Delco versus Delphi

[Frank K.]

Are these two manufactures the same? (GM)

[John D.]

Re: Delco versus Delphi

Not anymore....here's a good short summary of the saga.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delco_Electronics

[Duke W.]

Re: Delco versus Delphi

Delphi is an independent publicly traded corporation spun off from GM in the early nineties. It consists of former Delco and other former GM operations. Delco is now just a GM marketing outfit. They don't manufacture anything. For example Delco ignition components for vintage cars are for the most part manufactured by Standard Motor Products (SMP) and sold under numerous traditional brand names including, in addition to Delco, Echlin, Niehoff, and SMP's own in house brands, Standard and Blue Streak... same parts... just a different box and marketing channel.

[Joe L.]

Re: Delco versus Delphi

Are these two manufactures the same? (GM)

Frank------


DELPHI is a GM "spin-off" company. The "DEL" represents Delco. The "P" represents Packard Electric. The "H" represents Harrison Thermal Products. The "I" represents Inland Division. All of these were former GM parts manufacturing operations.

Several years ago due to bankruptcies, GM "took back" some of the operations that had been part of DELPHI. This included Harrison Thermal Products, Delco Electronics, and a few others.

DELPHI continues in some form or another. Primarily, it's an OEM supplier to GM and other auto manufacturers for the range of products it still produces. Many ACDelco products are manufactured by DELPHI.

A tip: Virtually all DELPHI products are OEM quality. Most are sold under the brand names of the various auto manufacturers through their OEM (dealer) parts operations or through ACDelco dealers. However, some products are sold into the aftermarket. Almost always, these parts will be OEM and exactly the same as those sold through the auto manufacturers' dealer parts organizations. But, they'll usually be less costly. So, if you find a part you need branded DELPHI, the chances are great it will be a good deal for an OEM part.

[Terry M.]

Re: Delco versus Delphi

Frank------


DELPHI is a GM "spin-off" company. The "DEL" represents Delco. The "P" represents Packard Electric. The "H" represents Harrison Thermal Products. The "I" represents Inland Division. All of these were former GM parts manufacturing operations.

Several years ago due to bankruptcies, GM "took back" some of the operations that had been part of DELPHI. This included Harrison Thermal Products, Delco Electronics, and a few others.

Joe
Thanks for the information. I had assUmed (of course we all know what that does) that it was named after the town of Delphi, Indiana. That town is not too far from Anderson Indiana which was the home of most, if not all, of the generators/alternators on our Corvettes from 1953 to 1982, and maybe even the C4s. I think they also made Distributors and some starters in Anderson back in the days when parts were made in the USA.

[Kenneth B.]

Re: Delco versus Delphi

Back in the day GM sold off many of it's parts plants & gave them a no compete contract for 5 years but they had to give the workers the same pay & benefits as they had. After 5 years Delphi had to bid the work against other suppliers that did not have the same labor overhead. As you can guess they lost all the contracts & went bankrupt leaving us suppliers to them not getting paid. Also the UAW workers that stayed lost there jobs.

[Kenneth B.]

Re: Delco versus Delphi

Guide Lamp was also in Anderson. They made the headlight taillights & trim. There was also a fuchsia front end plastic plant there when Delphi owned it.

[Joe L.]

Re: Delco versus Delphi

Guide Lamp was also in Anderson. They made the headlight taillights & trim. There was also a fuchsia front end plastic plant there when Delphi owned it.

Kenneth------


Guide Division was spun off separately from GM. It struggled along for awhile and, then, floundered. As far as I know, it ultimately went into bankruptcy and its assets were liquidated.

Delco-Remy was also spun off separately. GM allowed it to use the Delco-Remy brand for a number of years. Then, it became Remy International. As far as I know, it's still around and manufactures and re-manufactures starters and alternators for the OEM and aftermarket.

[Geoff C.]

Re: Delco versus Delphi

Guide Division's tooling ended up at Trim Part (formerly known as Custom Mold Dynamics) & then absorbed into the "PUI family" along with AAA. Consolidation; just like what the parent of Ecklers did with a group of formerly independent GM aftermarket car line outlets.

[Joe L.]

Re: Delco versus Delphi

Guide Division's tooling ended up at Trim Part (formerly known as Custom Mold Dynamics) & then absorbed into the "PUI family" along with AAA. Consolidation; just like what the parent of Ecklers did with a group of formerly independent GM aftermarket car line outlets.

Geoff-----


Well, it's good that at least some of the Guide tooling survived. I hate to see original tooling get scrapped. In many cases, it means that an original configuration and quality part can never be manufactured again.

Consolidation in the automotive industry reached dizzying proportions in the last 10-15 years.