R36 Preservation

To be honest, the R32s are about as old as the R68s.

Almost nothing on them besides the frame itself lasted through GOH. I personally think it was a mistake to consider their age as the day the frames and bodies were initially constructed, when the mechanics of the cars date to 1987-1990. The same holds for the R46s.

The stainless body is the same. Propulsion, braking, doors, interiors and other componets were new or rebuilt to new condition. Think of it as a R62/R68 (1980s technology) in a 1964 body.

Concourse Yard, 1988. Unrebuilt R32s and R42s can also be seen.

the 7 being 11 cars long is not a result of its BMT heritage.

11-car operation began on the Flushing Line just prior to the 1964 World's Fair, as the new R33/R36 cars were being phased in.

See this NY Times article from 1963.