My MPC 9712 DD boxcar has doors upside down?

[Anonymous]

I just bought a 9712 DD Boxcar from someone on ebay (this guy always has EX trains and is very close to my home) but, the two doors on one side are upside down! They are the correct doors and they would match up great if I could flip them around. The metal door guides are held on with rivets.

Is this a factory error? Greenberg's guide says some factory errors are ones were lionel quality control missed cars that had wrong pieces or no parts at all!  There is no listing for this car in the error section of this book. These cars are very appealing to me and if this happened in the factory... I LIKE IT.

You 'guys' are always helpful, thanks for any advise.

 

[csxt30]

It sounds like a factory error to me . That person on the assy. line that day must have got behind !! I just checked my dbl. door, B&O, black Automobile car, # 9210 & all the doors are on correct !!

Thanks, John 

[Anonymous]

I like factory errors!! This is my first one!!!

Only paid $9.99

[brianel027]

Some of the price guides say that door variations are one of the most suspect abnomalities because it is quite easy to change or switch colors of doors. The 9712 was cataloged with yellow doors, It is just as possible that a previous owner replaced a damaged door (and put it on upside down) as it was an actual factory error. On that type of car with metal top and bottom door guides, there is just simply no way of being certain either way.

If you don't mind the doors being upside down, then you've got what you want. It would be just as easy for you to change the doors if you so wished to. On a prototypical note, the real railroads were in the business of making and saving money... I have seen real box cars with a odd color door on one side of the car, or a differing style. Sometimes cars got in accidents or banged up and the railroads use whatever is on hand to fix the problem the fastest.