How You Can Track Down The Parts You Need To Restore Your First Classic American Car
While you may be excited to restore a classic American car, it is not always an easy task to find the parts you require to get the vehicle in great shape. Many auto parts no longer carry particular pieces, which is why it is necessary to think outside the box when trying to track down what you need. Here are just a handful of ways you might be able to locate parts you can use for your vintage American automobile.
Locate a Fabricator with a 3D Printer
This may sound surprising to you, but you may be able to have the part you need created by a 3D printer. Using plastic, these printers are able to take a design and print out a car part, layer by layer. The part can then be used as a mold that a fabricator can use to create a metal piece. There are some printers that will create metal pieces as well. These printers can be rather expensive and difficult to use if you are unfamiliar with them, so you'll need to search out a fabrication shop that has these kinds of machines on hand.
Head to Car Shows
Another way to get the pieces you need is to attend the vintage car shows in your area. Not only should you attend these shows to take a look at the cars on display, but you can also network with other event-goers. You can speak to the owner of a particular car about how they were able to find specific parts, especially if they have a similar car to yours. Other people there might strike up a conversation with you and offer you ideas about how they find the supplies they require.
Look at Online Auctions
You or someone you know has probably made a few purchases online at different auction sites, but you may be unaware that you can sometimes find vintage parts on those same sites. Most online auction sites have an automobile section to browse through. It is important to keep an eye on shipping costs, as some sellers sell parts at a steep discount so you think you're getting a deal, only to discover that the shipping costs are astronomical.
To get an idea of which sites are the most reputable, you may wish to join various collector forums and look for discussions that detail different experiences on various auction sites.
Now that you've got some ideas, you can more easily start to take action and get the parts you'll need to restore your car. Chat with other collectors for more advice. You can contact a company like Reggie's Garage for more tips as well.