| ssic car enthusiasts and restorers are a meticulous | | | | Mexico or Arizona, where their cars are not subject |
| bunch. Nothing but original parts will do for an | | | | to the ravages of rust and the elements. Its |
| accurate, correct restoration. Unfortunately, for | | | | important to remember, though, that cars from hot, |
| pre-1980 American iron, thats a job thats getting | | | | arid states are likely to have sun damage to carpets, |
| more and more difficult. eBay and owners clubs have | | | | dashboards and upholstery (rather than body or |
| helped fill that need to a certain extent, but imagine | | | | surface rust). These salvage yards are now |
| trying to find a correct set of dashboard knobs for a | | | | networked together though internet salvage auctions |
| 62 Dodge sedan, or a heater core for a 71 | | | | so that it doesnt take hundreds of miles of |
| Oldsmobile 442. If anything, its almost easier to find | | | | road-tripping to be able to find the cars and parts |
| parts for long-gone makers like Hudson, Studebaker | | | | youre looking for; like everything else, the Internet |
| or Kaiser, as there are owners clubs and networks | | | | has changed all that. So if its rare and desirable parts |
| that can help locate and track down parts for such | | | | youre looking for, you dont need to try to buy |
| cars. | | | | classic cars from reluctant owners who still intend to |
| Most of that Detroit iron from salvage yards got | | | | fix them up. |
| sent off to the crushers years ago. And as time | | | | You may wind up paying a premium price for some |
| goes on and the cars become scarcer, things like | | | | of those parts, of course. But fifteen years ago, |
| four-door sedans, pickup trucks and station wagons | | | | nobody would have thought that a 73 Oldsmobile |
| are starting to become just as desirable and valuable | | | | Delta 88 would have ever been a desirable car for a |
| as their muscle-car, two-door or convertible | | | | collector. Now these models are hugely popular, |
| counterparts were at one time. | | | | because the old full sized family cars make great |
| Fortunately there are salvage yards that are aimed | | | | hot-rods. In some ways, its a better time to be a |
| specifically at the classic car restorer, with acres of | | | | restorer of classic cars now than it ever has been |
| pre-1980 iron thats in various states of completeness. | | | | before. If its easier to locate the parts, then youre |
| Some yards will even sell entire cars in rolling-chassis, | | | | halfway there. Then you only have to worry about |
| partially restored or fully restored condition. Other | | | | things like how to make the retractable headlights on |
| cars are parted out, or are sold as a whole but in | | | | that scarce 71 Chrysler Imperial work properly, or |
| partial, non-restorable condition. These whole cars and | | | | how to correctly rig the vacuum lines, amplifiers and |
| parts are then sent to an auto auction site like | | | | canisters on your 66 Lincoln Continental so that all the |
| The better salvage yards for classic cars are located | | | | power accessories work. |
| in southern or southwestern states like Texas, New | | | | |