Beginning with the January 1999 Gold Pin Planning Meeting in Palm Springs, Calif., the CIC Parts Committee conducted a “fit and finish” demonstration using replacement parts from the original equipment manufacturer (OEM), parts approved by the Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA), and aftermarket headlamps.

Unlike previous demonstrations held at meetings in 1998, these tests were blind–only Parts Committee Chairman Lou DiLisio and certain committee members knew which parts were OEM and which ones were not. They were removed from their original packaging and any identifying marks were covered up. Not even the technicians who installed the parts were informed as to which was which.

On the day of the demonstration, CIC participants would look over the subject vehicle before the fenders and headlamps were replaced and rate the factory installed parts. Then at two other times during the meeting, the vehicle would be returned to the hotel with new parts installed.

Participants inspected each part and rated them (1 to 5, 5 being best) for fit and finish. They were also asked to respond with a “yes or no” to the question of whether they found the part acceptable to sell to their customer.

Below is the average of all of the scores of the demonstrations conducted during 1999.

Click on the links below to view the results of the individual demonstrations.