Classic Cars

April 7th, 2009

As a classic car owner, there is little doubt you have already discovered just how hard it can be to find parts when you need them. Whether it is the perfect set of rims for a muscle car or a muffler for a Thunderbird, getting original gear can be darn near impossible. There are some tricks of the trade that can help you find the parts you need.

Perhaps the best thing you can do to ensure your ride has at least a chance of getting original parts is to befriend the people at a few local salvage yards. These are the folks you want to lean on for a few very good reasons, including:

• The variety of parts they receive – While there is certainly no guarantee that local salvage yards will have the parts you are looking for, there is always the chance. With some junkyards covering acres and acres, who is to say your make and model car isn’t sitting in the back 40?

• The turnover they enjoy – Salvage yards receive new old cars all the time. If you are friendly with staff members, they will keep an eye out for the parts you need and even those they think you might need.

• The connections they have – Just because your junkyard does not have the part you are after does not mean that staff members can’t help you find them. There is a very good chance that salvage yard staff will have the connections you need to find the right parts, if they can be found at all.

Restoring a classic car and keeping it up and running is a labor of love for certain. It can also be a team effort. Junkyard workers can prove to be a very important part of your team.