starfire

I ran across what I was thinking was a parts interchange catalog online for sale, so I bought it. I thought it would be handy when looking for parts for my 1978 Starfire. When I got it, it turned out to be this (Yes I saw the cover before I bought it, I just didn't read it carefully enough):


scan0046_zps0f456ccc.jpg


This is representative of what the pages inside look like. WTF is this thing used for? Every part number in it is either discontinued or refers you to a different part number which is not in the catalog.

scan0048_zps3c2b31b4.jpg

So did I just buy a nicely bound old book of useless paper?

seansolds

Your presentation of it is far more funny than the purchase itself..made me laugh..thanks

Professur

You done bought yerself a real purdy shelf ornament.

Octania

That's not useless
I called the phone # for Roger Moore
"disconnected"

66400

Tells the guys in the parts dept that part # no longer available. In some cases they offer an alternate part to serve as a replacement. All in all not a very useful catalog in 2013.

Henry

oldcutlass

You bought an obsolete, obsolete parts xref.

jaunty75

How stupid you are depends on what you paid for it. If you paid $4.95, you're not stupid at all. If you paid $49.95, then, yeah, maybe you're just a bit stupid. If you paid $499.95, then I think you've defined a whole new level of stupidity.


But I wouldn't consider this thing to be worthless. Obviously, what it does is tell the parts counter people if a part has been discontinued or if it has been superseded with a new number. It might have value today, too. People are often coming onto this site and asking for a part number for, say, a trim piece on their old Olds, and something like this might tell them if that part number was replaced with a new one.

So it's probably mostly worthless, but it's not completely worthless.

501Paratrooper

lmao!

jensenracing77

Don't feel bad. I would bet most people here has done something or another like that. I know I have a time or two.

starfire

Luckily shipped I fit into your "just a bit stupid" category. Plus I also got a second copy (I like to have a paper copy for the garage and one for the house) of the 1978 CSM for $8 and the guy shipped both for the same price he would have shipped one, so I guess I came out of it not too bad. I just felt like such a tool when I opened the package ready to get all the great information on the part numbers and almost every one just said "discontinued"...

rootney

Perhaps you could list it on e-bay and find someone "just a bit stupider"

tru-blue 442

And all you need to ask is for a dollar more,
and stupid NO more, ha ha.

Run to Rund

Yeah, you can sell it on ebay or at a car club meeting. What I have found more useful is the Parts & Accessories Price Schedules, published monthly, from back in the 1960s and 70s, for my 1966. For at least a few months, after a part is superceded or discontinued, the schedule will show the disposition of the part.

brddg

Well thanks for 007's phone number from the early 80's. Do you play the lottery? If so then stop. Dig your car BTW.

garys 68

If you thought there was a super secret parts interchange for 30 year old cars.....now you know.

rustyroger

Well.... you made a mistake.
So hands up everyone who never made a mistake (mine are flat on the floor right now).


Roger.

nsnarsk65cutlass

I like that option.

lazy394

Im sure there is someone out there who would want this, says some guy on Ebay to his wife. you should be happy you proved him right

Dave Siltman

If there is someone here that HAS NOT bought a wrong item, I'm gonna call BS. That book has some useful info. in my opinion. If you know a part went disco. and this book gives you that part's superseded number, and you find an obscure part that no one can find because the original part number changed...................well, then you win!

rootney

I think Dave might be interested.

Dave Siltman

Not interested. I can go to my parts dept. and have them check in the GM computer.

Octania

Well, let's have some fun with this then

"You are SO DUMB....

like a box of rocks, with the smart ones taken out! "

next...

all in good fun of course

rootney

So dumb he bought a solar powered flashlight!

1970cs

Ok I'll play along. Again no offense to the O.P. Al Bundy Quote "things for sale are based on the bigger idiot theory, that there is always a bigger idiot to buy it, the flaw in that theory is eventually you get to the head idiot"

Pat

chip-powell

"Stupid is as stupid does." Forrest Gump

I think everyone, at one time or another, has bought something online that turned out not to be what we thought.

cutlassjoe

"The boy is so dumb....he thinks a Mexican Border pays rent..."
"That boy's about as sharp as a bowling ball..."

Foghorn Leghorn.

ThePackRat

As someone who's come across parts that I'd swear on a stack of bible's are for "x", but the part #'s on them don't come up in any books to confirm such .....

I find that book rather interesting.

rootney

A possible bidding war?

ThePackRat

With pockets full of nothing but mostly lint, I certainly wouldn't be a player in that scenario.

Maybe that will change tonight just after 11 .....

firefrost gold

he is so dumb he got lost in the corner of a round room

starfire

Yeah, but Dave, if you buy my book you won't even have to go to the parts dept. You can check the numbers in the comfort of your own chair. In looking through the book I noticed some part numbers that might be for W-30 parts, so I'm going to have to offer the book at a starting price of $100.00.....

Oh, it's also the only known Parts History Catalog to have a non-working number for Roger Moore on the front cover. You just cannot find this high quality information at a swap meet. Bid early and bid often if you want to own this cherished piece of General Motors history. There is a certified rumor that Roger Smith actually may have held this book in his hands at one time (it's unconfirmed if he held it just to get Roger Moore's telephone number though).

mike's88

Does that catalog have a part #? If so, look it up and see if it's been disco'd.

starfire

Feel free to keep the "dumb" comments coming. I deserve them for this one (unless I can convince Dave or Pack Rat to buy the damn thing off me). Plus so far they've been funny.

starfire

OK, I've taken a crayon and crossed out the words "Parts History Catalog" and written in the words "Parts Interchange Manual". I'm calling it a Tribute Manual and it should bring double the original price (call it a clone and I will slap you!).

mike8162

I know that feeling. I bought a window regulator for my truck on ebay for $29. Who would pay $150 for it when you can get it for a fifth the price. Second time I put the window down it went pop and went into neutral, permanently. Total repair cost $179.


Cheers, Mike

rootney

I believe you're on the road to recovery.

CRUZN 66

IMO that can be useful for part searches on the internet and at swap meets….

It’s not uncommon for people to sell parts on the internet and at swap meets and have no idea what the part is for, even when there is a part number on the item… If you have a list of part numbers for your Starfire, at least you can check the listing for the status of the number and if superseded at least you have a new number to continue your search (at least until you find out that number has also been discontinued)…. However, as Run to Rund mentioned, the Parts & Accessories Price Schedules is a better source of information (this, at least, also includes the Group Number)… BUT, since these were published monthly, information can be limited for part number information once the part is completely discontinued without being superseded and at some point the part number could have been dropped from the monthly publications…

Sampson

Ok that move was stupider than a Blond with her brains knocked out! But seriously I think you are heading in the wrong direction trying to make a Tribute out of it. It is in great original condition, with nice Patina. Also is documented since you know where it came from. You should also take advantage of the celebrity connection. How many other Parts books are out there that the previous owner obviously talked to James Bond? That probably makes this a one of one edition. Good luck with your sale.

So since we are telling on ourselves I will add to the dumber than dumb stories. Last weekend I was reinstalling the transmission to my engine. It was in the middle of the shop floor and not in the car. I took the transmission back off the engine to install the famous welch plug that the builder left out. Anyway I get the trans back on the engine and am looking in my bolt box for the torque converter bolts and see a shiny new freeze plug in the bottom of the box.

firefrost gold

Thats dumb luck you found it Sampson I have a saying and it goes like this " If I cant screw it up nobody can" . I think he facked the Patina and aged the book just to get pack rat or Dave to bite. Sort of carma starfire picked up that sweet little car last month , THe old you win some and loose most motto .