tromly

Is this just a rumor or were the models in Aug-Dec 2001 truly built by hand. Just curious, perhaps other SC owners have wondered about the same thing. Any input would be greatly appreciated

PhilipMSPT

iTrader: (5)

Depends on which parts.

The leather stitching, the wood polishing, and some fine tuning measurements were done by hand (and it still is).

Otherwise, the car is still built, assembled, painted, and processed by machine.

tromly

Thanks for the info

velocity12

Just for point of information - weren't the first SCs assembled in Jan. 01?

PHXSC

I don't see much of a distinction between the 2. Automobile assembly lines are still manned by humans, with lifting assist machines and such, but most of the true assembly is done by hand. Hand built, in this case may mean the first several cars that were built prior to firing up the assembly line, although these cars would likely be the first to go down the assembly line to work out the issues, if any, with the assembly process.

I would view these cars neutrally, as they receive more attention to detail, but they're also subject to making mods to get things to fit, finish, function, etc., that would be incorporated in cars produced later in the assembly year, and those mods would be SOP.

I would guess we've all heard, "don't buy the first (of anything) - let them get the bugs out", and I've always applied that to cars, until I saw the first Ford Thunderbird ever produced fetch major bucks at Barrett-Jackson.....

It would be interesting to see if serial #1 SC430, which is probably in Japan, or at least the first car to be imported into the U.S., would fetch more. I doubt it. If you want exclusive, get a Neiman Marcus car that has a verifiable build number.

tromly

,my bad, it was Jan01, not Aug 01,good catch

tromly

Good info, I'm with you about buying the first of any model year car, though I have two 04 RX's, which was the second generation RX. You're right about the term exclusive, only the NM were numbered, though the PB could have been, since they only built 400/yr. Perhaps NM #1 is also in Japan, interesting to find out who has it and its whereabouts.