New Old Stock

For those who obsess about exactly how their 356 left the factory!
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Jim Wayman
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New Old Stock

#1 Post by Jim Wayman »

I recently purchased a part for a Pre A car online that was advertised as New Old Stock. When I received it, I discovered that it was a part made at the earliest, in the 90s. A telling factor was that it was stamped "Made in Germany". The seller and I had a discussion about what New Old Stock meant and there was a disagreement. My position was that a NOS part, as it applies to our hobby, is a part made by a manufacturer who made similar parts for inclusion in a car when it was new and the part was made reasonably close to the time frame that the same cars were being manufactured and is identical to the parts assembled on the cars when new. The seller's position was that if a part was new (unused) and old, it was New Old Stock. The matter has been handled satisfactorily between us, but I would like to hear what others think about the meaning of NOS in our hobby.
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Jerry Powell
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Re: New Old Stock

#2 Post by Jerry Powell »

New old stock, or old stock for short, refers to aged stock of merchandise that was never sold to a customer and still new in original packaging. Such merchandise may not be manufactured anymore, and the new old stock may represent the only current source of a particular item. Wikipedia

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Joris Koning
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Re: New Old Stock

#3 Post by Joris Koning »

James,

Very slippery slope. Years ago we had a member here who has since left for the 911 world. He was very proud that he restored his roadster using lots of NOS parts. Some parts for our cars were made well into the 80's likely by the original manufacturers. Brad knows more about this. Are a set of new SWF original teardrop taillights with screw connectors NOS? most will say yes, are the NOS meaning stock originating from when the cars were build, no they are not. Those would have bullets and even the ones with the bullet connectors were probably made past 356 production.
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Ken Tuvman
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Re: New Old Stock

#4 Post by Ken Tuvman »

NOS to me, means made by the manufacturer

For instance there are oil pressure relief springs made by continental aero and also superior air parts.

Napa makes aftermarket parts but are they as good as oem? Not in my book.
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Ken Tuvman
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Re: New Old Stock

#5 Post by Ken Tuvman »

OTOH - many auto manufacturers subcontract various parts / components to other companies thus someone could advertise NOS that went with that particular Porsche year / model but was not manufactured by Porsche.
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Martin Benade
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Re: New Old Stock

#6 Post by Martin Benade »

It looks like there is not a single fully accepted definition of NOS. If you are buying something you have to see if the seller has what you consider to be NOS. It’s complicated.
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Mike Wilson
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Re: New Old Stock

#7 Post by Mike Wilson »

I think Roy Lock (r.i.p.) wrote an article explaining the differences in NOS and OEM. There is another term: NIB; New In Box.

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Paul Hatfield
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Re: New Old Stock

#8 Post by Paul Hatfield »

I wrote my thoughts about this on my website. Roy and I had lots of conversation about this very topic, and I am not saying he did or did not agree with what I wrote since I actually don't remember. Anyway, here is a link to my thoughts on this:
https://www.enginesinback.com/original-vs-repro.html
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Wes Bender
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Re: New Old Stock

#9 Post by Wes Bender »

Mike Wilson wrote: Tue Apr 19, 2022 11:19 am I think Roy Lock (r.i.p.) wrote an article explaining the differences in NOS and OEM. There is another term: NIB; New In Box.

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Martin Benade
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Re: New Old Stock

#10 Post by Martin Benade »

Since there is no universally accepted definition and not everyone is so honest, the term is not that useful.
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Jim Wayman
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Re: New Old Stock

#11 Post by Jim Wayman »

My guess is that the main difference in interpretations is between sellers and buyers. The scope of what is NOS is larger to a seller than to a buyer.
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Pete Indelicato
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Re: New Old Stock

#12 Post by Pete Indelicato »

After all these years aren't the OEM inventories about depleted?
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Mike Wilson
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Re: New Old Stock

#13 Post by Mike Wilson »

Right you are, Wes! Not to mention POS.

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Martin Benade
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Re: New Old Stock

#14 Post by Martin Benade »

But sometimes a car owner will have the real thing sitting on a shelf for 50 years
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