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Is this guy on crack?!!!

Started by James Gray, March 12, 2014, 03:24:52 PM

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James Gray

I'm searching for Plugs, Wires Distributor Cap and Points when I find these on ebay. I have not done much more searching as of yet but was curious. Are these prices realistic?

1 Set of 8 NOS AC Delco plugs $175.00 and another at $250.00

I don't mind paying a premium for a quality product and/or a period correct part but this is simply stupid greed.

Do you know what "stress" is? It is when the mind over-rides the body's basic desire to choke the living crap out of someone who desperately needs it.

Check out these links and tell me if I am wrong in thing these are not worth the money. Or do you have a source for these items mentioned in the 1st paragraph.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-AC-Delco-Spark-Plugs-Type-M8-10mm-1939-48-Cadillac-1941-48-Chevrolet-/261402490756?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3cdccd7784&vxp=mtr#ht_1062wt_1124

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-AC-Delco-Spark-Plugs-Type-104-10mm-1939-40-Cadillac-Lasulle-1937-50-Packard-/251454954866?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3a8be21d72&vxp=mtr#ht_1054wt_1124
Maj. James F Gray Ret.
Kristie Koepplin RN BSN

Member # 28494
1942 Cadillac Series 6269

joeceretti

I bought ten new plugs at my local auto parts store. They were about 30 bucks and work just fine. Crack is a sensible description. I can see a premium for parts that aren't available or the new replacements either don't work well or look wrong. You can barely even see the plugs.

Dan LeBlanc

For the person going for the factory-accurate, better than concours restoration, these are key.  Unfortunately, demand exceeds supply and someone will pay that for these.

Of course, if you're doing a six-figure restoration, dropping $250 on a set of spark plugs is the equivalent to the average person spending $2 on a cup of coffee.

It's all relative.
Dan LeBlanc
1977 Lincoln Continental Town Car

joeceretti


Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621

Simply trying to get as much as the market will bear - and bear it often will - whenever those magic three little letters "N O S" apply - for those 0.01% diehard purists for whom nothing less the highest levels of authenticity will do - and can afford the privilege. 

A Cadillac Motorcar is a Possession for which there is no Acceptable Substitute

Walter Youshock

You think THAT'S bad, this one has me stunned:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-VINTAGE-CADILLAC-SPLASH-GUARDS-MUD-FLAPS-2-PAIR-NOS-EMBLEM-ORNAMENT-/131129961855?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Make%3ACadillac&hash=item1e87f46d7f&vxp=mtr

And it's not the only set I've seen go this high.  No offense to anyone who may have paid this, but would you REALLY ever install them?!?!  I have a used set in my basement with the lettering worn off.  Wonder how much they're worth?

As for plugs, the AC 44's for the 50's cars command crazy prices because they were used in just about every GM car.  The 'Vette and Chevy guys pay top dollar for them, leaving us poor Caddy owners to use substitute Champions...
CLC #11959 (Life)
1957 Coupe deVille
1991 Brougham

Wayne Womble 12210

Some will do anything for correctness, sensible or not. 

I have spent all day pulling the oil pan off of a Corvette and changing the spring in the oil pump. The purpose was to lower the oil pressure to the correct level, for show purposes. 

joeceretti

I guess I should understand. I have spent an undetermined amount of money on parts for my car. I won't add it up, I don't want to know and I don't want my wife to know.

35-709

There is a fine line between "Hobby" and "Mental Illness".  Dave Barry.   I walk that line.
1935 Cadillac Sedan resto-mod "Big Red"
1973 Cadillac Caribou - now back home as of 9/2024
1950 Jaguar Mark V Saloon resto-mod - Sold
1942 Cadillac 6269 - Sold
1968 Pontiac Bonneville Convertible - Sold
1950 Packard 2dr. Club Sedan
1935 Glenn Pray - Auburn Boattail Speedster, Gen. 2

joeceretti

Knowing won't make any difference. What's done is done and if I know it might inhibit me from carrying on. I have to finish.

James Gray

Good points all of them. Especially not sharing the expense information with the wife. Albeit, my wife is an avid shopper and owns a $5,000 PURSE?!!! Armed with this information, I get to spend a little more. $5,000.00 for a purse?!!! She won it in some online "we'll send you junk email" registration contest but it's my arguing point and for the moment it's working. Ok that's all lies. She does have the purse and won it, not paid for it, but we don't argue over money. Just dishes.

Regardless, it's this crazy value people put on things and subservently pay. There was no big development cost put into these plugs nor the majority of the other stuff NOS. It had already been developed. It's simply the absorbitent pricing applied. Production is limited simply to keep the cost high. And since we are discussing this, why do I have to pay 1.6 million dollars for the exact same house built in TX that sells for $320K just because I live 7 miles from the ocean? I don't buy into the location argument. Montana was much more beatiful than anything I've seen in California. And the people are not so damn impatient. It's still dirt. When I move, the ocean is going to get bigger because I paid for this dirt and I'm will find a back-hoe big enough to remove it to the core of the earth. It's coming with me. Over and Out
Maj. James F Gray Ret.
Kristie Koepplin RN BSN

Member # 28494
1942 Cadillac Series 6269

Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621

Whether spark plugs, real estate or a quart of milk - value is a function of supply & demand, nothing less, nothing more. 

A Cadillac Motorcar is a Possession for which there is no Acceptable Substitute

James Gray

In microeconomics, supply and demand is an economic model of price determination in a market. It concludes that in a competitive market, the unit price for a particular item will vary until it settles at a point where the quantity demanded by consumers will equal the quantity supplied by producers, resulting in an economic equilibrium for price and quantity.

The four basic laws of supply and demand are:
1.If demand increases and supply remains unchanged, a shortage occurs, leading to a higher equilibrium price.
2.If demand decreases and supply remains unchanged, a surplus occurs, leading to a lower equilibrium price.
3.If demand remains unchanged and supply increases, a surplus occurs, leading to a lower equilibrium price.
4.If demand remains unchanged and supply decreases, a shortage occurs, leading to a higher equilibrium price.

Now assume you own a business where this model provides options. Which one is more profitable and has less overhead? Good job! Now go buy a Mercedes and leave the real cars (Cadilac) for us. :)
Maj. James F Gray Ret.
Kristie Koepplin RN BSN

Member # 28494
1942 Cadillac Series 6269

Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621

A fellow economics disciple!

"Thumbsup!"  :)
A Cadillac Motorcar is a Possession for which there is no Acceptable Substitute

harry s

Terrill Machine in Texas (254-893-2610) has all the tune up parts needed and also good quality repair parts. His 10mm plugs are $28 + shipping. The last I bought from him were AC Delco M8 which are the replacement for the 104s. You can also get points, wires, condenser, etc from NAPA. The Corvette guy on Ebay does appear to be taking a shot.    Harry
Harry Scott 4195
1941 6733
1948 6267X
2011 DTS Platinum

dplotkin

I own a C2 Corvette, sometimes I wish i didn't, no higher prices for NOS parts can be found than for lower production and/or high performance 63-67 models. I think we all agree the price we sometimes pay for a free marketplace is egregious prices.

Dan
56 Fleetwood Sixty Special (Starlight silver over Dawn Grey)
60 Buick Electra six window
60 Chrysler 300 F Coupe
61 Plymouth Savoy Ram Inducted 413 Superstock
62 Pontiac Bonneville Vista
63 Chevy Impala convertable
63 Ford Galaxie XL fastback
65 Corvette convertable 396
68 Chrysler New Yorker

James Gray

In all fairness to the corvette guy. He was professional and knowledgeable and in general a nice guy.
Maj. James F Gray Ret.
Kristie Koepplin RN BSN

Member # 28494
1942 Cadillac Series 6269

David King (kz78hy)

If your car is a driver, then the current aftermarket plug will work fine.  Getting period correct for show always costs a bunch more.

I'm a fool on both fronts as I'm running NOS plugs in my Brougham and have 11k miles one them now.  I got them at a decent price and when I started the car, everything was to spec. 

David
David King
CLC 22014  (life)
1958 Eldorado Brougham 615
1959 Eldorado Brougham 56- sold
1960 Eldorado Brougham 83- sold
1998 Deville d'Elegance
1955 Eldorado #277
1964 Studebaker Commander
2012 Volt
CLCMRC benefactor 197

Director and Founder, Eldorado Brougham Chapter
Past President, Motor City Region

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