Classic Cars

February 17th, 2010

Buying that little Italian sports car or that cute German sedan sounded like a great idea at the time. Now, you’re half way through a restoration job and you can’t seem to locate the parts you’re after.

Restoring a classic – no matter its country of origin – can prove to be an exercise in frustration at times. Just step back, breathe and try to relax. There are a few tricks and tips that might just help you locate the parts you are after.

When you run into a proverbial brick wall trying to find a door handle, a motor part or even a bumper for your foreign classic, try doing these things:

Run want ads – Buy ads or even place free ones in classic car trader magazines, on web sites and in other locations that classic car owners frequent. The more people who know what you are looking for, the more likely it is your parts will turn up.

Enlist the junkyard network – Get very friendly with your local junkyard and let them know what you are looking for. While they might not have the parts you are after, they may know of another yard that does in a different part of the country.

Check with car clubs in the country of your car’s origin – Do a little research to see if there are classic car clubs in the country where your car was made. Chances are there are. If so, contact the clubs directly via the Internet or telephone and let them know what you are looking for. They just might be able to help.

Look for aftermarket parts – If worse comes to worse, settle for aftermarket parts if they are available. Better yet, check with the original manufacturer if they still exist. They might have some ideas to help.

Restoring a foreign classic can present its own challenges. Exercise some patience and persistence and you should be able to get the job done.