so im thinking....

liquid51 · **Posted:** Wed Jan 05, 2011 3:11 pm

...about starting a hard to find parts/used parts business. mainly sourcing parts and selling stuff. Kind of like a parts house but for classic japanese cars and stuff like that. I hope this makes sense. So any tips or ideas you got would be awesome.

NSR_s30 · **Posted:** Wed Jan 05, 2011 9:40 pm

I think that its a great idea! :tu:

e-at_me · **Posted:** Thu Jan 06, 2011 5:44 am

hope it's a side business because your customer database is pretty small.

liquid51 · **Posted:** Thu Jan 06, 2011 3:29 pm

Yeah it would be a side business until I get done with school and shit. I already work for oreilly auto parts so I know parts selling already and I'm good at it. I was also thinking of being a person that gets into contact with aftermarket companies and see if thay can make aftermarket parts and ish like that. Basically I want to get my hands onto everything that deals with classic and or just reg japanese car parts industry. Once I start to get money and get goin I want to get a warehouse and have a true store and everything.

Long · **Posted:** Fri Jan 07, 2011 6:09 am

It has potential...

Australia's equivalent I suppose:

http://www.rarespares.net.au/Parts-Accessories.aspx

Rare parts, Repro parts (Isn't there a licensing issue with reproducing Manufacturer parts?), Nos parts etc

They seem to be doing alright although they charge abit on the high side. Success depends on customer base. How big do you want to make this thing?

edit: I read that the guys from rarespares would go as far as travelling to other countries to salvage stocked parts.

Eric · **Posted:** Fri Jan 07, 2011 11:08 am

why would you be able to find the parts if we cant find them ourselves?

liquid51 · **Posted:** Fri Jan 07, 2011 2:28 pm

Well its the thinking of so you guys don't have to go though the hassle of weeks and weeks of sourcing a hard to find part when I would have already sourced it.

Eric · **Posted:** Sat Jan 08, 2011 12:11 am

but how would yoiu know what part i am looking for so you alreadt sourced it for me?
you wouldhave to buy all parts you can get your hands on or i would have to ask you to search a part for me but i guess you wont be doing that for free.
so you would end up with lots and lots of parts in stock and you will never know if youever sell them and that would be an enourmous investment, or youll have to think of some sort of fee ill pay you for sourcing parts for me..
but i guess most people will look at ebay, yahoo etc themself because thats free

cesariojpn · **Posted:** Sat Jan 08, 2011 3:02 am

Long wrote:

(Isn't there a licensing issue with reproducing Manufacturer parts?)

In many cases, no. Aside from logos and a few other things, anyone can make "Patent Parts" and sell them.

liquid51 · **Posted:** Sun Jan 09, 2011 5:33 pm

Its called research. I would research what parts people are looking for or interested in. When I see those parts I buy them and stock pile them.

Long · **Posted:** Tue Jan 11, 2011 1:33 am

Are you going to be focusing on a single make or spread out across makes?

It'd be great to source hard to find parts from a single source but I'd assume you'd need a significant stockpile to begin with to meet expectations and demand.

Do you have any potential investors yet?

I think stockpiling fender mirrors, duck-lips and cool wheels would be pretty cool if this is what you were thinking.

Sven7 · **Posted:** Tue Jan 11, 2011 12:14 pm

Sounds like a good idea, and the remanufacturing of easily machined or created parts is a real need. A VW guy "WCHLVR" has set up a small home business making things like extended strut caps, modified hood hinges and adapters that make Beetle "fat five" wheels work with 4x100 Rabbits.

I say if you get this going it could be really good for you and really good for the community. If you know someone who does machining, become their best friend. :beer:

http://www.oldskoolvw.com/ His website seems to not be loading now, but I've been on it before.

KresSlyda180 · **Posted:** Tue Jan 11, 2011 2:23 pm

Long wrote:

I think stockpiling fender mirrors, duck-lips and cool wheels would be pretty cool if this is what you were thinking.

Those are the parts, I'm looking for...... also, throw in those Hakosuka rear wings, too.

so im thinking....

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