If you are into restoring and rebuilding old cars, finding the right classic car parts can be almost a full-time job. There are two schools of thought on classical car restoration. Some people believe that authenticity is everything. They will go to junkyards, used car lots, auction houses, and anywhere else they can think of looking for all the classic car parts that can get. Other people think that the purpose is to hot rod your car and make it as powerful as possible. They don't care about historical authenticity. They will put brand-new engines in 40-year-old cars just to make them run faster.

I sort of fall in the middle between the two. I'm not a fanatic. I don't have the dedication to finding classic car parts that makes a true antique automobile collector. I know some people who have actually rebuilt cars from the 50s from scratch. They have spent hundreds of hours finding authentic parts to rebuild engines, transmissions, suspensions, and everything else. I know a lot of other people who just like making muscle cars. They take fast, powerful cars from other eras and do what they can to make them faster. For me, however, what matters is preserving the style of the old without spending too much money. I use classic car parts where I can ñ for the interior, the body, the wheels, etc. For harder to fix things, however, I have no problem with employing new parts.

If you are someone who frequently needs classic car parts, the most important thing is to find a good supplier. Unless you are a classical cars expert, you will have a lot of trouble telling the authentic article from an imitation. There are unscrupulous people out there who will prey on auto restorers who don't have a lot of knowledge. Either to find a friend who knows more about it than you do, find a supplier who you can trust, or preferably both.

Most cities have classic car clubs that you can talk to. They will point you in the direction of reputable Classic car part dealers.  Sometimes, you can also trade parts back and forth. Sometimes, a whole club will chip in to buy a wrecked old car for parts. Everyone will get a few pieces they need, and the club as a whole will be able to save a lot of money for its members. This is a great way to save money on a great hobby.

Get connected with the classic car world by searching online today.  You will find connections to classic car parts dealers and those heavily involved in classic car parts and rebuilding classic cars.

A few years ago, a buddy of mine asked me to come over and help him restore a 1967 Mustang Fastback that his father willed to him. I'd never really worked on cars before, but after spending months on that Mustang, I was hooked. My friend taught me a lot about the process of restoring vintage automobiles, and now this is what I spend most of my free time doing. In fact, I've already sold two of my completed projects for a nice profit, which has got me thinking that perhaps I can turn this hobby into a full-blown business.

In order to make a business like this work, however, I'd have to find some good sources of classic car parts. Specifically, I'm looking for shops or dealerships that stock a large enough inventory of products that I can be relatively certain that I'll be able to find what I need no matter what kind of vehicle I'm working on.

In addition to carrying a wide selection of classic car parts for all makes and models, I'd want these retailers to be able to offer competitive pricing. Having to buy things like brake discs, clutch kits, water pumps, oil filters, headers, and quarter panels is by far the greatest expense involved in automobile restoration. Since I'd be buying these things on a pretty regular basis and would be a loyal customer, I'd need my classic car parts dealer to have the lowest prices around.

For my previous projects, I had to drive more than 75 miles to find the classic car parts I needed to get the jobs done. That's not exactly a convenient distance, and it wouldn't be reasonable to make those trips over and over again. That's why I'm now leaning towards purchasing all of my classic car parts online instead. By doing this, I could have everything delivered right to my door within a week, or I could even have pay for overnight shipping in the event of emergencies. I'd then be able to spend my time actually working on the vehicles instead of driving back and forth between stores.

Find Classic Car Parts Online

It would also be easier to find classic car parts online because location wouldn't be a factor at all. I could order from shops as far away as southern California or northern Maine, and I'd have access to a lot more inventory as well. Plus, I know that online retailers always offer the lowest possible prices, which would of course be great from a business standpoint.

Once I become reasonably familiar with some of these online classic car parts stores, I'll be able to make a better decision one way or the other, but for now I think I've talked myself into taking the plunge and opening up my own restoration shop!