Where to Find Vintage Auto Parts?
Find parts to restore your vintage cars can be a time consuming task, as compared with standard car parts, classic auto parts are harder to come by as they are no longer in production anymore and most spare parts dealers would not keep them in store as vintage cars are rather rare.
Restoration of vintage car requires getting as much authenticity into the car as possible, this means that you have to closely follow the original specification and using the original spare parts whenever possible, simply rebuilding the car using modern parts doesn't count because the vintage car would only retain its value if it is restored back to its original condition.
But where to find the part when they are no longer being manufactured or the car company doesn't even exist anymore???
1) eBay: this might be the easiest place to start. As the largest online mall in the world, with all kinds of bric-a-brac for sale, it is relatively possible for you to locate the car part you want, it is also easier to get it at a better price if there are multiple offers of the same items on sale. Best of all, you can do it in the comfort of your own home. Depending on the part you are looking for, the easier method to start looking is to key in the car manufacturers brand name as they generate more specific search results.
2) Vintage Car Clubs websites and forums: Join a couple of forums and mingle with people like you!!! Put out a request for the part, who knows there might be a couple of them who just happened to have THAT spare part sitting in their garage?
3) Local swap meets: You might also want to check out local swap meets, they are a good way to find classic car parts you’re looking. You can locate older model accessories and other outdated items.
4) Car dealer magazine: You can also put an ad in the car dealer magazine, however this might be an expensive option. Hence unless you happened to be restoring a really rare model, try other means of sourcing before resorting to putting an advertisement.
5) Specialty shops & spare parts dealer: You can go to shops that speciallized in the restoration of vintage cars, and ask them if they have the part you want. But before you go, check online to get an expectation about how much to pay, inspect the part for damages and cracks before making an offer. Alternatively, some shops can help you locate the part you want for a fee, check with them on the charges before agreeing to do so.
6) The Junkyard: For the really desperate or the hard-work addicted, this would be like looking for a needle in a hay stack, but who knows it might be worth a shot. You can either visit or phone to see if they have the part.