if ti ain't new it ain't available 'round here it seems . i find most of my stuff snooping around , following up leads , and just plain dumb luck . the ol' stuff is still around here they just ain't keeping it in the bone yards as only those of us with dinosaurs wander in occasionally . and want something odd anyhow .

 

I spent over 30 years of weekends and vacations looking for NOS to sell, driving throughout the Western States. It's never been easy finding stuff. When one stops at a Ford dealer looking for NOS, getting the parts manager to let you "take a look" behind the parts counter isn't always easy, even with an "in." The cost of gas, food and lodging has to be figured into the price of the parts. Then I haul a load to a swap meet, and the cheap skates, looky-loos, and the whining cry babies want to low ball everything.

Y'all try going on the road hunting for stuff...see how much you find.

 

My $0.02: On the one hand, "trying to lowball everything" is the time-honored tradition of bargaining. On the other hand, those old crates were made long, long ago, and they're just simply disappearing. What's left commands a higher price each passing year. Sadly.. Very sadly, there's going to come a time when they're simply gone.

In western MA, there are a couple Ford havens I know of, one specialized in older Ford parts, "Mormon Hollow Auto Salvage" The other is some guy's private junk palace, stone's throw from the State Police Barracks in Northampton. Old cars of all sorts including crusty F series and a late 60s Cougar and a 71 Cutlass in the front.. But there's no business sign.. But no "Keep Out" either. Always curious but never felt like walking up to the guy's door and asking what's up with the iron laying around.

 

The old coot that owns the iron will probably tell you, as he's leaning on his walker and spitting up brown stuff, that he's "gonna restore 'em one of these days and they ain't for sale" I've heard that many times.

 

New tailgates made from original dies may be an exception, but I would gladly pay more for good used than repro Chinese-made crap that doesn't "really" fit, is made of questionable steel, and probably cost the dealer 1/10 what he's selling it for. Big swap meets like Carlisle and Hershey aren't likely to be good bargain shopping venues, but if you need a rare part, they are good.

 

Here is the way that I look at it....

If I can get used sheet metal in reasonably good shape I would be willing to pay up to 75% of new replacement part price.

If it only comes in fiber glass then that old steel in good shape should be worth as much as the FG replacement part.

as for emblems, trim and relatively common parts I would pay maximum 50% of new replacement price.

When shopping for used parts I already have a list of the maximum I would pay for a particular Item. But there are always instances where the part is in mint shape or very hard to find used then there is no real limit.

ND, I just wish I could find a fella such as yourself up here so I could get all the parts I need in one place and not have to wait 2 months for the parts to arrive bent up and twisted by the courier because that don't know what "FRAGILE" means. I've fixed the twisted/bent new replacement parts rather than shipping back only to wait 2 more months for another bent up piece of crap.

I have found a couple of gentlemen in Sask, Canada that have a huge selection of complete and parts truck. Only trouble is I would need to take 4 days to go get the parts and the lost wages and fuel would more that x10 the price of these parts. Maybe I need to send the wife on a road trip....

 

NOS means New Old Stock. I dealt in new original Ford parts only. I found rather quickly that when setting up at a swapmeet, the true buyers were there the first thing, usually with flashlights. By 8AM or so, the whiners, complainers, and cheapskates etc. began showing up. I remember once I had a NOS 1951 Merc front hood trim with the red plastic insert. Some cluck offered $50.00 for it, even though I wanted $125.00. As soon as he set it back on the ground another fellow grabbed it, and said sold. The cluck started whining..."I saw it first!" Tough, I said...If you snooze, you lose.

 

Around here there are plenty of 70's models which sometimes kinda makes me wish i had kept my 79. As for the 54 parts are slim pickins.

 

Pretty sure they're in Sacramento (sacramento vintage ford, www.vintageford.com), especially since I've been there 10 or so times.

 

This is a DIFFERENT Vintage Ford. Just like the name Ford Obsolete, there are many different Vintage Ford stores nationwide. I've never been to Sacramento Vintage Ford (I have been to the Towe Ford Museum, which moved to Sacramento from Montana...did'ja know that?). The owner of Vintage Ford in Huntington Beach has been buying and selling Ford parts for 40 + years. I know this, because I've been selling him NOS Ford parts for 40 + years.


No one owns the name Ford Obsolete, and no one owns the name Vintage Ford. At one time in Los Angeles County there were three different Ford Obsolete stores, all owned by separate unconnected owners.


The very first in the world was: Ford Parts Obsolete-Long Beach. The two owners were ex-Ford partsmen (Gene and Joe Mac) who had worked at City Ford Co. together. They started their store in the 1950's.

 

QUOTE:/In western MA, there are a couple Ford havens I know of, one specialized in older Ford parts, "Mormon Hollow Auto Salvage" \:QUOTE

I don't think anyone on this thread is near this neck of the woods, but "General Information"-- Mormon Hollow came under new management since I last went that way. Now they handle 70s and newer. Must've got rid of the old iron. Or maybe it's still around, but they no longer "specialize in Older Ford Parts"

 

N.D.--Have you ever considered writing down ALL the ford/stude/packard memories and trivia you know of?? I mean,you are likely to forget some of these tidbits 1 day and I have for sure!!haha!!! I cannot believe your memory and your devotion to the automobile. I think you should get the FTE AWARD and this for ALL the info you give us underbrain interlectual types!! I will start widdling 1 up soon--it may not be as beautiful as you deserve,but it will be a pleasure. Bill

 

Mebbe I should write down what I know, my photographic memory might run oughtta film some day. 'Course, when wood I find the time?

btw: If I was offered an award, I wouldn't accept it. After all, if y'all didn't ask questions, why would I be here? ALL FTE members deserve an award, as we are preserving and keeping old Fords alive, in one form or another.

 

Well put Bill, I could'nt agree more!

 

We should all be awarded for giving Bill something to do in his spare time.

No wait...that is not what he said. Now I am confused myself.