My understanding was that the proposal WAS for new-build DC-8's. The 70-series were not built by Douglas, but were ALL conversions of existing 60-series aircraft by Cammacorp of El Segundo, and some converted under license by Delta; and given a series designation by Douglas, sort of an incestuous relationship. I doubt that Douglas would turn down a 60-new-aircraft order. The tooling at Long Beach would be for actual new aircraft builds, fuselages, wings, tails, etc.