C3 Rally Caps NOS vs OEM?

[Sheldon S.]

I have seen NOS 3925801 Caps and OEM 3925801 caps listed for sale, wondering if the newer ones are exactly the same as the real NOS ones and if not what is the differences. Both are in GM boxes but the NOS ones are in the older GM boxes.
thanks in advance
Sheldon

[Joe L.]

Re: C3 Rally Caps NOS vs OEM?

I have seen NOS 3925801 Caps and OEM 3925801 caps listed for sale, wondering if the newer ones are exactly the same as the real NOS ones and if not what is the differences. Both are in GM boxes but the NOS ones are in the older GM boxes.
thanks in advance
Sheldon

Sheldon-----


This may be a case in which the sellers are actually correctly, or nearly correctly, describing the items.

The term "OEM" de-codes to "original equipment manufacturer". It describes a part that's sourced from the parts channels of the vehicle manufacturer or, sometimes, through other channels but from the same manufacturing source as those sold through the parts channels of the vehicle manufacturer. It implies a currently available part and that's exactly what the 3925801 is----a currently manufactured and available part. So, the seller is describing the part very accurately.

The term "NOS" which, of course, refers to "new, old (or original) stock" USUALLY refers to an OEM part that's been discontinued and is no longer available from a manufacturing source. However, there is no precise definition for "NOS" as used in the vernacular. In this case, I think the seller is using the term "NOS" to describe a new original part that's older and, thus, differentiate his item from those currently available through GM. In my mind, that's another definition of the term "new old stock" and it's appropriate. In fact, it's really a more accurate definition of "new old stock" since the fact that "NOS"=discontinued is a connotation that's only implied in the vernacular.

In this case, however, it may very well be that there is NO difference between the "NOS" rings and the "OEM" rings. Just because the "NOS" rings are in older boxes does not mean that they are any different than those supplied in the newer boxes. I suppose it depends upon just how old the "NOS" rings are and whether they have the clips in the locations which are, apparently, deemed original for at least earlier C3's. Otherwise, the only difference is likely the box.

[Alan S.]

Re: C3 Rally Caps NOS vs OEM?

Hi Sheldon,
Have you referred back to Rick Miller's, THE RESTORER, article about trim rings? The write-up and pictures helped me to gain some understanding about what happened to the rings over the production years and since.
It's in Volume 34, Number 1, Summer 2007. Check it out if you haven't yet.
Regards,
Alan

PS: Certain rings became VERY expensive at Carlisle right after that article was published.