Sixth Bonehead Design Award

Well, Chrysler finally is off the hook. This month we got a good one I think you'll get a kick out of this. Recently, I appraised the damages on an 1996 Ford Econoline 350 van. A cement truck was going around a corner, which was fine until the swinging cement chute let loose on the side of the Ford van. The van needed a new side panel, there was no question about that.

Yup, sure needs a side panel!

The side of the van consists of the outer side panel. There is also an inner panel that runs the length of the outer panel. It used to be that just to replace the outer side panel was a big  job (its welded on), well some genius made it even harder. On the older models you could replace the outer side panel without having to deal with the inner panel. Now the outer panel is sleeved behind the inner panel. There is no way to replace the outer panel without replacing the inner panel too.

Here's the inner side panel!

Extra cost to the consumer, $1200.00 including the part.
Is this "Ford's Better Idea"? I think not!

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