I've heard good things about Elring and have used them before with good results. Once I ordered an Elring and received a generic one with no name on it. Against my better judgement, I went ahead and used it. It did not last. From now on it's either Elring or Volvo for me, or maybe some other top brand that I might learn about. My last intake gasket was a genuine Volvo. I had to trim off two little pieces that weren't necessary on my 81. No big deal. I have in front of me those two pieces and an Elring intake gasket to compare the material. Both are green but not the same shade. The Volvo gasket is softer and more flexible than the Elring. I'm not saying this matters. I'm just relaying the differences I can see and feel. I know that a lot of Brickboarders use Elring and recommend them, and you couldn't go wrong with Volvo either. The intake gasket I bought from Volvo cost me about $20.

I know what you mean about wondering whether or not the same manufacturer might make products in various quality levels. This could well be true. I've always thought that just because a manufacturer was/is the OE manufacturer that this doesn't necessarily mean that the product you or I might buy from them is the exact same thing we might buy from the dealer. The parts market is so variable and confusing that it's tough to know what's going on sometimes.
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Thanks everyone for all the help, Doug C. 81 242 Brick Off Blocks, turbo bars and wheels, M46; 86 244, B230, 150k , auto.