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Ah, at last a pet peave of mine! I recently wrote this article for the MAC NCRS “Signal Seeker,” the MCA “Mustang Times,” the SEVA Chapter of the Shelby American Automobile Club newsletter and a vendor friend of mine puts a copy in with every order. Sorry for the multiple post. I hope it was worth the effort.
The Real McCoy
Fortunately for our hobby, there are individuals who have reproduced parts that are no longer available from General Motors, or that because of limited availability have been priced out of the reach of many enthusiasts. There are still some cars, however, for which only high dollar, hard to find parts are acceptable. As restorers scramble for the ever dwindling supply of parts for fuelies, midyears and big blocks, the line between reproduction and the “Real McCoy” is becoming fuzzy. In this article, I am going to outline some guidelines on how to distinguish between the two.
I would like to begin by defining a new hobby acronym. “RM” (Real McCoy), is any part, that was actually assembled by General Motors, into any GM product, or serviced by GM as a replacement part for any GM product, at any time, that is identical in all respects to a particular part, used to assemble a particular GM product, at a particular time. This may sound like a bunch of legal mumbo jumbo but please read on and I think you’ll begin to see my point.
When searching for a hard to find part, note how the part is advertised. This can often give a good indication as to whether the part is RM. The term “NOS” (New Old Stock) is often used to describe a new, vintage part distributed by GM as a service part for a particular model. This phrase however, has been increasingly misused to describe any new part serviced by GM as a replacement part for a particular model, and there is a distinct difference between even NOS and RM. Some differences may be immediately obvious. The NOS part number may have been revised or the casting or manufacturing date may be incorrect for a particular application. Other differences may be more subtle and unless you are an educated buyer, you may not be able to spot them. The NOS part may be painted while the RM part was left natural or was painted a different color, or visa versa. The NOS part may not bear correct assembly line markings or codes. GM may have changed the original design spec for the part and the NOS part may be of a slightly different design than the RM. There are usually several vendors who supply parts to GM for the same part at the same time, and over time, with slight manufacturing variations between their products leading to NOS parts that are different from RM. NOS parts quality is often poor compared to RM, particularly for more recently manufactured parts, because of aging or replacement tooling. Finally, GM may have serviced a part to fit a broad application, and the NOS part may not even resemble the RM part!
Most restorers place a premium on a freshly plated or otherwise detailed part, and sellers take advantage of this fact, sometimes to the buyers disadvantage. In order to get top dollar and improve sales appeal, many sellers send parts out to be re-cadmium plated. EPA regulations have changed over the years, and plating processes that were used in the past, in many cases, cannot be accurately duplicated today. What started out as a rare, shelf worn, new RM, it is now just another restored part. Be wary of 30 year old silver or gold cad parts that look too pretty, unless pretty and not originality is your goal.
People have come up with many creative ways to not say reproduction. “New,” “Reissue,” “Original Tooling,” “Officially Licensed,” “Approved,” you’ve probably heard them all. I am particularly impressed with the term “NORS,” which I was told meant “New Old Reproduction Stock” and referred to parts that were manufactured on original tooling or by original vendors. Although some may be closer than others, none are RM. I recently encountered a problem with a vendor over the use of the term “original.” I thought the phrase was pretty clear. As we talked, however, he explained to me that his “original” parts were his top of the line reproductions that would not be detectable in NCRS competition. Although I must agree about the quality of his parts, I wonder how many people he has sold these parts to as RM? The only phrases I have yet to hear misused are “Survivor,” and “Take Off.”
Old parts have a distinctive, musty smell that only comes with age. Labels and spec sheets included with the part should be yellowed. I have rarely seen reproduction parts in new RM boxes, although I have frequently seen used RM parts in new RM boxes represented as shelf worn new RM parts. I got into quite a tiff with a vendor over a set of “NOS” 1963-67 Corvette taillights when he refused to supply RM boxes. As it turned out, the taillights were actually reproductions! When paying high dollar for new RM parts, insist on the boxes. This is not a guarantee that the parts will be new RM, but it does drastically increase the chances.
The Real McCoy
Fortunately for our hobby, there are individuals who have reproduced parts that are no longer available from General Motors, or that because of limited availability have been priced out of the reach of many enthusiasts. There are still some cars, however, for which only high dollar, hard to find parts are acceptable. As restorers scramble for the ever dwindling supply of parts for fuelies, midyears and big blocks, the line between reproduction and the “Real McCoy” is becoming fuzzy. In this article, I am going to outline some guidelines on how to distinguish between the two.
I would like to begin by defining a new hobby acronym. “RM” (Real McCoy), is any part, that was actually assembled by General Motors, into any GM product, or serviced by GM as a replacement part for any GM product, at any time, that is identical in all respects to a particular part, used to assemble a particular GM product, at a particular time. This may sound like a bunch of legal mumbo jumbo but please read on and I think you’ll begin to see my point.
When searching for a hard to find part, note how the part is advertised. This can often give a good indication as to whether the part is RM. The term “NOS” (New Old Stock) is often used to describe a new, vintage part distributed by GM as a service part for a particular model. This phrase however, has been increasingly misused to describe any new part serviced by GM as a replacement part for a particular model, and there is a distinct difference between even NOS and RM. Some differences may be immediately obvious. The NOS part number may have been revised or the casting or manufacturing date may be incorrect for a particular application. Other differences may be more subtle and unless you are an educated buyer, you may not be able to spot them. The NOS part may be painted while the RM part was left natural or was painted a different color, or visa versa. The NOS part may not bear correct assembly line markings or codes. GM may have changed the original design spec for the part and the NOS part may be of a slightly different design than the RM. There are usually several vendors who supply parts to GM for the same part at the same time, and over time, with slight manufacturing variations between their products leading to NOS parts that are different from RM. NOS parts quality is often poor compared to RM, particularly for more recently manufactured parts, because of aging or replacement tooling. Finally, GM may have serviced a part to fit a broad application, and the NOS part may not even resemble the RM part!
Most restorers place a premium on a freshly plated or otherwise detailed part, and sellers take advantage of this fact, sometimes to the buyers disadvantage. In order to get top dollar and improve sales appeal, many sellers send parts out to be re-cadmium plated. EPA regulations have changed over the years, and plating processes that were used in the past, in many cases, cannot be accurately duplicated today. What started out as a rare, shelf worn, new RM, it is now just another restored part. Be wary of 30 year old silver or gold cad parts that look too pretty, unless pretty and not originality is your goal.
People have come up with many creative ways to not say reproduction. “New,” “Reissue,” “Original Tooling,” “Officially Licensed,” “Approved,” you’ve probably heard them all. I am particularly impressed with the term “NORS,” which I was told meant “New Old Reproduction Stock” and referred to parts that were manufactured on original tooling or by original vendors. Although some may be closer than others, none are RM. I recently encountered a problem with a vendor over the use of the term “original.” I thought the phrase was pretty clear. As we talked, however, he explained to me that his “original” parts were his top of the line reproductions that would not be detectable in NCRS competition. Although I must agree about the quality of his parts, I wonder how many people he has sold these parts to as RM? The only phrases I have yet to hear misused are “Survivor,” and “Take Off.”
Old parts have a distinctive, musty smell that only comes with age. Labels and spec sheets included with the part should be yellowed. I have rarely seen reproduction parts in new RM boxes, although I have frequently seen used RM parts in new RM boxes represented as shelf worn new RM parts. I got into quite a tiff with a vendor over a set of “NOS” 1963-67 Corvette taillights when he refused to supply RM boxes. As it turned out, the taillights were actually reproductions! When paying high dollar for new RM parts, insist on the boxes. This is not a guarantee that the parts will be new RM, but it does drastically increase the chances.
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