Driving a pickup truck is part of the American dream for some people. Some folks love trucks because they’re durable and rugged. Others just like their look and overall design.
Whatever the case may be, owning a vintage truck and taking care of it can be tremendously fun or worthwhile as a hobby. Unfortunately, finding Parts isn’t always easy. But thanks to the wonders of the modern internet, you can shop for vintage truck parts pretty much anywhere using the internet as a guide.
Whether you’re looking to source locally or find something to be delivered to you, here are five ways to use the internet to shop for truck parts today.
Local Sources
Sometimes, you can’t beat local sources. Depending on what part of the country you live in, there’s going to be a chance that somebody around you will have a plethora of vintage truck parts in a garage or perhaps at their business.
You can check with local mechanics to see if they have what you’re looking for, and look at used car lots, auto junk yards, scrap yards, and standard junkyards to see if there are parts you can salvage. Since you’re going to be building or replacing parts in a vintage vehicle, you’ll need to get creative.
Facebook Marketplace
Facebook might have changed its name to Meta recently, but that doesn’t change the fact that its marketplace is one of the best places to find good deals on hard-to-find items. Usually, the marketplace will put you in touch with local folks who have items that you might want available.
Then you can talk with them directly through messaging or Facebook itself and work on a deal with them. You’ll have to meet in person to get the item. It’s a pretty solid system for finding things, but you do need to be careful when you’re using it.
There are instances where people use the Facebook marketplace to scam others and you don’t want that to happen to you. Just make sure you vet the person you’re purchasing something from and that you check the quality of the items before you fork over any funds.
Craigslist
Before Facebook Marketplace displaced them, Craigslist was one of the original online want ad/trading posts. It’s also not as popular as it once was but that doesn’t mean it isn’t useful from time to time.
To get the most out of using Craigslist for this kind of search, you’ll need a few tips. Avoid misspellings, make sure you’re checking in the area where you live, and learn how to search on Craigslist properly using online resources.
That way, you can find what you need quickly. With Craigslist, you can reach out directly to people if they include contact information or you can use Craigslist’s automatic email routing system.
eBay
If you don’t mind the rigors of eBay’s auction site, it can be a fantastic place to source vintage parts for your Ford. The beauty of using eBay is that you can set alerts for parts that you are looking for.
The alerts Pop Up when somebody lists the part, so you can either bid on it or purchase it out. This makes it easier to find specific parts that you’re looking for. It might not be great for something that you’re driving daily, especially when you need a part right away. That’s where a local Source like a junkyard could really help.
But ultimately eBay offers the ability to quickly and easily purchase an item—especially a rare item—with some source of immediacy that you can’t find in many other places.
Specialized Vendors
Sometimes the best and easiest way to acquire parts for your truck is to go through a specialized vendor. These are vendors that are able to cater to specific vehicles and vehicle types. Through an online inventory of brand new parts, they can provide some of the items you need and have them shipped straight to your door.
Not only is this convenient, it’s practical. Companies that specialize in parts for older vehicles tend to have a large selection of either vintage parts or new old stock parts. In this case, the new old stock just means parts that were never sold but are still factory-new. Whether you’re looking for vintage 2005 Chevy Silverado parts or parts for a newer Ford truck model, you’ll likely be able to find them at a reputable online vendor.
