[Owen]

I have my doubts about the strategy of keeping cars for 30+ years.

What happens when you can’t get repair parts anymore?

[DaxtonBrown]

“I have my doubts about the strategy of keeping cars for 30+ years.

What happens when you can’t get repair parts anymore?”

That’s why I own classic Chevies. There is a huge aftermarket for parts.Zero parts problems for my 67 Camaro or 57 Bel Air.

Or like my 49 Chevy pickup. It is hard to get parts for the rear end. So I will just swap it out to a modern one from the 2000s. I can get one for under $400.

[Dr. Sivana]

I have my doubts about the strategy of keeping cars for 30+ years.

What happens when you can’t get repair parts anymore?

Several suggestions:

1. Start with a car with a good track record (most Toyotas, A body Mopars from the early 70s and before, 3800 drivetrain GMs).

2. More electronics and luxury gizmos are to be avoided.


3. Pick a model that was popular with a long production run without too many changes: Ford Mustang, Volvo 240, original Volkswagen Beetle. You can buy ANY part for a mid-60's Mustang BRAND new, building one from scratch if need be.

4. Buy in the sun belt, because rust is the main enemy. ANYthing else can be fixed.

5. Some parts can be made with a 3D printer.

6. Some states allow old style replicars.

[steve86]

Parts for my 25 to 35 year old Japanese vehicles are getting easier to find, if anything. Not from dealers or official channels, but from the huge SE Asian market where variations of the vehicles are still made and parts are still made (mostly in Thailand, I think, but not exclusively. These are NOT Chinese parts, except for some from Taiwan). I have not had any problems with the quality of the parts. The customers over there want them to work and they usually do.