One of the quiet challenges of restoring a classic car is simply finding the parts. For a modern car you order a component and it arrives next day. For a classic, the part you need may not have been made in decades, and tracking down the right one — genuine, reproduction or reconditioned — is a skill in itself.
Why classic parts are hard to find
The obvious reason: they stopped making them. When a car has been out of production for thirty, forty, fifty years, the original manufacturer’s supply chain is long gone. What remains is a mix of old stock, specialist reproducers, autojumbles, owners’ clubs and the second-hand market. Finding the right part often means knowing where to look and who to ask — knowledge built up over years in the trade.
Genuine, reproduction or reconditioned
There are usually three routes to a part. Genuine original parts — new old stock or good used — are ideal for originality but can be scarce and pricey. Reproduction parts, made new by specialists, are often the practical answer for common classics where demand keeps reproduction viable, though quality varies and knowing the good suppliers matters. Reconditioned parts — an original component rebuilt to working order — are frequently the sensible choice for mechanical items. The right choice depends on the part, the car, and whether you are chasing concours originality or a good usable classic.
The specialist networks
Much of the trade in classic parts happens through networks that are not obvious from the outside: marque specialists, owners’ clubs, established autojumble contacts, and relationships with reconditioners and reproducers built up over years. A restorer who has been doing this a long time has those networks, and can often find in a phone call what would take an owner weeks of searching — or find at all what an owner simply cannot.
Why it saves you money as well as time
It is not just about finding the part. It is about finding the right part at a fair price, avoiding the reproduction parts that do not fit properly or fail early, and knowing when reconditioning an original beats buying new. That judgement, born of experience, saves money as well as time.
We do the hunting
At Jones Services, sourcing the right parts is part of what we do on every restoration. Our networks and experience mean we can find what your car needs — genuine, reproduction or reconditioned as appropriate — without you spending your evenings trawling forums and autojumbles. If your restoration is stalled for want of parts, talk to us.