C1-C3 Parts Retailers

[Stephen Stewart]

Is there a difference between the quality of parts between different retailers?

Where do each of the parts retailers get their products? Some excellent catalogs (DRR) claim to have better parts, do they tool and mold their own products and are they truly better?

I realize and know the difference of NOS parts, etc. but what about other repro parts?

I appreciate your helping a young guy learn.

If your response cannot be published on this board, please e-mail me at stephen.stewart@business.wm.edu

[Roy Braatz]

Re: C1-C3 Parts Retailers

Many repro. parts are made by Corvette owners at home and some do a great job on detail and others not.
Many dealer place orders from them to fill a request from buyers. Some dealers sell parts from suppliers that don't have the detail that others put in to thier parts.
Some dealers pay more to thier suppliers to get that detail and sell a better part.
That is why I always advise a person to talk to some one that has already used a dealer before.
You save big money if you can locate the person making the part, as much as %50 and little as %25.

[Steve Westphal]

Re: C1-C3 Parts Retailers

Stephen, All the vendors are about the same: None of them fit worth a darn!! I suppose some might be slightly better than others but my experience over the last 2 years is that they all miss the boat about half the time. I recently purchased 3 oil fill tubes for my '56 before I got one that an NOS oil filler cap would fit on. I also have had ignition shielding that wasn't even close along with an exhaust system that had clamps I wouldn't use on aquaruim tubing!!
My suggestion it to use NOS parts if at all possible!!

[Jack H.]

Re: C1-C3 Parts Retailers

Stephen,
I've had very good luck with DRR and LIC as sources for my '61 and '65.
FWIW
Jack