Spare parts availability for the future years

[AZTB]

Re: Spare parts availability for the future years

...but not to sound repetitive, the parts for the early Birds were primarily mechanical...my concern for our Birds is the electrical components.

[Guest]

Re: Spare parts availability for the future years

Most all 'modern manufacture' cars and trucks utilize electronic components, so the Retro is hardly alone here.

I can't imagine automakers letting an entire generation of cars and trucks become obsolete due to the unavailability of spare parts, even the EMs.

Our Retros may be a relatively small market, but there will be a need for EMs for other lower-production cars too, and it just seems logical that some company will be able to supply them.

The logical source would be Ford's original suppliers. As long as they have the specs, they could produce them again. The 'secret,' if there is one, is in the technology; codes, circuits, chips, etc. I don't think they can't be that hard to produce or re-manufacture, even if in smaller quantities.

I'll check with my contact at Ford Restoration and see what they have to say.

[jerrym3]

Re: Spare parts availability for the future years

...but not to sound repetitive, the parts for the early Birds were primarily mechanical...my concern for our Birds is the electrical components.

Same feelings here.

A carb, fuel pump, rear end, heater core, windshield wiper motor, alternator, starter, radiator, various brackets, etc can probably be remanufactured, rebuilt, etc.

But, electronics and/or modules? Or, windshields?

I'd trust a wrecking yard to provide a fender, gas tank, glove compartment door, trim pieces, etc, but an electronic module? Would they even know where the piece is or how to safely remove it?

And, assuming you find a rebuilder, if a rebuilder wants the core part for rebuilding, who removes the part? A dealer? If so, where is the car stored while the core is being rebuilt? At the dealer? At what cost?

Besides, it takes a special kind of shop to rebuild that "stuff" for any car, not just TBirds. Potential volume, design/mfg costs, and profit all become issues.

(I can buy door panels for a 62 Galaxie, but not a 64 500XL. I can buy instrument bezels, but I can't buy dash trim pieces. I can get a dashpad, but not a convertible top bow. Demand/supply.)

I guess the goal then is to to use the retros, enjoy them, and be ready to see them go when something irreplaceable needs replacing.

Again, this is not an "anti TBird" subject. It's more of a "technology is great.....when it works" subject.

[jerrym3]

Re: Spare parts availability for the future years

Most all 'modern manufacture' cars and trucks utilize electronic components, so the Retro is hardly alone here.

I can't imagine automakers letting an entire generation of cars and trucks become obsolete due to the unavailability of spare parts, even the EMs.

Our Retros may be a relatively small market, but there will be a need for EMs for other lower-production cars too, and it just seems logical that some company will be able to supply them.

The logical source would be Ford's original suppliers. As long as they have the specs, they could produce them again. The 'secret,' if there is one, is in the technology; codes, circuits, chips, etc. I don't think they can't be that hard to produce or re-manufacture, even if in smaller quantities.

I'll check with my contact at Ford Restoration and see what they have to say.

Phil, I look at it a bit differently.

If I'm a manufacturer, I'd like nothing better than to see you come in every few years to buy my latest product. Planned obsolescence. Keeps my assembly lines running and offsets my fixed costs.

(I have a two year old Toro leaf blower. On/off switch went bad. Got another under warranty. That unit's switch went bad in under two years. Cannot get a replacement switch, but Home Depot will be more than happy to sell me a new unit.)

Maybe you're right, and some shop will find that rebuilding EM's for cars is a lucrative business. I sure hope so. But, when will that happen?

I ain't got that many driving years to go, and my daughters are more interested in the Galaxie than the retro.

[Guest]

Re: Spare parts availability for the future years

Just for the heck of it I did a little searching for ECMs online.

Found two companies, autoecms.com and ecmdepot.com, both of whom say they stock
300,000-500,000 ECMs. One of them states: IF WE DON'T HAVE IT....IT DOESN'T EXIST.... call us today at 1-888-222-0316

I did a search on ECMs for a 2002 T-Bird and came up with several. Didn't search for a particular part number, but it looks like finding one for a Retro would be pretty easy.

Looks like ECM refurbishing and replacements are already a big business.

Is it possible that the replacement parts issue for our Retros won't be such a big problem after all?

[BirdsAndBugs]

Re: Spare parts availability for the future years

I guess the goal then is to to use the retros, enjoy them, and be ready to see them go when something irreplaceable needs replacing.

That's the way I look at. Enjoy them and maintain them. We'll cross that bridge when it occurs.

[Tweetie]

Re: Spare parts availability for the future years

If i can't cross the bridge -- I will block it. :}

[jerrym3]

Re: Spare parts availability for the future years

My Galaxie is now 50 years old with 217,000 miles on the body.

Not that most of us have to be personally concerned, but, will today's cars be on the road 50 years from their build date? Even 30 years? Will there be a "2002-5 retro TBird" catalog of parts? Mustang, Camaro, maybe, but lower volume, less popular cars?


In the last few years, I've been able to replace the Galaxie's motor (with a rebuilt 390/300), and get new, factory/quality seatcovers. There's a few sources for many, but not all, Galaxie parts, and the car, fortunately, uses many parts from other Ford vehicles.

Can't say the same for the retro.

In retrospect, the new motor/covers was not the smartest move. I knew that going in. I'll never get back what I paid, but, what the heck. It wasn't that wallet crushing, and you can't take it with you.

And, after all these years of ownership, she's "family". Except for old photos, I don't think I've owned anything else for 45 years.

Anyway, I've gone way off topic.

[Guest]

Re: Spare parts availability for the future years

Only time will tell what Retros will be worth, or what parts availability will be like, when they're 50 years old. The 2002 Retros won't turn '50' until 2052 ... doubt many of us will still be around then, but I'm sure some of the Retros will.

And I don't think I'm sticking my neck out here when I say they WILL be collectible. How popular and how much they bring in say 2052, no one can say. But they're just not that many low-production, unique cars with the 50+ year heritage the Thunderbird has out there. Thunderbird has established its name and legacy in automotive history. Nothing will change that. The T-Bird name will almost certainly return someday, be it 5 years, 10, 20, whatever. It may be a sedan, two-door, four door, or 2-seat convertible. No one knows at this point.

Given the 'classic' and collectible status of previous generation T-Birds, it's almost impossible to imagine that the 2002-2005 won't join the older 'Birds. They many never attain the lofty status of the coveted 1955-57, but it seems certain that they will be at least, if not more popular, valuable and sought after than say the 1967-1970s, 1980's or even 1990's Thunderbirds.

I'm not 'playing favorites,' but nearly every car ever produced as a 'following' of some sort. I think you could go online and 'Google' just about any make or model and find some kind of club, group, blog, or other website that owns and follows them.

Why should a car with as much going for it as our Retros be any different?

[Guest]

Re: Spare parts availability for the future years

Just for fun, I Googled the 'Yugo' to see what I'd find.

Turns out there are a number of sites and blogs dedicated to this often-ridiculed car. In fact, a number of collectors have supposedly offered to pay 50,000 Euros for the last Yugo produced! That for a car that sold for about $ 3,900 brand new. Other links suggest that the Yugo has, or will soon become 'collectible.'

If even the Yugo has a dedicated following, it's a virtual certainty that our Retros will enjoy higher values and a bright future among collectors.

[jerrym3]

Re: Spare parts availability for the future years

Just for fun, I Googled the 'Yugo' to see what I'd find.

Turns out there are a number of sites and blogs dedicated to this often-ridiculed car. In fact, a number of collectors have supposedly offered to pay 50,000 Euros for the last Yugo produced! That for a car that sold for about $ 3,900 brand new. Other links suggest that the Yugo has, or will soon become 'collectible.'

If even the Yugo has a dedicated following, it's a virtual certainty that our Retros will enjoy higher values and a bright future among collectors.

Phil, that's assuming there is a "car culture" in the future.

Seems like most youngsters today are more concerned with APPS and social interaction than cars. If there is a youth interest in cars, it seems to center mostly around today's PonyCars.

But, if there are old carshows 30 years from now, the retro will get attention, but, unfortunately, most folks will probably say "what's a Galaxie?"

[Guest]

Re: Spare parts availability for the future years

I'm sure there will be a 'car culture' in the future. Automobiles are such an important part of life, especially in the U.S., there will always be collectors, enthusiasts, museums, etc.

If people still remember the 'Tucker,' I'm sure some will remember the Galaxie. Even obscure historical models have their followers.

[2bad4u]

Re: Spare parts availability for the future years

My many thanks to all of you about that topic and your comments.

[jerrym3]

Re: Spare parts availability for the future years

The A/C just went south on my bro/in/law's 2003 TBird. Ford no longer offers the part he needs.

Dealer was lucky and found the part in California. (I don't know if it's new or used.)

My bro considers himself to be very fortunate.

Dealer recommended this site for used parts.

"LKQ auto parts"

Again, not throwing arrows at our cars. Just an example of what's happening out there with all fairly low volume cars.

[Cashr22]

I do not find that true for parts for the retro bird. If you look there are parts new ,rebuilt, and used out there.Also many parts are interchangeable Eg. Lincoln LS, and Jaguars.
Most of this thinking is far from reality.