Thanks Dave- This is the sort of writ I enjoy reading.
Kindest Regards-Chris J. Richards
On Tue, 04 Nov 1997, Dave McDermott <dave.mcdermott@cusys.edu> wrote:
> Tiger history buffs,
>
> A couple of folks on the list challenged my statement that Tiger
>parts were available through Chrysler until around the mid 80s. They thought
>that they were only available through the mid to latter 70's. So to confirm
>dates I pulled out some of my old paperwork and here as they say is the rest
>of the story at least as it relates to my experiences.
> By the mid 70s the Tiger I bought in 68 was needing a fairly
>constant feeding of parts. Since the Tiger provided me the perfect blend of
>fun, reliability, looks, power, comfort etc I knew that I would own at least
>one for a very long time. I also realized that Chrysler might not be
>supplying parts for too many years after their minimum legally required
>period of 10 years. Therefore through my Chrysler dealer connection I
>obtained a listing of parts that were canceled or superseded dated 4/3/78
>and a price list also dated 4/3/78 showing the parts available. The
>obsoleted list is about 2 1/2 pages of "X" parts marked "NS1" which I think
>stood for no longer stocked. The price list is 9 pages long. Then from my
>Alpine and Tiger supplement parts books and the Chrysler lists I sent in the
>first of a number of orders to Chrysler on Oct. 78. Almost everything came
>through just fine. After several orders during the period from 78 through 79
>a pattern was developing. Virtually all the parts were coming out of Newark,
>NJ and with each order more parts were not available but most still were
>available and Chrysler was raising their prices quickly. The parts were in
>Chrysler packages or had Chrysler stickers with the X part number on them.
> I then got a Chrysler price list dated 11/5/79 which by then had
>shrunk to 4 1/2 pages and another dated 9/1/80 which was only 3 pages long
>but still included many wear out items like ball joints etc. I continued to
>get parts through 1980 and early 81. Sensing the parts were going fast, I
>then coordinated a rather large and final order of around $1,000 for members
>of our local club and myself on 5/10/81 which were delivered on 5/21/81. In
>those days $1,000 bought a lot of Tiger parts. For example the pentastar
>which started this discussion was priced at list of $1.70 , upper ball
>joints list at $17.13, headlight rims list at $9.70 etc. Dealer cost was
>about 35% lower. I continued to get price lists with the latest one dated
>12/29/84 which was one page. It still included such items as slave cyl
>repair kits, front brake hoses, upper ball joints, thermo elements etc.
> Therefore based on the above documentation we can say that Chrysler
>did supply at least some parts through the mid 80s. Also the slow decline of
>parts shown on the price lists would indicate that the stock of spare parts
>from Rootes for Tigers and Alpines was being slowly purchased and not dumped
>in some land fill. Before anyone contacts me on all those OEM parts I got, I
>only bought what at that time I thought would be my lifetime supply. However
>since then I have restored 6 Tigers and used up most of the parts. You might
>ask why did I hold onto all this old paperwork. I'm sure I must have known
>then that there would be an internet someday and someone would ask this
>question. Anyway I hope this adds a piece to the story on what happened to
>the Rootes parts that Chrysler supplied here in the United States.
>
> Dave McDermott
>
>
>
>
>
>>Date: Mon, 03 Nov 1997 10:10:05 -0700
>>To: Marc James Small <msmall@roanoke.infi.net>, Anita Barrett
><anitabrt@mindspring.com>
>>From: Dave McDermott <dave.mcdermott@cusys.edu>
>>Subject: Re: Pentastar
>>Cc: tigers@autox.team.net,
>>
>> Jim and Marc,
>>
>> I had a similar experience to Marc's. I had a friend who was a
>Chrysler dealer in the beginning to mid 80s. I was able then to get a copy
>of the Chrysler computer listings showing the Rootes parts that they had on
>hand in a Newark NJ warehouse. The numbers were the original Rootes numbers
>preceded by an X. I remember someone telling me at the time that there was
>some kind of federal law which required a manufacturer to maintain parts for
>something like 10 years after the end of production. Anyway Chrysler
>maintained Rootes parts for long after the 10 year point. However, as time
>went by after the mid 80s there was very little left that could be used on
>Tigers. It is unfortunate Jim got such a bad impression of Chrysler because
>of a local dealer in his area. I am not particularly a fan of Chrysler but
>they didn't stop supplying all parts in 70-71 which was only 4 years after
>production. Of more concern to me is that Chrysler's purchase of Rootes
>ultimately led to the end of Tiger production.
>>However I can see their point of view in selling a product with a
>competitors engine, transmission etc.
>>
>>
>> Dave McDermott
>>
>>
>>
>>At 11:34 PM 10/31/97 -0500, Marc James Small wrote:
>>>At 11:11 PM 10/31/97 -0500, Jim Barrett wrote:
>>>>About 1970-71 I went to the local Chrysler dealer parts counter to get parts
>>>>for my
>>>>Tiger II. They told me they had been directed to trash all the parts as
>>>>Chrysler
>>>>would no longer support Sunbeam cars. I haven't liked Chrysler ever since.
>>>>Any one try to get Simca parts? Chrysler did the same thing to them.
>>>
>>>
>>>Well, as late as '86 I was still buying Sunbeam parts through my local
>>>Chrysler dealer. You just had to adjust the part number. I don't know if
>>>anything is still available, but I would doubt it. But '71 is way too early.
>>>
>>>Marc
>>>
>>>
>>>Marc James Small
>>>Cha Robh Bas Fir, Gun Ghras Fir!
>>>FAX: +540/343-7315
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
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