This article came about because I live in an area that has multiple car shows throughout the year. One of my favorites is the classic car show, I just love their nostalgic designs. What is a classic car? Essentially, a classic car is older, more valuable and significant than any ordinary car. Meanwhile, antique cars are more or less equivalent to classic cars. The Antique Automobile Club of America also define a 25 year old car as old enough to be called antique or, in this case, classic. It is generally considered that 25 is a good cut-off year because most cars will have exceeded their design life by 10-15 years. A classic car is of course an excellent property. Like any antique, a classic car’s value appreciates as it ages.
Which made me wonder, where does one get the parts they need to restore these old beauties? So I decided to do some research. This is what I found.
This site, All American Classics, INC. in Vancouver Washington claims to have 20 acres of auto wrecking from the 1930’s thru the 1980’s. They offer new, used, reproduction and nos parts. Not all the vehicles they have are just for car parts. They also have project cars for sale. Some of them are minus their motors and transmissions, and others just need to be restored. I did a search of their inventory for exterior products and came up with many items. Side mirrors, head lamps, handles etc. They seem to have a wide variety.
Obsolete & Classic Auto Parts, Inc, are located in Oklahoma City OK. and also have a web site. They have a 40,000 square foot showroom full of antique and classic car parts. They claim to stock inventory for 1909-72 Cars and 1909-79 Pickups. They also sell catalogs for specific makes for five bucks. I did a search of their inventory and came up with Model A Ford bumpers, brackets and bolt sets. For Model T’s, there are side mirrors, reveiw mirrors, rear seat spring cushions, head lamps, switches, gaskets etc. Again they seem well stocked.
For those classic muscle cars, mustang, nova, camaro and firebird Paddock claims they can help. Some items they carry are, mustang emblems, striping kits, mustang stereos and body parts. 65 GTO front and back seats, Gto wheels, steering, emblems, stripe kits etc. The appear to have many necessary parts for the awesome old muscle cars.
A classic car indeed speaks for itself. Our fascination for anything with lasting significance, beauty and excellence and our appreciation for the long history of automobiles explain this penchant for Classic cars. Classic cars are not only relics from the past but are also fascinating milestones from which we can learn a lot.
