrial fruition since the 70′s.  Every year, J & P publishes their famed Harley Davidson Catalog, one of the largest mail order catalogs in the industry.  The Parham’s influence on all of the industry, not solely aftermarket, has been invaluable to the biker cause.  The best example of this would be the National Motorcycle Museum, which John had a hand in moving last year to a spacious facility in Anamosa, Iowa.  Home to over 300 history instilled vintage motorcycles, the museum will be the Parham’s retirement project in the coming years.  They have stated that they will focus on family as well as working to better the museum.

What does this mean for J &P Cycles?  John has revealed that he will stay on with J & P as a member of the Advisory Board of Directors.  Taking over the company mantle will be son, Zach Parham.  Zach will head up the company as the new Vice President and General Manager in the absence of his parents.  Having grown up alongside J & P, there should be no lull in the family values Zach Parham inherited from the previous company heads.  The company has assured consumers that they will continue to excel as a provider of all things motorcycle.  While the end of an era is present at J & P Cycles,  one can’t help but be appreciative of all the Parham family has done for the motorcycle world and all they will continue to contribute as we forge into the future.

2014 Ford Mustang won't go retro

It’s hard to believe it, but Ford’s “pony car” darling, the ever eviscerating Mustang, will turn 50 in 2014.  While it may be a few years premature to celebrate, Ford is already hard at work on re-designing the look of their performance pony for the half century milestone.  Currently on it’s fifth generation make-over, the Ford Mustang will once again be overhauled, re-engineered and given a new cosmetic body to sport Ford’s attitude of appreciation.  What the new Mustang wont be is retro.

Automotive News reported on the matter recently, revealing that Ford’s Design Chief, J Mays, admitted that the new generation of Mustangs will not have a keen homage in appearance to the Mustangs of the past.  The current fifth generation had gone back to a more classical look than it’s third and forth gen predecessors.    Those of us hoping that Ford would continue their pursuit of designing Mustangs with a mixture of noir sentimentality and futuristic infusion can use their hope on something else.  It simply is not happening.  ”The challenge or the opportunity for 2014 with a 50th-anniversary car is to not just look back over your shoulder, but to try to win all of the Mustang faithful yet bring the brand forward as well,” told Mays to Automotive News.  

What does this mean for the future of the Stang?  No one other than Mays and his faithful team know.  Mays has admitted that the plot and plans for the new Mustang generation is being kept under lock and key.  It could be almost two years before anyone other than Ford eyes up the new Mustang model (though that is a worst case scenario).  For now, consumers and car enthusiasts will have to play the waiting game.  If history has taught us anything in this particular case, it’s that change can be a dangerous thing.  When Ford revealed their second generation Mustang in 1974, the design spring-boarded off of the plunky Ford Pinto.  The third generation was originally outcast by consumers and harassed into being redesigned in 1987 (with the discarded version becoming the Ford Probe).

If Mays and his team are working on a concept based off another manufacturer's model or another of Ford’s models, this could mean a hiccup case of half sedan/half coup hybrid for the future Mustang or worst, it could come out looking like a PT Cruiser (again, worst case scenario).  For those looking for new places to place their hopes at, why not invest it in hoping the new Mustang will play more off the first and fifth generation; where the Mustang is still a sleek, steel skeletoned stead with finesse and rugged good looks.

What Will Become of Saab?

If you haven't heard by now, the American car industry is flooded with bankruptcy and bail outs. Overseas, the climate isn't much better. Last week, Swedish auto manufacturer Saab made headlines across the world as news spread of their impending submission for protection from creditors (Swedish version of Chapter 11 bankruptcy) with Swedish courts for a second time.

It was uncertain at the time if Saab would have enough money to pay their employees through the week let alone afford the already behind compensation of their parts suppliers. This week, they filed their claim and were denied by the court on grounds that Saab had no strong evidence that they will be able to restructure if approved. Well, Saab is in the process of appealing as we speak. They will take the time in-between to develop a plan of attack on how to reorganize their failing business. Until then, their fate relies in the hands of the courts.

 The question of what will become of the Swedish manufacturer is still undetermined. Even with the proposed sum of money from Chinese investors that would get operations up and running once more, Saab's future doesn't seem to full of light. For now, anyway, they will have to hold in that unknown limbo, looming between financial life and death.