Piston Slap: New Life for Old Tooling… Or Not?

TTAC commentator Halftruth asks:

Hey Sajeev,

This question came across my mind recently whilst reading all of the sedan death watch articles on TTAC. What happens to all the tooling and hardware when a model is discontinued/killed off? Can any of this stuff be recycled/redeployed?

Consider the Chryco 200, discontinued after 2 years. Will FCA mothball that stuff or throw it out or… something else?

Sajeev answers:

Finding relevant, concrete facts is challenging, so remember vehicle tooling eventually wears out. Especially for consumer touch points like body parts: perfect panel gaps are paramount to a ( perceived?) quality product. Don’t be surprised if vehicles that remain unchanged for years (a la 2009-present Toyota 4Runner) go through multiple sets of tooling.

And when the tooling fails to make the cut (so to speak), I reckon most is destroyed. First World manufacturers now refrain from selling sloppy seconds to their Third World counterparts, preferring the role of global manufacturers doing their thang in everyone’s backyard.

Redeployment? Yes, imagining the modern equivalent of the Vauxhall Victor reincarnated on a new continent is a romantic notion I’d love to indulge. Wouldn’t it be awesome if the durable, simple and strong Crown Vic became the next masala-infused Muscle car?

But that’s no longer viable. And if a cruise ship is worth 5+ million in scrap, assuming a financially significant value for vehicle’s collective tooling is far from insane. So what of the Chrysler 200’s tooling?

It’s probably off to the scrappers, if it hasn’t already turned into new tooling!

What say you, Best and Brightest?

[Image: Shutterstock user Zapp2Photo]

Send your queries to sajeev@thetruthaboutcars.com. Spare no details and ask for a speedy resolution if you’re in a hurry…but be realistic, and use your make/model specific forums instead of TTAC for more timely advice.