FAT Performance

Mike M · Mike M's Garage

Anyone had any experience with FAT Performance in Orange Ca.?
I have some extensive bills from them that are included in the history of my 69S. The bills are from 1980,but one of them is for 4000.00 worth of engine work. I was thinking that it would be a real kick if anyone at FAT remembered my car or the guy that used to own it,his name is Bob Cesario. I wonder if it's the same people at FAT, 22 years later......

Early_S_Man · 05:17 PM

Yes, I did business with them back in the '70s and '80s ... parts, only, though.

I believe the principals, Ron Fleming, Greg Aaronson, and ... Thurber are still all around, though some of their help may have changed over the years. It was a very nice, clean shop when I visited there in '76 to pick up some parts while I was on a business/vacation trip

It was a magazine article about Greg Aaronson's personal 911 in the late '70s that inspired me to order the left door handle for my car in 1978, while they were still available!

gfly · 03-10-2002, 06:11 PM

I also did some business with FAT in the early 80s. Back then they were one of the shops that were really into Porsche/VW performance, along with Gene Berg, Scat, and Pauter. Ever see a VW Karmann-Ghia do 14-second quarters @ 100 mph? Mine did after a little work.

widebody911 · widebody911's Garage

They have a good rep in the VW community.

GregS · 03-10-2002, 06:47 PM

You might ask the question over on the 914 board. Also try Shoptalkforums.com, and post it on the Type IV forum. One last thought would be Jake Raby at Aircooledtechnology.com. He posts quite a bit on the 914 board, has a very good reputation as an engine builder, and I believe could give you some insight into FAT. Hope this helps.

Zeke · 03-10-2002, 07:00 PM

I keep getting over here of the 911 BBS because there is more going on over here.

I too bought a car (356B) that had receipts from Fat.

I visited Fat recently and talked w/ Greg about building a 914 race motor for my race car. He made out an estimate sheet as we talked about how much performance, etc. Then he walked me through the shop. It is well equiped with separate areas for head work and so on. They build a lot of race motors of the four cylinder variety, both air and water cooled. They do a lot of R & D and have a proprietary 911 style fan shroud for the TypeIV motor found in the 914.

Fat is very well respected for all their work and will do a turn key dyno'd motor, or set you up with just the part(s) you need. The thing is, though, they seem to farm many machine operations out and concentrate on building motors. I just wanted the machine work and it appeared that some of it was just going to pass through their shop with a mark up. So I ended up taking my stuff to the various machine shops involved myself.

But like I say, if anyone wants a turn key motor, they have the background, the data and the expertise to build what you need. Their prices are a little higher on individual iitems than what I found to be the average, but I think some of their package deals are on the money. If their claims for the numerous racing championships their motors have won are accurate, then they are up there with the best. I haven't ruled them out for my next motor, that's for sure. Very pleasant and helpful folks.

sammyg2 · 03-10-2002, 07:48 PM

I know FAT performance, and Bob Cesario. FAT is about 3 miles from my home and does excellent work, but they send most of the machine work to RIMCO (Riddle machine company) in Santa Ana. They also do great work.
As far as Bob, I work with him, but have no idea if it is the same guy :-)
i will ask him on Tuesday.

Mike M · Mike M's Garage

When you talk to Bob, it's a blue 69S coupe that I think he owned at one time. I'm sure he'd be interested to know what happened to the car, and I'd be interested in talking to him. My email address is goingsteadi@hotmail.com.
Thanks to everyone for the replies.