SONIC MOTORS/BARRY MARTIN

[al6389]

I have also inquired about items from this fella, i.e. a '64 hood, taillight bezels, etc. the prices were steep, but even then something I had to consider for my project. He promised Polaroids, but never received them. $1899. for a hood, and $1700 for bezels! you would think for that kind of money, Polaroids would be forthcoming. Not so. Fortunately I found the parts elsewhere for a lot less money. Oh well, so the world turns. I have purchased many more parts here on the PY/GTOAA site for a fair price and a good condition or easily restorable condition. On my budget, I'm probably a year or maybe more from being finished anyway. At my age and disabilty (kidney failure) there are LIMITED funds, a wife, 2 childred, 4 grandchildren, so I have other people to think of, anyway!

[wheelspin]

In 2001; I purchased a complete, correct, and unrestored 66 tri-pwr setup from Barry for $750, a high price @ the time. It was accurately described as "recently pulled off a running car" (still smelled of gas), and when I examined the unit the screw slots indicated few repairs had been performed.

He is not the cheapest, but based on the above transaction I would tend to trust his representation of his parts.

Les

[tom s]

I have used Barry over the years,he is not the cheapest and if the part is not as described you should get a clear faxed statment from him on his restocking charge.I teamed up with him a few years ago to repop the 63 SD valve covers.I supplied a NOS set of covers and he put up the money to get the tooling done.He gave me a set for it.Tom

[Catalinaragtop]

I've dealt with Barry on SD and 425a parts for a 61 Poncho. He is pricey BUT where are you going to find that stuff? He fairly represents his goods. I'd buy from him again.

[Ron Landis]

Barry travels alot. We paid him for a part at our swap meet a few weeks back and have not received it yet, but I first dealt with Barry in '85, and I know I'll get the part eventually. As stated earlier, not the cheapest, but he has hoarded this stuff for years and spends a great deal of time sniffing it out. He does this for a living, not just getting rid of unwanted parts like alot of us. I appreciate his efforts, and will pay the price when all else fails. JMHO

[tommie69]

I've too have used him for two gto projects,and hes not the cheapest ,but he somehow always has the part or parts!and sometimes you can"t put a price tag on that.I have met him in person at Charlisle PA ,and hes seems like a good guy!I my self use him when all else fails!and he has come trough for everything.In fact I remember buying a restored rally gauge pack from him and a year later the tac went.He made good on it with no problems or questions.Thats all you could ask.

[rwinkles]

I've tried to buy from Barry in the past. He's not too far from me so I could even pick-up. Every time I've talked to him about something he said "he would have to check on the part, he would get back to me". Each and evry time I never heard a work back. Would it be too much to ask for a call just to say "sorry, don't have it but I'll let you know if I come across it"? Any good business person would do that. I've heard many horror stories from people in our club who have bought from Barry. I'd have to say if he was the only one on the planet that had the part I would just do without it!

Good luck!

[trs13]

I have purchased from Barry in the past several times when I was building my Ram Air V. each time the part recieved was exactly as describe and yes he was hard to get a hold of and sometimes I needed to follow up but I needed the parts so I did the follow up. Good luck on your parts hunting

Tom Sexton

[61-63]

In 2002 at the POCI meet in Charleston WV he told me and a friend that he had 100 or so of the '61-'63 poverty cap clips at home and wanted $3 or $3.50 per clip as I recall. That was a fair price. He told us to call after the meet to buy them. We told him we wanted a complete set (15 clips) each and would call that week. My friend called him in about two days and the price had gone to $5 per clip. He was irritated so didn't buy. I called a day or two after that and Barry said they were all sold. IMHO he is not a straight shooter and I'll go to him only as a last resort if then. I have dealt with guys like Kurt Kelsey, Larry Liest, Brad Duerst and others who do what they say they will do and I prefer giving them my business.

[oldbirds]

My experience with Barry is mixed. I agree that he has the parts and his prices are extremely high, so I only used him as a last resort. But the last time (truly the last time) I dealt with him was basically dishonest. I paid an absurd amount for a '1970 only TA throttle cable' to complete my restoration. After getting it home it was a perfect match for the $1.00 junkyard piece that I had taken off a late 70 something Camaro, and definitely not what Barry had sold it as. When I took it back and asked for a refund, the very abrupt response was "Tough - you bought it, you own it" Like I said, that was the last time he will see any of my business.

[bulletpruf]

Just bought a std bore WS block from Barry for my '69 Judge. Not real cheap at $1500, but it's got the right date code, so I paid the $$$. Block is in nice shape.

His name came up on the Judge page here; not many folks had good things to say about him. Someone mentioned his issues with quoting a price one day and then jacking it up later.

Scott

[gto65]

FYI

Bought a set of NOS rocker mouldings from Barry some time ago. When I got them ONE of the rockers was NOS, and very nice might I add, but the other was a repo, and had torch burn marks on it. When I called him and told him of the problem he told me that they actually had come frome anouther vendor and he couldn't help me. He gave me their name and had me deal with them,what a pain in the a$$.
I have NEVER considered him for anything after that.

[jjscerbo]

Barry is a crook, his word is no good and would screw his own mother for a buck!Anyone would have to be an absolute fool to deal with this guy for a second time.

Otherwise..just another nice guy.

Avoid him like the plague!

[JUDGEMAN70]

I would definitely not recommend buying parts from this guy. A couple years ago I purchased an nos rocker moulding from him. The part looked like it had been run over by a truck a few times. I returned the part and was charged a 25% restocking fee. I am sure this part had been around the country several times and with the restocking fee it has probably been paid for several times. I also purchased an nos headlight bezel with the same order and it wasn't even for a GTO. I have also heard many complaints from other people in the northern Illinois area.

[Half-Inch Stud]

Sold & Bought from Barry Martin since 1982 Barry was always a calm poker-hand dealer that would haggle.

Then in the year 2000, I saw him at Englishtown and noticed he was a changed man. He was pre-occupied, impatient, and impersonal. The era of haggling with him seemed gone. Well, I felt sorry for the fella. I just assumed Barry was looking to sell parts to the "high rollers".

Never figured out how well Sonic Motors played into his income. He tries to be a good fella. Probably a bit burnt-out.
I wonder why he never stayed a PY member. :ranger: HIS

[The Boss]

Mom always said, if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all.

Therefore, I've got nothing to say.

[car guy]

A friend recently tried to buy a mirror for a 64 Goat and it was to be nos and he would bring it to a swap meet for pick up. His NOS part turned out to be a couple used mirrors thrown in a box neither was NOS or in an original box.

[muscatine73]

I bought nos 67 gto parking lights from Barry.They turned out to be plastic housings of poor quality. To add insult to injury he charged me $50 over the price he told me on the phone.(he claimed his vender raised the price) I had to sic my credit card co. after him.

[PonchoV8]

I've found him to be arrogant. I've talked with him a few times and that is how he presented himself. I would rather not even sell anything to him. I would never buy anything from him.
We were working a deal to trade some parts and I asked if I could think the deal over for a few days. After those few days, I called back and he went up $500 for his part. Mine was about 1000 times more rare btw. He stood to make at least a grand off my part andI would've still had to travle 6 hrs one way to make the trade---and he was just too yankee to appreciate it. He doesn't need my money. I probably saved money by buying the parts from individuals and selling mine for market value.

[speedshopmike]

i've known him a while with positive experiences.
sold hima lot of serious stuff a few years ago (HO and SD heads, Ho intakes, etc)
he is in this to make a living, but is honest about it.
very hard to reach/respond.
he is traveling constantly - constantly, all the time.
a very sad event occured in his life a while ago; it might be the time period HIS is referring to.
i've not but good to say about barry martin.

[DanC]

Mom always said, if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all.

Therefore, I've got nothing to say.

There's another saying....

Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.

With that said, I ain't shamed. DanC

[Ron Landis]

There's another saying....

Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.

With that said, I ain't shamed. DanC
THAT'S how that saying goes. I was somewhat confused...something about an old "Who" song...