Finding classic car parts for your restoration project can be challenging. While regularly occurring swap meets like the Pomona Swap Meet & Classic Car Show are the best places to find those hard-to-find parts, there are a few other options. You can always surf the net by checking out sites like eBay or online car forums. In addition to the internet, there are a few other sources that may be surprisingly helpful.

1. A Car Parts Store

Believe it or not, you can still go into a brick and mortar car parts store to find what you need. In fact, many of these stores still cater to classic car parts that you thought you’d only find in one or two places. We recommend that you call ahead and give the store the make and year of your car to see if they have your part in their inventory. And if they don’t, they can usually find it online for you (for a fee).

2. Magazines That Cater to the Classic Car

Believe it or not, there are still old fashioned print car-related magazines. And long-running classic car magazines like Hot Rod, and Hemmings Motor News are regularly updated. These mags sometimes list contact information for car part sellers.  Not to mention, the magazines have articles jam packed with helpful information about various car parts.

3. Wrecking Services

Before cars are classified as junk, they go through a wrecking service first. And it is likely that these companies will have random car parts lying around. Yes, sometimes the purgatory of the car world can turn into a heaven for the classic car buff. That’s because the very part you’ve been trying to find might later get lost in the sea of junk at the junkyard.

4. Networking Through Classic Car Clubs

If you’re a classic car buff, you should look into joining a classic car club in your local area. Nearly every city in the United States has a car club or two. The biggest perk to look forward to is networking with club members so you can pass on your car part wish list. It can’t hurt having another set of eyes looking for your hard-to-find part.