Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Track vintage auto parts by using and subscribing to part magazines

The need for antique car parts never seems to go away and keeping up with what's available at any given time helps you make solid decisions for your inventory and customers. Classic car magazines are available for both the industry as a whole and specific car models and provide parts lists as well as shows, events and customer buying trends.

I recommend: Subscribe to Hemmings Motor News from their home page to stay abreast of industry changes and locate parts for customers. The Car Craft magazine offers information on the latest popular restoration projects, how to guides to share with your customers and a community page with blogs and questions from potential future customers.

Network and connect with providers of classic car parts online

Subscribe to industry newsletters and blogs that contain both trends, events and unique or hard to find parts for sale that you may want in your inventory.

I recommend: Classic Car Blog offers classic car parts for sale, articles and industry news and forums for exchange and questions. BuyClassicCars.com has both a parts finder search engine as well as online auctions for cars and parts, the latest classic car news and part value guides.

Subscribe to used parts sites to increase inventory and options

Besides being cheaper than straight from the manufacturer supplies, used classic car parts offer the small business owner more options and the chance to offer different price ranges and therefore widen their customer base. With multiple selling sites online, its just a matter of choosing the one that best suits your needs. These sites also show you what's selling and what's lost consumer interest keeping you ahead of the herd.

I recommend: AntiqueCar.com has used and new parts for sale and offers both car and part appraisals. Check out their user forum to stay current on what's being talked about in the industry. The Auto Parts Bin has a wide range of used parts both classic and new, domestic and import for sale. Request a quote on vintage auto parts to see what the current going rate is.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Track custom car parts suppliers and manufacturers to increase your potential network leads and customer base.

Guide to Classic Car Parts

Find vintage auto parts and accessories for classic auto restoration work

By Donna Harvey

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Use major auto parts retailers online to buy reproduction classic auto parts

Most major auto parts resellers have a web presence. Some may even deliver the part if they have it in stock at their local storefront. An advantage to using an in-town chain is that you can take it back if it's not the right part, avoid shipping, and talk to a real person.

I recommend: Reliable auto parts retail chains that also have a web presence include NAPA, Parts America , and AutoZone.

Get the classic auto parts you need from specialty dealers online

Target your online search for the specific classic car you are working on. Some online dealers specialize in a certain make and model and year of manufacture, but most cover decades, with classic car parts for sale for all major models. They tend to deal with a greater variety of manufacturers to give the customer a better selection, so you need to know what you are looking for. Their price range is usually wider also, and the sales personnel are very knowledgeable and helpful.

I recommend: Choose Auto Krafters when working on a classic Ford and for a Chevy, Eckler's Classic Chevy International. A good general site for any make and model is JCWhitney.

Go to online junk dealers for the impossible-to-find antique car parts

You're in the business of restoring things, right? Well, you might have to restore some of these parts, but some are practically impossible to find elsewhere, so don't expect to pay junkyard prices. These parts usually come with some sort of return guarantee, and they know you've already looked everywhere else, so expect to pay what the part would normally cost new.

I recommend: Car-Part.com, Junk Yard Dog and Buy Classic Car Parts. Car-Part.com is a little cumbersome to use, but gives instant results, whereas Junk Yard Dog looks for your part, then sends you an email. Buy Classic Car Parts returns a nationwide listing of dealers of vintage auto parts.

Buy replacement glass for classic cars

Chances are good that you will need replacement glass when restoring a classic car.

I recommend: Bob's Classic Auto Glass supplies replacement glass for all cars and trucks made from 1920 to 1972. See Danny's Auto Glass and Mirror for windshields and mirrors for classic cars.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Often you will need windshields and windows in your search for vintage auto parts. These are extremely hard to find in junkyards and used--due to damage they have usually sustained. Your best bet is to have them custom made.

1. Consider wholesale detailing suppliers to cut costs.
2. Order in bulk to save on shipping and increase per piece profit.
3. Stock restoration and conservation products to increase customer base.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Work with suppliers of classic car parts that offer wholesale care supplies

With so many businesses offering classic car parts for sale, its important to also offer the best detailing and cleaning supplies to go with those parts. Choose suppliers that offer wholesale to small businesses rather than going to the competition and spending more than you have to.

I recommend: Detail Supply Outlet offers a fantastic range of detailing and restoration supplies, with a section dedicated to the wholesale buyer. Chemical Guys offers factory direct pricing on detailing supplies including degreasers for used parts, sealants, lubricants, polishing and waxing supplies as well as cleaning and polishing cloths.

Order car manuals in bulk to mirror the car parts you carry in your store

The less you spend on shipping, the more you make on reselling an individual car manual. Manuals and parts catalogs for looking up vintage auto parts are a must for the classic car restorer, and if you have them on hand, you save your customer a trip and increase your chances of repeat business.

I recommend: Books4Cars.com offers a host of manuals to help place those vintage auto parts. They stock manuals dating back to the early 1900s up to today. Discount Auto Repair Manuals offers manuals at very reasonable prices, as well as discount shipping for buying in bulk.

Purchase restoration supplies for vintage car parts

When dealing with antique car parts, grease, gunk, rust and other signs of deterioration are common. Stocking the supplies to help classic car collectors take care of the parts they acquire from you increases your bottom line. Having the finishing supplies like weather stripping and fasteners in stock to supplement the car parts is also important.

I recommend: Restoration Specialties & Supply offers both classic car parts and accessories as well as the fastenings, weather stripping and finishing products necessary for restoration and repairs. Eastwood is a well established auto supply company that offers a range of cleaning and restoration products with a strong line of rust inhibitor products. They also offer distribution opportunities for the small business owner.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Make contact with local junk yard owners who are providers of classic car parts and great sources for local suppliers.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

New old stock

New old stock (NOS) are parts that are used for restoration projects that have been sitting on the warehouse shelves for a long time. They allow you to increase the value of your classic car by applying vintage parts.

I recommend: Learn more about new old stock from Iverson Automotive.

New reproduction

New reproduction parts are aftermarket parts that are more recently manufactured to replace the more common parts on classic cars.

I recommend: Look at the reproduction services of Classic Autopart Reproductive Services (CARS).

Frame-off restoration vs. frame-up restoration

Frame-off restoration involves completely disassembling the vehicle, cleaning all the parts and rebuilding or replacing what is necessary to meet original factory specifications. Frame-up restoration usually only involves restoring the cosmetic appearance of the vehicle by fixing the painting, chrome, interior as well as the mechanical features of the car without completely disassembling the vehicle.

I recommend: They Might Be Racing gives detailed information on frame-off restoration. Compare frame-off to frame-up restorations with No Fear Motorsports.

OEM, Original Equipment Manufacturer

OEM is an acronym for Original Equipment Manufacturer, and it means distinguishing between parts that have been made by the original car manufacturer versus in the aftermarket, or another manufacturer.

I recommend: Look at the OEM information from M&H Electric Fabricators.

Rag top, soft top

Rag tops or soft tops are the slang term for convertible tops made of fabric as opposed to those made of the same metal as the exterior of the car.

I recommend: Learn more about rag tops for classic cars from Tops4Less.com.

Spoiler

The spoilers on a classic muscle car are special trims that were originally intended to give the vehicles the most acceleration on the street or in drag racing competitions. They added functionality to aerodynamic design to reduce a car's lift and drag and increase the car's downforce.

I recommend: See photos of muscle car spoilers from Spoilers by Randy.