Before you complain about TR parts cost

[billspit]

Many years ago, I saw a book on early T-Bird parts. It listed the T-Bird part and part number, then it gave the part number for the exact same part for regular Fords......like park light lenses, taillight lenses, gauges, shocks, brakes, drivetrain....and the regular bits were half the cost of those for T-Birds. The engineering numbers on the parts were the same (close to a part number, but different) so it was Ford re-boxing with different part numbers of the same part for double the cost!

Years ago I had some friends in the import parts business and they said porsche/VW was the same way. A set of wheel bearings for a beetle would be $20. Same parts used on Porsche would be $200. Porsche cuaght on that people had figured it out and changed numbers on porsche parts.

 

[rlich8]

Many years ago, I saw a book on early T-Bird parts. It listed the T-Bird part and part number, then it gave the part number for the exact same part for regular Fords......like park light lenses, taillight lenses, gauges, shocks, brakes, drivetrain....and the regular bits were half the cost of those for T-Birds. The engineering numbers on the parts were the same (close to a part number, but different) so it was Ford re-boxing with different part numbers of the same part for double the cost!

Years ago I had some friends in the import parts business and they said porsche/VW was the same way. A set of wheel bearings for a beetle would be $20. Same parts used on Porsche would be $200. Porsche cuaght on that people had figured it out and changed numbers on porsche parts.

I think less parts are shared today, and even VW parts are still more expensive than most Brit car parts. :smirk: