I've been searching both the net and this foum for an explanation to what NOS is short for and come up short. Numbers? Not Original Spare? Anyone care to enlighten a newbie?
Yip thats right. New Old Stock (NOS) are parts that have been sitting on a Dealer shelf since they were made. Usually still in the box. Never installed. Its also important to note that although ususally NOS items are in great shape, there is usually some shelf wear and are not necessarily "mint" condition. And there are some parts you would never use as NOS such as certain gaskets or rubber seals. because NOS is an old part and may have dried out and cracked. For example, I purchased an NOS front bumper for my 72 GS. It was still in the GM protective paper and had GM part number stickers on the inside and had sat on a GM shelf since the early 70's. However the chrome is not perfect and there were some minimal scratches. They guy I bought it from owned it for a while too but it was never installed.
Then there is NORS. New Old Repoduction Stock which sometimes is better. Hasn't been sitting around for years.
Yeah, I can understand that but I guess for the hard-core restoration nuts there's little else to do than use NOS if they're available?
Yep- been there, done that, got the t shirt too. Some of the reproduction parts are as nice or nicer than the NOS pieces.