Why is it so hard to find parts?

Good thing I have a heavy duty chain and wear boots.
On the bright side, everybody's brother does not drive a 1964 Plymouth Fury. You have to pay to be different.

 

About 30 years ago or so I restored a 1951 Super 6 Hudson 4 door and my main Napa dealer was able to track down damn near everything I needed .

 

Yeah, but 30 years ago I could run a 5 minute mile and dead lift 650 lbs.
That was then, THIS IS NOW!!

 

I gave up on Mopars a while back. In 1986, I bought one of my Dad's cars from my Mom after Dad passed away. it was a 1973 Coronet 4 door, but only had about 50,000 miles on it. It was my daughter's first car when she was in high school. My brother "borrowed" it before I got to Mom's to pick it up, and had an accident with it. I lived in the Chicago area at the time. I called every junk yard in the area to try to find parts for it. Basically, I got told that if they got one in, they'd crush it right away. Vacationed to Tucson that spring, and found every thing I needed in one stop there..........then had to ship the parts home and get them painted.
After I moved here, I bought a 1962 Dodge Custom 880 2 door hardtop. Found out they made 1761 of them. I paid thru the nose for parts for that car. Got that car all done, and when I tried to sell it, took 2 years to finally sell it to a guy in Belgium for about a third of what I spent on it.
Now that I've switched my hobby to Chevys, I find the parts are easy to find and a lot cheaper. Makes for more fun in the long run.

 

Busterwivell------>Now that I've switched my hobby to Chevys, I find the parts are easy to find and a lot cheaper. Makes for more fun in the long run.

And there ya have it boys and girls.

 

Nothing is hard to find in this day and age of the internet. Search engines and auction sites have brought up everything from marshmallows in the shape of the Virgin Mary to Napolion's private... ah, part.

You are just not looking hard enough.
I have a '58 Ford Wagon. Some of the parts that I have found are not reproduced and were a one year only part. Yet they pop up now and then if I keep my eyes open.

Still looking for a rear bumper tho....

 

Several more sources ---

www.arizonaparts.com - Located near PHX, Martin has been dealing in NOS Mopar-pnly parts since the early '80s. Excellent source on nearly everything; as long as it's NOS.

http://bradsnosparts.com/ - Been around forever, too. Priced high, but when there is one of something left, what's it worth to you?

www.nosmopar.com http://www.nosmopar.com/query.asp?make=MOPAR%20B%20BODY

http://tonysparts.com/ - Another guy that has been around forever.

http://www.henryspartsdepot.com/chrysler-mopar-nos-parts-page-1.html -- He deals in Ford AND Mopar parts, all NOS.

http://www.murraybpark.com/ -- Specializes in C-body Mopars, but does have some older B-body bits, too.

Enjoy your day! Could be worse - you could be in 1987 and have nothing but Old Cars Weekly, HMN, and Mopar Collectors' Guide, your high-priced landline long-distance rates, and a film camera.

 

And one of a whole bunch of "me, too's!" with bowties. I've owned over 750 cars and trucks since 1972, with the vast majority of them being Mopars. I've yet to have problems finding parts anywhere. The cost for Chrysler stuff is in 85% of the cases, the SAME or nearly so as for any other US make. The days of crushing Mopars "just because" is long gone.

I built a 360 4-bbl engine a while back, and found that parts prices for that were maybe 10% higher. And, I have a better engine for the money than a "lookie, I have one too!" SBC 350. Variety is the spice of life. Chevrolet is not variety. But, that is what makes all this so much fun, is that we can build and drive whatever we want to. At least, until the current regime decides that old cars are the devil incarnate and must be banned.

 

I can see that ypou've recovered completely!

 

Try this guy:

http://www.callingallcars.ca/Ford/Ford_1950s.htm

http://www.callingallcars.ca/Ford/Ford_Parts_Cars.htm

http://www.callingallcars.ca/Inventory Page/Inventory Page2012.htm

 

I started working on 70-72 Monte Carlos in the early 80's, still plenty around then so shouldn't have been a big deal. But there were just enough weird od parts on that car that didn't match a Chevelle or other GM midsize that it was frustrating. So I searched for stuff. A lot!!!

Now with the 'Net, it is a little easier, but you still have to search. That is a part of what this hobby is about.

Tom

 

When you've done a car like mine there are no parts you can buy or find. I altered every 1/4, fender, door, front end, frame and had glass made. Don't give up on your search for parts, there's always somebody that will come through for you.

 

1958 Ford wagon rear bumper...

should be the same as a 1957-58 base model Ford sedan, but you have to drill the holes for the bumper guards/license lights. That might widen your search a bit.

Have you tried Bumper Boyz?

 

Has anyone done business with them? I called them when we were looking for bumpers for the Ranchero. The whole thing seemed sketchy at best.

 

I've heard so many different stories, both good and scary, about Bumper Boyz I'm not sure what to think. They've had a large display many years at the Daytona Speedway for the larger car shows and seem friendly with a large supply of parts. Bumpers on hand look excellent. Then again it's those tales of money sent and parts never returning I wonder about.
I hate to sound negative about a company I have never dealt with but don't want to see friends cheated either.
Years ago we dealt with total strangers in other states and never had a worry in the world. Back then we were all car guys helping car guys.