posted 01-02-2003 07:16 PM                  

For example I remember Johnny Carson one night said there was going to be a shortage of toilet paper. This was during the oil shortage time. The next day, after the Johnny Carson show, you couldn't find a roll of toilet paper anyplace. They were in short supply for years. I'm not sure the prices ever came down to where they should be after the manufactures of toilet paper found out what a necessity it is.

I see there are not any mud flaps available through Chrysler, they are all sold out. I also see some Prowler owners have one two or even three sets extra, making a shortage of parts. This "everyone better panic" post will contribute to part shortages also.

One example is there are no floor mats available in old colors through Mopar, but there are after market mats available. These are nicer and better made according to people that have purchased them. When there is a need someone will fill it. I am betting there will be some businesses that will make any parts that will be needed in the future for the Prowler.

posted 01-03-2003 12:22 AM                  

From my experience with DeLoreans, I hope the same "future" can be predicted for the Prowler. The DeLorean went out of production under different terms than the Prowler, with similar numbers produced (8,583 estimated vs 11,000+).
A similar story can be told regarding Bricklins made in the mid-Seventies - parts are available, though fewer in number, and this marque only had about 2900 cars ever made.
There are just a handful of parts NOT available for the DeLorean, and of the remaining inventory many of the body panels that are left (and there are alot!) rarely get purchased. By the way, very few parts are shared with other cars and the DeLorean, unlike the Prowler. The fear factor creeps in every now and then since it is understood that once the parts are gone they are gone! Yet after 20 years, there are plenty of parts still left available. Granted we are talking different circumstances with the Prowler and inventory numbers may not be the same for each car, but give a call to DeLorean Motor Company in Houston (actually, don't call, just take my word for it - save their phone lines) and see how many left front fenders they have sold in the past 10 years. - The "infamous" left front fender is extremely rare and they have maybe half a dozen of them. They haven't even sold ONE in many years! (Repaired several, yes, keeping the remaining stock available, hence not having needed to sell a single LF fender.)

Now I can hear the cry from the ConCourse Crowd - you say you want "original" parts - not aftermarket, when the time comes. Having an original ConCourse quality DeLorean I can hear your voices - I believe there will be parts available, it's just that you may have to look harder in the future. Someone will have them, and if economics are a concern, someone will be moving those items if for no other reason than to make room for other things. Personally, having some "rare" DeLorean parts in my garage and seeing how I will probably never even take them out of the box, I'll keep the money in the bank for the time I may need a rare Prowler part - or I may just buy a "used" car when the time comes. Parts cars will be available (a sad fact, but true), and it's not like DC or a dealership will scrap any remaining inventory of parts after 10 years. Things like mud flaps and front fenders may be in short supply, but when the demand becomes apparent, someone will start re-producing these items. The Prowler is too unique of a vehicle to fad away because of no more parts. The ownership body won't let it happen! (That's you and me and all the other owners years from now)

Now, with all that being said, here's a thought. If you need a headlight for a car that was built in the 50's, 60's, 70's, etc. you can go to Kamrt and get a headlamp. With the influx of plastic in modern cars of today, IF the headlight lens gets damaged - and some will - you can't get such a part at a local auto parts store. Should you run out and buy all you can get? Well, how many headlight lenses have you heard of getting damaged - on ALL makes of "modern" cars? That's alot of cars and I can't think of one needing such a part from normal road damage. (Same applies to many other "unique" parts on the Prowler.) And if MY car was in an accident hence maybe needing that part, I'm sure one could be found (maybe on the expensive side, but I'll take that risk). If a car is so badly damaged that it is not reasonable to "repair" it, I'll wager that same car will become a doner car at that point. My ConCourse DeLorean is worth far more in parts than as a whole - providing there are buyers for all the parts (and there aren't). I'm not going to panic now for a part I may not need and tie up alot of garage space storing them. I need a bigger garage as it is!

Have I bought some extra parts for the Prowler? Sure! But I'm not going to run out and pick up as much as I can - for that money I may as well buy a new Prowler at the mid-$30k range and mothball the car. Then I'd have every part I may need, I'd also have a ConCourse car (since it's never driven) and, honestly - no need to be concerned about that needed "rare" part for the car I'm driving. In other words, I'd be less concerned one of my cars would have an imperfect part because I'd know I still have a perfect car stored somewhere else.

Parts WILL be available in the future - finding them is half the fun of having a rare and unique car! Drive 'em and enjoy 'em and don't sweat not having everything you MIGHT need somewhere in the future. (You may NOT need that part, also!) Spend your money on gas to drive and enjoy the car now.

That's my nickle's worth on the subject (and 5 cents less that could have gone in the gas tank...) Opinions, just as mileage, will vary.

posted 01-07-2003 10:35 AM                    

quote:

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Originally posted by GPS John:
From my experience with DeLoreans, I hope the same "future" can be predicted for the Prowler. The DeLorean went out of production under different terms than the Prowler, with similar numbers produced (8,583 estimated vs 11,000+).
A similar story can be told regarding Bricklins made in the mid-Seventies - parts are available, though fewer in number, and this marque only had about 2900 cars ever made.
There are just a handful of parts NOT available for the DeLorean, and of the remaining inventory many of the body panels that are left (and there are alot!) rarely get purchased. By the way, very few parts are shared with other cars and the DeLorean, unlike the Prowler. The fear factor creeps in every now and then since it is understood that once the parts are gone they are gone! Yet after 20 years, there are plenty of parts still left available. Granted we are talking different circumstances with the Prowler and inventory numbers may not be the same for each car, but give a call to DeLorean Motor Company in Houston (actually, don't call, just take my word for it - save their phone lines) and see how many left front fenders they have sold in the past 10 years. - The "infamous" left front fender is extremely rare and they have maybe half a dozen of them. They haven't even sold ONE in many years! (Repaired several, yes, keeping the remaining stock available, hence not having needed to sell a single LF fender.)

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I'll take it a step further as I have visited their factory. They bought all the remaining stock when DMC went out of business and for around $38K they will build you a brand new DeLorean. New seats, carpet, dash, guages, radio, wiring, wheels, tires, even a new crate motor where performance (something lacking in the original) has been boosted by about 50-60 hp. You provide nothing. That price is for a complete new car out the door.

And speaking of DeLoreans, fwe people know that while the car cost $26K back in 1980 there was an American Express "Gold" version (yes, the body was 24K gold electroplated) for $75K. I think only 2-3 were ever sold. One is in the lobby of a bank (under a glass box) in a little Texas town http://bigtexas.com/dmc/. The CEO of the bank fell in love with it and thought it would be a great collector car. I think it has only 5-6 miles on the OD.
Amazing.