PR is a hell of a thing. Well contrived positive
PR exposure can bring enduring success to an undeserving and sub-par product. Likewise, the flip side often occurs when a good, viable product suffers the slings and arrows of unfair ill-repute.
When that happens, the purveyor of that product is usually the one who is guilty of letting himself and his work down by failing to recognize that quality and effort only pay due dividends when the people with the money you are after
know how good you really are.
Busy folks on the hunt for an expensive, non-essential playtoy are emotionally engaged and make quick, often sub-conscious decisions about potential choices as they rush through the marketing and research data surrounding the items up for comparison and evaluation.
I was in just such a state back in 1991, terminally stricken with Cobra fever. Patrick Bedard's Car & Driver articles on Cobra replicas in the December (I think) issue poured jet fuel on my fire and absolutely influenced the direction of my subsequent Cobra experiences.
I pored over both main articles and I'll never forget what he wrote about the major players in the industry at that time. Here's what he wrote about Bryan and LA Exotics - direct quote:
The first stop in Los Angeles was to L.A. Exotics - Bryan Anderson, sole prop. He'd had a falling out with his aviation engineer dad not long before. Young Mr. Anderson is of the mind that the engineering details his father pushed are a bunch of hooey. From the looks of his work, I concluded that his aspirations run - a better word might be gallop - in the direction of blacksmithing.
True or not, deserved or not, that shaped my opinion of Bryan, LA Exotics and by extension, B&B Cobras as I hurried along in my search for the most suitable Cobra. Unfairly, I never got to see or hear Bryan's rebuttal or defense and I had no time or inclination to wait for it or seek it out.
Here now is another set of slings and arrows falling in his direction and again I see and hear no counterpoint from Bryan's side. I am not a potential customer, but I'm sure some who follow this are; and like me, they stand to move on in their quest with an almost indelible mental stamp on the B&B/Bryan Anderson reference folders in the backs of their minds.
In other writings, Bryan has struck me as an enthusiastic, likable fellow, excited and passionate about his work. Some customers seem to love their LA E and B&B cars.
The internet can be a cold and unforgiving place. I felt compelled to type my musings on this - not quite sure why. Here's to an amicable resolution.