Over years of working in a mechanic shop and shopping Craigslist, I’ve noticed here and there that people will claim that their old car is still equipped with its original factory-installed fuel pump or fan belt or water pump or whatever, despite the vehicle’s high mileage. “Pulled the brakes apart today. The car is still using the original brake rotors.”
Usually this is 3 or 4 owners in.
Unless they have access to every service record from day one, and know that they aren’t missing any, how do they know that it’s an original part? Do they just see dealer-installed OEM parts and assume they’re the original ones? Kinda confused here. Maybe I’m missing something obvious.
In my case, the original parts on my car came with a part # along with a date code from when they were manufactured. If the part was after the build date, I wouldn’t count it as original.
I’ve spent countless hours researching these parts to see if they’re original or not.
The three components I’m missing under the hood are: the water pump, fuel pump, and master cylinder. I’m also sure all the hoses and belts have been replaced.
Otherwise, the rest of what I have is either original to the car, or originally purchased with the car.
Plus many other original parts to the car. Hood, fenders, seats, console, deck lid, quarters, dash, doors, glass except for the windshield, etc.
My car has 101K on it. It’s 57 years old.
I have provenance on the car going back to 1967. I know all the owners of the car (I’m the 5th).