Fenn Lane

[MonkeyChap]

Hi

I was wondering if anyone has had experience with Fenn Lane motorsport (good or bad !). They seem to offer a lot of backdate services but aren't as well known as some of the other specialists. I searched the forum and found a few references to their bonnets and sunroof delete panels, but nothing about the quality of their resto / converison work.

Ta

Ian

[MT]

Quite a bit of experience - mainly for parts and technical advice. Chris Flavell is a very experienced and capable metallurgist and a resourceful engineer in my experience. Up until very recently I had heard only positive comments about their products and their work, but there has been some negative press on the 911S registry lately (he goes by chris_seven on there), mainly related to non-delivery of ordered and paid for parts, and lack of communication……. which is unlike Chris in my experience so I wonder if he has other (health?) problems. He can be forgetful as he is usually juggling 100 things at once, and seems to carry most of the organisation and technical burden himself.

I'd try calling on the phone and ideally arranging to go and see him and his set up. He has been very welcoming to me on the couple of occasions I have been, and most helpful over the phone on many other times.

Mick

[mrg3.6]

Mick,

I agree with your comments and personally I have always received a great service from Chris, however over the last 6 months he has stopped responding to emails and seems to have gone completely off-line, like you I am wondering if his health has taken a turn for the worse?

Martin

[964RS]

I saw him a couple of weeks ago and he seemed fine and replies to my emails pretty much straight away.

I would however recommend going to see them and making your own opinion.

There operation may not be too everyone's liking and the only way you will truly know is by seeing it in person and speaking with them and looking around.

[MonkeyChap]

Thanks - I spoke to him and he seemed nice enough and pretty knowledgeable. I'll try and track down someone who's had bodywork repairs done there. I've got a couple of small patches of rust and I want make sure they're done properly.

[sladey]

I've had both brilliant and crap service. The crap service was totally related to chris being ill - he was admitted to hospital (this was about 5 years ago) but I as misinformed about when or whether parts had been ordered. I eventually got a refund

I used him later for getting some spring arms e- coated - he was very knowledgeable, sorted it when he said he would, and tig welded up some grooves I'd accidentally cut in the arms. He just did this and didn't charge me for it

[MonkeyChap]

As I'm so far way from the workshop, I can see the communication issues being a problem. I'll maybe dip a toe in the water and order some bits from him first.

[55ovalcharlie]

I've used Chris quite a bit and he's always been ultra helpful and offered me tons of free advice and saved me PILES of money by pointing me in the right direction over a number of issues.

Their carb restoration work is fabulous.

They've never done any bodywork for me but I've had a good crawl over this car that they built and I was VERY impressed with the quality of everything!

http://www.pistonheads.com/features/ph- ... -991/31240

Their workshop isn't a massive glass fronted gin palace. It's what can best be described as a "proper" working workshop. Not to every porsche owners taste I guess but to me it's just further evidence that they're not charging extortionate labour rates or bending customers over.

Give them a call and see what you think - but if I ever need some work doing on mine, then they will definitely be my first port of call.

[DEEMAN]

I left Chris a couple of hours ago and can only give him praise. A very knowledgeable chap and so helpful. He has advised me many times and the quality of work is impressive. He has just rebuilt my Solex carbs and they look superb.
Go see him, you'll not regret it. He talks a lot of logical sense


Ian
___________________________________

1965 RHD 911
2001 3.2 Boxster

[womble912]

Just had my carbs rebuilt a good service and quality work.


Womble

[mycar]

I've had lots of help from Chris and excellent service.