Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

Greg · Joined: 03 Dec 2007 Posts: 445 Location: Dreamland Margate

Recently I have been trying to source some black self tapping, countersunk screws and matching cup washers for my Ford Popular interior trim as over the years a few have worked loose and escaped.
These I usually see being sold at various Shows but as usual when I actually need some, can't find them!
So a few searches on the 'International Network' Smile

and was amazed by the price differences.
One 'Classic Car trim supplier' sell a packet of 35 screws for £7.49 and the same again for cup washers!!
Another few searches I came across a company that sells slack of 10 for 80p and 10 cup washers for 55p!!
So it's definately worth shopping around.
Not the most exciting story I know but I thought, worth mentioning Smile

The company with more realistic prices: www.namrick.co.uk

47p2 · Joined: 24 Nov 2007 Posts: 2009 Location: Glasgow

Prices for parts are almost always cheaper from the dealers parts department than buying from the cowboys that sell them on ebay
_________________
ROVER
One of Britain's Fine Cars

buzzy bee · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 3382 Location: South Cheshire

It is like buying plastic packed screwes from a certain do it yourself store, 20 screwes for silly money, the sawmills will probably sell you a box for less.

47p2 · Joined: 24 Nov 2007 Posts: 2009 Location: Glasgow

I needed an engine undertray for the Range Rover so ordered it from my local LR dealer. 14 bolts are required to hold it in place......at £2.74 each plus VAT.

i decided not to take them up on that offer as I had a full bag of 100 roofing bolts (complete with washer and rubber sealing washer) which I had bought for £5.00 and they were a perfect fit.

On ebay I saw a plastic shroud for the Range Rover that covers the front tow hook, the buy it now price was £45.00, another the same had a starting price of £9.99 and rose to £12.00 by the end of the auction plus postage at £3.99 so a total of £15.99

Dealership price for the same item is £7.50 + VAT

It seems some people are just too lazy or have too much money to be bothered searching around
_________________
ROVER
One of Britain's Fine Cars

baconsdozen · Joined: 03 Dec 2007 Posts: 1119 Location: Under the car.

I saw an oil filter for my P5B at £25 on ebay,as I could buy one for £5.75 just about anywhere I decided to leave it.
As soon as the label 'classic' can be attached to any item it seems as some people take all leave of their senses (and a few take leave of the entire contents of their wallet).
Its not always ebay though,I for one always put everything on ebay at 99p reserve so people can decide what they want to pay and there are plenty of sharks out there.
_________________
Thirty years selling imperial hand tools for old machinery(Now happily retired).

Nic Jarman · Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2010 10:40 am Post subject:

I think this one takes the biscuit.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Pair-Morris-8-Eight-Ser-E-Z-1939-1953-Pedal-Rubbers-/150474127637?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item2308f4f915
Now have a look at this;
http://www.vintagecarparts.co.uk/en/2009~Morris+pedal+pad+rubber-details/
Slight difference.
_________________
1936 Morris 8 Series 1
1973 MGB roadster
1977 MG Midget 1500
Dax Rush

petelang · Joined: 21 May 2009 Posts: 475 Location: Nottingham

I just wish someone on ebay would clear up the issue of "Vintage" and "Classic". Nearly every part for classic motors, and even those that have not reached that age yet are labeled as "Vintage" which they clearly are not. I am searching for genuine vintage bits but have to wade through pages of crap to find just one or two genuine "Vintage bits for pre war cars.
Anyone else got this gripe?

Keith D · Posted: Fri Oct 01, 2010 1:30 pm Post subject:

I have a very similar gripe. Our local classifieds list vintage, which apparently means any vehicle over six months old that is not a Holden or Falcon! It is most annoying.

Any search that you do on the 'Net for vintage parts invariably means anything that is old and rusty! (A vintage vehicle actually means something built between 1st January 1919 and 31st December 1930!)

The rip-off in the prices of spares is quite unbelieveable. Almost 40 years ago I drove my four year old Mark 2 Jag over a nasty pothole and broke the two rubber block shock absorbers between the subframe and the body. The Jaguar dealer quoted me $8 each for replacement parts in a nice shiny blue Jaguar/Daimler box. A friend in the spare parts business sold me two stock standard Holden engine mounts for $1 each. Identical part! Owning a Jaguar in Australia you expect to be ripped off, but eight times the price??? A saving of $14 (less than 7 quid) may not sound much now, but back in 1971 it was quite a lot! Wherever possible, I buy after market spares for my everyday vehicles.

Keith

lowdrag · Joined: 10 Apr 2009 Posts: 1600 Location: Le Mans

Smith's brass shielded thermostats; £25 from a Jaguar dealer, and 50p at a spares day. I'll have 50 please!

They were marked Ford Zodiac when I bought them, far cheaper than if marked Jaguar!

badhuis · Joined: 20 Aug 2008 Posts: 1467 Location: Netherlands

baconsdozen · Joined: 03 Dec 2007 Posts: 1119 Location: Under the car.

One thing I've noticed on ebay is how little some people know about the stuff they are selling.I saw some brake pads,the pictures and description didn't tally and the pads would not have fitted the cars they were advertised for.despite being a business the sellers announced that in addition to not being liable for lost parcls he did not accept returns for parts ordered in error.
talk about buyer beware.
_________________
Thirty years selling imperial hand tools for old machinery(Now happily retired).

Keith D · Posted: Sat Oct 02, 2010 1:20 pm Post subject:

In the mid nineties I was a construction supervisor at a mine and needed a very reliable vehicle that was going to get rather badly knocked about. I certainly didn't want to spend a fortune buying a new car that was going to have me climbing in and out in dirty clothes.

I bought a clapped out 1981 Mitsubishi Sigma (4 cylinder 2.6 litre) and replaced almost every moving part. I reconditioned the engine and gearbox and replaced all four tyres. I used after market parts throughout. My total expenditure came out at well under $3000.

The car still looked a heap inside and out, but I got over fives years trouble free work out of her. I scrapped it finally, but it didn't owe me a cent!

Keith