Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus

It’s amazing the amount of parts you tend to collect for your current or future project. And by parts, I mean those nice expensive no longer available New Old Stock items. Not spark plugs, pistons, cylinders, heads, or engine gaskets; those guys are still out there and believe it or not, tend to pop up often enough. I mean those unobtanium parts such as clips, brackets, wires, senders, fuel valves, vacuums, boots, hoses, and the rarest of them all, the 1958 one year only one of a kind experimental Volkswagen radiator! Yes Virginia, it does exist.

Over the years, I’ve purchased numerous NOS items ranging from mechanical parts, accessories, rubber gaskets, trim pieces, electrical items, body panels, and many more. While everyday it becomes more and more challenging to find parts, the truth is they’re out there. You have to remember that VW built over 26 million beetles throughout its production run which were manufactured, assembled, and sold in countries all over the globe. They also built a good amount of buses and other models as well. Now granted older parts are harder to find, but they’re out there. And Porsche parts may be a little harder to find since they tended to have lower production runs, but various vintage NOS items are still available through the dealer. Keep in mind you’ll need an automatic and a crutch since you’ll be short an arm and a leg, but hey at least you’ll have that NOS 356 Carrera dual distributor housing… and the bragging rights? We’ll….what can I say but here’s a toast to you.

So how does one find these parts? Well, there are the obvious sources on line such as our favorite online auction retailer, The Samba, as well as numerous vendors and retailers. Yes, many vendors and retailers occasionally carry NOS parts. Like you and me, they come across these items every once in a while. Of course, it takes some effort. A few phone calls, some e-mails, and a lot of patience. I’ve even found a few NOS items at my local FLAPS (Friendly Local Area Parts Store). A few years ago, I walked into my local Shucks store and ordered an NOS Porsche 356 small diameter 12 Volt Generator. Not rebuilt, but an NOS Bosch unit for under 150 clams. Not bad huh? In a nut shell, think outside the box. Check auction sites all over the world, call dealers in different countries, contact parts vendors in Canada, France, the UK, Germany, and many other countries. Don’t just look for NOS VW, look for SWF, Knecht, Knuf, Bosch, Hella; you get the picture. You’d be surprised what’s been sitting on someone’s shelf for all this time.

Don’t forget to contact your local and non-local club members. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve found some not so easy to get items from my fellow club members, or from someone they knew outside of the immediate circle. Chances are they have two or three of something which they would gladly sell to you in order to keep your car on the road. I can’t continue to stress how many great people are actively involved in our hobby.

My personal favorite is the swap meet. A gathering ground filled with fellow addicts who have scrounged, pillaged, and horded over years and years to bring (in many cases over hundreds and hundreds of miles) their stockpile of memorabilia, parts, pieces, and the occasional story, for you and you alone to discover. Let’s be honest, we all enjoy the occasional rare polished and waxed carriage which is displayed in all its glory in front of the masses for their viewing pleasure. I mean who doesn’t love to see a rare coachbuilt, split window, barndoor, 550 spyder, or even a mean Germanlook Super every once in a while? But the truth is we’re really there for the swap meet! Because you really need that 1964 Beetle color chart, or NOS rear hatch seal for your square, or even just to browse that one guy’s stand who always has something you need and always remembers your name. A place among your people where you can be one step further in your quest for that “one part”.