By 
It’s estimated that there are around five million classic cars in the United States. Whether you’re an avid car fanatic who is rebuilding or restoring a classic car, or you’re a regular car owner with a slightly older motor, there may come a time when you’re searching for hard to find car parts.
You may have exhausted the regular OEM parts suppliers in your local area, and you may have already scoured the internet looking for aftermarket parts, but to no avail.
Table of Contents
What else are your options? Where can you find suitable parts from?
In this guide, we’ll talk you through how to locate those hard to find car parts you need to keep your motor running.
Why Are There Hard to Find Car Parts?
Before we delve into the solution to your problem, we should first address why there are so many hard to find car parts. Often the issue is that the vehicle has long fallen out of production, and the demand for parts has dropped so low.
In many cases, you could use a generic part that’s designed to fit several different makes and models. However, at other times, this just isn’t possible because your car has a part that’s so specific.
Call the Dealers
The first place you should start when looking for car parts is the dealer. Okay, so they may not still make the model that you’re hunting down parts for, but they may still hold stock in a warehouse somewhere. It’s worth a try.
Of course, buying from a car dealership usually comes with a high price tag, but it’s sometimes the best place to start your search.
Contact Car Clubs
There are many clubs out there for enthusiasts of certain cars. By joining one of these groups, you’ll be put into contact with other owners of similar cars to your own. They may have faced the obstacle of not being able to find the right parts and may be able to point you in the right direction.
Check for any online forums relating to your car, as these are often a great resource for finding car parts.
Specialist Websites
There are some specialist websites out there that play host to a wide range of spare parts, often for certain makes and models. An example is this page, which features both used and new car parts for several different sports cars.
Ask a Local Mechanic
Very often, local mechanics have an encyclopedic knowledge of where you can buy parts for specific cars. They may have worked on a similar car for a customer, and as such may know just the parts dealer.
Call Breakers Yards
Scrapyards are a great place to find used car parts. When a junk car comes in, it will be used to harvest spare parts. You may need to call several scrap yards to find the part you need, but it’s always worth asking.
Keeping Your Vehicle On the Road
Without these hard to find car parts, it’s always going to be a challenge to keep your vehicle on the road. Remember, the safety of your vehicle will depend on that part, so you need to get it right.
For more articles like this one, head to the auto section of the site.
Comments