Searching for Classic Car Replacement Parts

 

You probably spent a good amount of time and effort searching for just the right classic car or truck to own. Hopefully, you will not have to search high and low for replacement parts. Here is a list of places to look when searching for a replacement part for your classic car or truck.

Part Stores
Even in the modern age of online shopping, classic car part stores still exist. These specialty stores are also going to have knowledgeable staff that can help guide you in the right direction if they do not have the part you need. We suggest making a phone call first to see if they carry what you need. It can save you a trip.

 

Wrecking Services and Salvage Yards
Both of these businesses are an excellent source for finding parts locally. These guys are usually aware of what parts are hard to find or valuable and will have pulled them for resale well before the car reaches the junkyard. Making a few phone calls can yield you the part you are looking for. Situations arise however where you may need to grab your tools and head to the salvage yard yourself to hunt for the part that you need. The challenge with this is that you better know what you are looking for and be able to evaluate the part’s condition. If you have any reluctance, you are better off leaving this to the professionals. 

 

Aftermarket Manufacturers
There are plenty of companies out there that sell knock off replacement parts for classic cars and trucks. The problem sometimes comes down to quality. These parts are sometimes made with less desirable materials and quality than the originals. If you think you can get away with an aftermarket part without compromising the build, then we say go for it. If it must be all original, then keep looking.

 

Car Clubs, Shows and Swap Meets
An event that brings classic car enthusiasts to one place is an excellent opportunity to look and ask for those hard-to-find parts. You may run into a fellow collector with the same car who just might have the part you are looking for. If the car show does not pan out the swap meet will. These traveling car part carnivals are filled with knowledgeable car guys and hard to find parts. Swap meet vendors are not going to bring along a part that can be easily found online. They usually have the rare stuff or at least know where to find it.

 

Magazines
While many magazines are all available online, there is something special about flipping through pages the old-fashioned way. Magazines are a wonderful place to look for new and used replacement parts. As a bonus you are also going to get expert tips and other great reading material as well.

 

Online Forums
Our first online option are Forums. Simply search your vehicle’s make and model with the word forum and you are almost guaranteed to find a forum full of conversations pertaining to your specific vehicle. Forums are not only a wonderful place to ask for parts, but a great resource of experts in case you have any problems with your restoration process.

 

Online Dealers and Auctions
Our last and most obvious resource is the Internet. One search for the part you need, and you are likely to find plenty of websites that will sell and ship it directly to you. One problem with online shopping is that it tends to be the most expensive route. Another common issue is part quality. Be sure to find a website that offers a no hassle return policy in case what they deliver is not what you expected. If you do not have a huge budget and are not pressed for time, we suggest exhausting the options above before searching online. You are likely to get a better deal and learn a thing or two from your fellow enthusiasts and other classic car restoration professionals.