Whether driving or restoring a vintage car, sooner or later classic car parts will become necessary. The model, make, year, and popularity of the car you own will determine the difficulty or ease for finding classic car parts.
Many classic car parts may look the same on the outside, but not on the inside, so arm yourself with knowledge about the classic car part you are replacing. One of two terms to look for in classic car parts is OEM and NOS. OEM is the abbreviation for Original Equipment Manufacturer, which means that the parts are made from the company that originally made the original part. NOS is similar, and stands for New Old Stock, which refers to original contemporary classic car parts from the original manufacturer or supplier. Because most classic car enthusiasts want to keep their cars as close to the original as possible, OEM and NOS parts are in high demand — and rather expensive. In the case of rare parts, however, pattern parts may be the only option. Pattern parts look similar to OEM and NOS classic car parts, but are more like replicas instead of the originals.
So where can classic car parts be found?
Swap Meets
Always, good places to start when searching for classic car parts, are Swap Meet. At times, vendors of classic car parts don’t know what a part is worth because they buy them from garage clearance sales. Bargains can be found if you research the car parts for your classic vehicle. Rarer vehicles may make finding a deal on classic car parts more difficult, but with a little haggling, you may be able to talk down the price. Other bargains on classic car parts may be found when enthusiasts are attempting to clean out surplus junk from their garages. The buyer may be able to get a better deal on the classic car parts, because the enthusiast is not interested in hauling the parts back home.
Junkyards
Junkyards are also a great place to find classic car parts. Just remember though, many junkyards want you to abstract the part from the junked vehicle yourself, so make sure you bring a set of tools to remove the part. There are usually no guarantees that a scrapped part will work, so keep in mind that you are simply taking your chances at a junk yard.
Classifieds
Classified ads also assist in finding the classic car parts you need. Newspapers, magazines, and owner’s club newsletters can be found just about everywhere. Some of the best discounts are available from people who have no idea what they have or just want to get rid of it easily.
Online
And last but not least — what a surprise — parts can be found on the Internet. When visiting sites that feature the same type of classic as yours, take a few minutes and e-mail the webmaster. Newsgroups are also an easy way to find the parts you need.
Wherever you chose to find your parts for your classic car, remember that being knowledgeable about your car will help in the long run to find the part you need at a price you can afford.
By R. S. Wagner