1969 Barracuda Formula S NOS Tachometer
NOS is only such in the original packaging and or labels applied!
Sorry I disagree with this.....Lots of parts lose their box or packaging over the years, if the part has never been used it’s still NOS....even if it has shelf wear or damage. Many times it’s better or easier to restore a slightly worn NOS one then finding a good original one to start with.
I’m helping a guy go through some mopar mouldings, he has dozens of them, and some don’t have a wrapper but they are mint and found them in his grandpas attack in the garage....his grandpa used to have a body shop and he also bought out an old mopar dealership from the 50’s during the 1970’s....no label or packaging makes some harder to identify but they are still NOS.
Any time I sell something I describe the part very well, if NOS and no packaging I mention that. There is almost always evidence that a part has been installed, like wether or not a mounting stud has threads cut into them like on trim moulding, where mounting clips would attach, or marks left behind by a bolt head or washer once tightened down. Having the original box does add some value but I believe it only helps a “flipper” since they want the box for reselling purposes...most people who install the part could give a crap about having the box unless they want it for mancave/garage art. In fact, there are people selling these boxes on eBay all the time, even ones that expensive or rare parts once were in, probably so if someone has that part they can put it back in the box and sell it....if that’s the case is it NOS cause it now has a box it wasn’t born with? Even NOS parts that are in their original packaging and boxes can show damage and wear, buyer just needs to look it over and use their own judgement if it suits them or not.
On a side note when my dad was restoring his 1959 dodge Sweptside truck, he needed a rare moulding made of pot metal, I located a NOS one in its box, had a small flaw but didn’t matter cause buying a more expensive NOS one was cheaper than finding a good used one without pitting in the chrome to restore, plus the chrome finish on replated stuff is more shiny than NOS stuff so he wanted it to match the rest of the restored trim and had it replated. Also, not all NOS stuff is mint, Chrysler was selling these parts for cars that were new at the time, body shop collision repairs, etc....never intended the stuff to be used on the level it is today, they were just “parts” back them and many had quality or control issues, crappy wavy paint or chrome but were “good enough” for the times.