Price of Model A Parts vs. Modern Car Parts

[leo]

OK, I had to bring this up because there are many of us who feel that buying parts for our Model A's is sooooooo expensive. Then we go off to the auto parts store or dealership and pay $20.00 for a paper gasket. I think repro Model A parts are dirt cheap compared to what we have to pay for parts to keep our modern cars going. There I've said it. What say you?

[Railcarmover]

Never ceases to amaze me,a fella loves a car but bitches about spending a dollar on it. Dont get me wrong,I'll haggle like an arab rug merchant over used stuff.But complain about the repop pricing?why? ...its the same guys who hangs around the dumpster at the end of the swap meet,acting like its black friday at Walmart..

[holdover]

for the limited amount of Model A parts sold, compared to a modern car, I consider the parts very inexpensive. Consider this also, you can purchase just about anything for an A, but have you tried to buy something for a 30 yr old daily driver? Detroit has forgot that they even made them...

[JOHN CT]

Perfect conversation!
I need a new RS rear view mirror for my pick up. I've been looking on the internet and the one I need is $435.00 its off to the junkyard. Now I see why people duct tape a mirror back on.
So you're right parts for a A are really not that bad.

[H. L. Chauvin]

Hi Leo,

In addressing your "What say you?", I doubt if we will ever hear our Model A Parts suppliers telling some of "their" sides of "their" stories while dealing with uninformed Model A owners who are trying to restore cars that they do not even begin to understand.

After years of reading Model a Forum questions, can anyone imagine:

- Hello, my name if Pete, my Model A won't start, what do you suggest that I buy?
- Is fuel getting to your carburetor?
- Have no idea ...... how can I tell?
- Does your coil wire spark when you open your points?
- Where is my coil wire? Where are my points?

After (2-1/2) hours of Model A owner repair questions and answers, this Model A owner tries buying an inexpensive $2.50 coil wire and a $00.65 set of carburetor butterfly screws.

A week later this Model A owner calls the same Model A parts supplier and after a two (2) hour explanation, he reports that he is returning the above ordered and received parts for a refund because his neighbor came by and reminded him he had to turn the switch "ON" in order to start his Model A.

Besides offering inexpensive Model A parts prices, I think it is very possible that most of our Model A parts business owners are going to heaven just from their spending half of their lives on the phone trying to explain to Model A owners what they may "possibly" need to start their Model A's.

[john charlton]

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Repro parts today are vastly better quality than before . They are mostly very good value for money . Any comparable part I buy for my Volvo is 3 times the price at least and also most likely made in China !!! . To buy genuine Volvo parts from the main dealer is even way more .Be thankfull we have good honest vendors and several to choose from .

John in warm evening Suffolk County England .

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Found some "fits-all" parts for my Mallory--$18.00 for points & about the same for the condenser!!!!--- I Re-Used the OLD condenser!
Bill Cheep

[jimalabam]

Yes, there are some problems with modern day repop parts but had you been around and Model A'ing in the '60s, How about those "Argentine" repops. Cheap, yes, but not worth the price of the cardboard box they came...

[Mike Peters]

Have any of you guys worked on Model A's for people who are not mechanical? I have. Typically, the car has been sitting for years. Gas is bad in the tank, so I drain that and replace with a couple gallons of good gas. It also needs a battery. So I go buy a new one. No spark. So I replace the points, gee whiz, a whole ten bucks for points. Now it finally runs. So the neighbor is into me for about 50 bucks, no charge for labor, and they pay me, but you would think it was their last dollar in the whole world and starvation is imminent for them. Another time a car needed spark plugs. 30 bucks for NAPA plugs. Again, same reaction. They don't want to spend a nickel on their Model A, but don't blink an eye when it comes to their modern car or truck. It's waaaay cheaper to keep a Model A running than any modern car or truck. Three cheers for our repro vendors!

[2manycars]

In 25 years of full time restoration, I can tell you that most people are just cheap. If you think they whine about the cost of parts, how about the whining about the labor? And then they bring their modern bubble car to the dealer and he charges $100 an hour and that is ok, because they Need that car.
Bill, who is glad he is retired.

[Barry B./ Ma.]

Don't complain about the price of Model A parts, I had an exhaust system put on my '97 Escort and it was $600 installed (without the Cat converter). When I questioned the price of the parts he said the parts were obsolete and no longer stocked so new parts would be marked up as "vintage"pricing. Can't seem to win can we.

[SeaSlugs]

yea i love people who complain about $100 or even $160 tires for thier model a...im just happy that someone is producing the tires!

yea model A parts are on par with lawnmower parts really.

[leo]

Boy am I enjoying this, cheapskates on display!

[captndan]

Originally Posted by leo

Boy am I enjoying this, cheapskates on display!

I just hit the like button. Bravo to our parts suppliers. Boo Hoo to the cheapskates. If you can't afford your car or just want to give somebody a bad time take a hike in your new car.

[FrankWest]

be thankful somebody is making parts. I know a guy that has a 1933 Packard and is still looking for a engine part form more than 4 years! Another guy had a 1933 Essex Terraplane and has been looking for parts for over 10 years.

[Synchro909]

Although parts over here cost double what you guys pay (freight is a killer), I still consider myself smart for choosing the right vintage car to keep on the road and enjoy.
Can you imagine the squeals from those cheapskates if they had to pay whey we do?

[Karl]

Originally Posted by Synchro909

Although parts over here cost double what you guys pay (freight is a killer), I still consider myself smart for choosing the right vintage car to keep on the road and enjoy.
Can you imagine the squeals from those cheapskates if they had to pay whey we do?

I'm with you! Exchange rate is a killer then the freight is mostly more expensive than the part and then you get customs holding their hand out as well when it hits our shore. . Still a price I am happy to pay. Karl

[Synchro909]

Originally Posted by Karl

I'm with you! Exchange rate is a killer then the freight is mostly more expensive than the part and then you get customs holding their hand out as well when it hits our shore. . Still a price I am happy to pay. Karl

Our local Model A and T parts supplier faces the same issues when getting his stock. I think too many look at his price and compare it to the price in the US supplier's catalogues without taking the exchange rate, freight and taxes into account. By the time I do that little exercise, I find it isn't worth the hassle and the parts are here much quicker, besides where would we be if he couldn't make a living out of it?

[Mike Peters]

Originally Posted by Synchro909

Our local Model A and T parts supplier faces the same issues when getting his stock. I think too many look at his price and compare it to the price in the US supplier's catalogues without taking the exchange rate, freight and taxes into account. By the time I do that little exercise, I find it isn't worth the hassle and the parts are here much quicker, besides where would we be if he couldn't make a living out of it?

Syncro:
So you have a parts vendor operating in Australia? Does he have a website? I'd be curious to look at his inventory and prices. Thanks mike

[Synchro909]

Originally Posted by Mike Peters

Syncro:
So you have a parts vendor operating in Australia? Does he have a website? I'd be curious to look at his inventory and prices. Thanks mike

Here you go.
http://henryspares.com.au/
and
http://henryspares.com.au/?page_id=21