Dave@Moon Posted November 15, 2003 Share Posted November 15, 2003 One of the oldest car parts I can think of that is still in regular production today are the AMC door handles that were introduced in 1968. My dad bought a 1969 Ambassador new, and I remember thinking how cool those flush door handles were compared to the protruding button style still then in vogue. They're still in production today, 35 years and three corporate owners later. They survive as the door handles for the Jeep Wrangler soft top models, as well as the Wrangler's tailgate handle. Does anybody out there know of an external piece, trim or otherwise, that has been in constant production for a longer period of time? (Aftermarket, reproduction, and retro/kit car pieces excluded [e.g. Cobra taillights and trim]) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Skyking Posted November 16, 2003 Share Posted November 16, 2003 To this day, American Motors is underated......They had alot of fine ideas! Just one in particular was their WeatherEye Heater...The Best In The Industry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D Binger Posted November 16, 2003 Share Posted November 16, 2003 Dave,What about windshield wipers?Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6219_Rules Posted November 16, 2003 Share Posted November 16, 2003 My vote would be on the head lamp. It has been around since the beginning. Of course, Mr. Lucas did feel that lights were a mear accessory since a gentleman never drives at night. He must have been a hoot at parties. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nearchoclatetown Posted November 16, 2003 Share Posted November 16, 2003 Dave, maybe I'm misunderstanding your post but I think you are looking for specific pieces used for a length of time. VW supposedly never changed the design of the "J" shaped piece that held the rubber seal for the hood on old style Beetles. So that would be at least from '49 to '03. I don't remember looking at earlier models. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest imported_56BuickSuper Posted November 16, 2003 Share Posted November 16, 2003 I would think the blue oval from Ford or the Chevy bowtie.Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 16, 2003 Share Posted November 16, 2003 Not a trim piece, but for sheer automotive part longevity I nominate the Schrader valve core. You can take the core out of the stem on your brass era tube and use it in the stem in the rim for the tubeless tire on your 2003 SUV tow vehicle. Probably basically unchanged for 100 years.hvs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Skyking Posted November 16, 2003 Share Posted November 16, 2003 lug nuts.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Moskowitz Posted November 16, 2003 Share Posted November 16, 2003 Also, not a correct answer to your post as "continual" is debateable but the floor mat for a 1901-1903 has continued to be reproduced over the years and is available today for purchase. Had to get my Oldsmobile jollies today! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R W Burgess Posted November 16, 2003 Share Posted November 16, 2003 Right Steve, and "your" floormat never rotted from a leaking winshield or ever lost it's color because of sunrays. And they thought they could improve on that with carpet. For your information, I just ordered a new '04 Peterbilt and it will come with a "floormat" in the front of the cab, but carpet in the sleeping quarters/sleeper bunk. It's amazing what you can special order on a heavy truck, and not even think of getting on a regular automobile or pickup. Any color you want too, just give them the paint code. I like big trucks. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Wayne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 16, 2003 Share Posted November 16, 2003 But whose lug nuts? I remember my father [born in 1903] telling me of an expression from the teens or '20s. "It's as cold as Kelsey's nuts." It refered to the lug nuts on Kelsey wheels. ~ hvs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave@Moon Posted November 16, 2003 Author Share Posted November 16, 2003 Nearchocolatetown has hit it as close as I (feebly) tried to describe my question. Schrader valves, sealed beams, lug nuts, etc. are of similarly long production. However these are mechanical pieces that were ascribed specific paramters by the S.A.E. I find it interesting that something that is <span style="font-style: italic">not</span> a mechanically defined piece, and is largely designed for aesthetic reasons, has this kind of longevity. The trademark trim items (Chevy bowtie, Ford oval, etc.)usually change almost year-to-year in size/dimension/contour for various applications. Even (I believe) the Mack Truck bulldog went through several iterations. Yet somewhere there's a guy (probably in another country by now) casting <span style="font-style: italic">exactly</span> the same piece (the old AMC handle) that was originally drawn up and modeled for the 1968 model year. (There may be allowances for different locking mechanism attachments, but the handle piece and bezel are identical in dimension and design.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amphicar BUYER Posted November 17, 2003 Share Posted November 17, 2003 The springs for my Harley sidecar are listed as "1929 to present". How's that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMPARTSMAN Posted November 19, 2003 Share Posted November 19, 2003 In GM parts system, one comes to mind. P/N 4168122, the "omega" shaped springclip that retains the inside door handle and window crank handle on many cars and trucks. I have a Chevrolet parts book dated April 1953 that shows thatpart number, it is still a valid part number today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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