I have been asked many times what is the difference or which is better NOS, NORS or New? I hope this helps shed some light on these age old questions.

Just what is the difference?

NOS……New Old Stock. These are parts that are new unused, that were made in the time period of the car they fit, by the original manufacture or one of its original vendors. These are the exact pieces your car would have had from the factory. Keep in mind NOS does not mean Perfect! Some items age better than others. There may be fading, shrinking or shelf wear, etc. Some examples of items that do not age very well are items containing rubber, cork, etc.

NORS…..New Old Replacement Stock. These are parts that are new unused, made in the past by a aftermarket vendor for the replacement market. These will replace the original part in fit and function, but are not made by original manufacture. Sometimes there is a advantage to using NORS in that they usually are more available and often they have been improved over original design.

NEW……New parts are current production items made by aftermarket vendors. These will replace original parts in fit and function, but are not original pieces. They may or may not be made offshore. The advantages of using NEW parts are better availability and cost and have no age related issues.

There are many things to consider when purchasing parts, price, availability, their intended use and more.