Find your next project or part car with Roadkill Motors. Search our online inventory of salvage cars, abandoned projects, and other donors…
You may already have restored a classic or vintage automobile and are looking for a new project car or perhaps you might be searching for that just right car for your first attempt at a restoration project. Think first about the type of car that you’d like to rebuild.
Finding the Right Project Car or Truck
Project cars and trucks are not hard to find — if you know where to look. Finding the right car — at the right price — might be more difficult.
There are many popular models and the most popular can be difficult to find at an affordable price — and the price is important. Often, you don’t want to spend a ton of money on the project or donor vehicle itself. You want to allow for as much money as possible for the actual build, customization, or project.
Find Project Vehicles by Make:
AMC ~ Buick ~ Cadillac ~ Chevrolet ~ Chrysler ~ DeSoto ~ Dodge ~ Eagle ~ Edsel ~ Ford ~ GMC ~ International Harvester ~ Jeep ~ Lincoln ~ Mercury Nash ~ Oldsmobile ~ Packard ~ Plymouth ~ Pontiac ~ Studebaker ~ Volkswagen ~ Willys ~ Hot Rods ~ Rat Rods ~ Motorcycles ~ Mini Bikes ~ Go-Karts
Finding a Project Car Online
The Internet. What’s easier than to browse project cars from the comfort of your own home. Most of these cars are ready to be restored or are ready parts donors. There are sites dedicated to this purpose. Selling project cars is an industry itself. The only negative to buying a project car on the internet, but certainly not a show stopper, is that you likely won’t be able to inspect the car yourself. As far as the choice of project cars to consider, the Internet is hard to beat…
You will need to rely on photographs and any available vehicle inspection reports for information on the actual condition of the vehicle.
A solid solution is to arrange for a local mechanic to inspect the vehicle prior to offering a bid. Sure, it may cost a few dollars to have a mechanic inspect the vehicle, but this relatively low expense can give you the peace of mind you wouldn’t get by bidding on the vehicle based on photos alone.
Finding a Project Car in Newspaper Ads
Anyone who reads a newspaper knows that there are old cars offered in the classified section. This is usually thought of as being the traditional way to search for a car or truck. One advantage of finding a vehicle in your local newspaper is that you likely won’t be in a bidding war that you could be on eBay motors or elsewhere.
Another obvious advantage is that you will be in a position to inspect the vehicle personally before making an offer to buy. Your local newspaper may not have a large offering of cars but there are advantages to buying locally. The same is true for the local auto trading weekly or monthly publications.
Finding Project Cars For Sale via Local Car Clubs
Local car club members might know of project cars and trucks as well as parts, for sale — or they may have something you need for sale themselves. Many car clubs support this type of project and there’s likely to be one or more in your town.
Other Sources for Locating a Project Car
Local Police Department / City, County, State Government Websites
Check your local police department or local or regional government website. You’ll often find confiscated and abandoned vehicle auction information. Police auctions can be a good place to find your project car at a surprisingly reasonable price. These auction sites also offer vehicles that the city and/or police department simply want to replace. Because the government auction is likely held locally, you’ll have the advantage of inspecting vehicles prior to purchase.
Word-of-Mouth, Talk on the Streets
Another very obvious source for locating a project car is simply word of mouth. Friends and co-workers may know of a car or truck from a neighbor or relative that could fit the bill.
Find Project Vehicles by Make:
AMC ~ Buick ~ Cadillac ~ Chevrolet ~ Chrysler ~ DeSoto ~ Dodge ~ Eagle ~ Edsel ~ Ford ~ GMC ~ International Harvester ~ Jeep ~ Lincoln ~ Mercury Nash ~ Oldsmobile ~ Packard ~ Plymouth ~ Pontiac ~ Studebaker ~ Volkswagen ~ Willys ~ Hot Rods ~ Rat Rods ~ Motorcycles ~ Mini Bikes ~ Go-Karts
The story we hear the most is people finding the right project when they least expected it. Be ready. Have your duck in a row. When you do find that perfect project car at a reasonable price, and it will happen, just be sure to perform the due diligence necessary to make certain of exactly what you’re buying.
- Make a list beforehand of what you’re looking for and what you’re not looking for.
Success in your automotive build or restoration project has a lot to do with what you do before you actually start the project. Here are several resources that many have found useful when planning a build:
- How To Build A Hot Rod
- How To Chassis Swap a Classic Car or Truck
- Engine, Transmission, Chassis Swap Donor Vehicle Look-Up
Project Vehicles from Private Sellers:
Classic Truck Beds For Sale in Harvard, Nebraska
Classic Studebaker Cars, Trucks and Parts For Sale in Harvard, Nebraska
Classic BIG Trucks For Sale in Harvard, Nebraska
