What happens to the old press tools when for example ford have finished pressing front wings for the mk1 focus rs. Why not sell them on so someone else can produce spares. Also goes for the plastic injection mould tools for bumpers etc.

 

most of the time its not manufacturers that press the parts themselves, its outsourced!

but moulds are eventualy sold once patents run out etc,

wont be long untill theres shitty FRS copy bits as far as the eye can see

 

Used to be a tool maker and we made some moulds for the mk1 Mondeo but didn't know what happens when the run of parts finished. Seems like a waste after all the time money and effort put in to make them in the first place.
Hope the start making shitty under trays for the mk1 frs as they are Ł400 from ford for a bit of plastic.

 

Probably get recycled these days.

By the time a car gets 10 years old, most of the pattern companies will have made tooling themselves long ago so its only enthusiasts and small companys that might be interested and i doubt they have the access to even deal with the people who make decisions on what happens to old tooling.