Re: New PW spec's


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Posted by MoparNorm on Friday, October 22, 2004 at 6:18PM :

In Reply to: Re: New PW spec's posted by mannyc on Friday, October 22, 2004 at 4:59PM :

The Cobras are using original, new, 1966 frames with '66 VIN's and parts that Shelby stored. It was a costly proposition to get them "approved" as new 1966 vehicles. These $8,000 '66 cars are being 're-sold' by Shelby for over $200,000. There have been several companies that tried to re-build old Jeeps, Humvees and other vehicles, there are a plethora of laws and liability insurance costs out there that make it prohibitive to 're-manufacture' these vehicles. And with John Edwards type attorneys out there, frankly not too many companies can absorb the litigation costs. My attempt to build power steering kits is just one example, a $700 kit that may sell 50 units a year, and show $5,000 profit, costs $24,000 a year to insure, the math doesn't work, I can't afford $19,000 out of pocket every year. I suspect that is one of many reasons that Ray at Helitool is moving out of the country.
A new 'old school' Power Wagon, would still have emmission controls and a computer controlling the engine management systems, as well as the ABS, air bags etc. It would probably have a Cummins, ($6,000) or a 4.0 I-6 Jeep motor as those are the only I-6 engines left in the Mopar line-up. It would be built with a plastic dash and recessed knobs and controls. It would have the same frame as the current Rams. It would have the same or similar sheet metal and sheetmetal thickness. It would have safety glass, disc brakes and traction control. It would have basically exactly what you see now in the new Dodge Power Wagon. Look at the 'new' Beetle, or Mini Cooper, same story.
For the record the new Ram Power Wagon has more traction abilities and off road capabilities than the original Power Wagon. It has much, much better on-road capabilities. It only lacks in the 'Farm Use', Construction, Forestry areas that the earlier Power Wagon excelled at. Just as the early CJ-2 Jeeps had the same types capabilities for agricultural uses, the new Jeeps no longer have that ability. Times change, people bought tractors and the body type was outlived. Note that the original Power Wagon was using the current (at the time) Dodge truck body.
I'd love to see the original built again new also, but it is not going to happen, look at the original production numbers, if it had sold well enough, Dodge would not have stopped building it, but the units didn't justifying upgrading it to meet the federal and state regulations. Detroit only wants vehicles that sell 50,000 units, I don't think a new, "old" Power Wagon would sell enough to justify the tooling, engineering, and production costs. I wish I was wrong, and the folks at Dodge may even want to try, but the Germans, who call the shots, just will not let it happen unless there is tremendous demand...
MN



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