The process of restoring a vintage car is not merely a mechanical task but a complex conservation of the industrial past and a thoughtful investment. With the world becoming a global village, it does not always have to be a retirement thing to be in the global classic car market as of 2026. Credence Research estimates the market at $39.7 billion in the year 2024 and $77.8 billion by the year 2032. The driver behind this surge is the changing demographic: Hagerty Insider Report 2025 points out that Millennials and Gen X are now the primary interest group in the market, with collectors in their 40s and below taking close to 58% of the interest in the so-called modern classics.
This new generation is not only interested in durability and online access, but the scavenging of local yards is no longer popular. Finding the rare restoration parts has become a high-stakes game as original parts are being worn out by zinc pest and metal fatigue. Part replacement now has to comply with or even in excess of the original specifications in order to enhance the valuation of a vehicle. The guide will examine the five best classic car parts dealers in the United States, assess how they will resolve the “obsolescence crisis” for both individual hobbyists and professional restoration companies by means of high sourcing and new production.
Discover the Top 5 Classic Car Parts Dealers in the United States
When choosing a dealer, you need to align the special needs of your restoration project with the key strengths of the supplier. The following are the five elite that characterize the present-day scenario.
1. Summit Racing Equipment
Recommendation: ★★★★☆
To B or C: Primarily B2C (Direct to Enthusiast)
Main Markets: United States, Canada, and Global Export
Summit Racing is the unquestionable giant of the aftermarket. Although most people use them to refer to modern performance, their Restoration division has turned into one of the crucial veins of the classic car market. Their specialty is the so-called High-Volume Restoration.
When you are putting together a hot muscle car of the 1960s or 70s, Summit has the floor pans, crate engines, front suspension packages, and wiring packages on a shelf to be delivered the next day. Their best weapon is their logistics network, which operates several large distribution centres all over the U.S. to reduce transit time, but in some cases, they send a weather alert to inform their customers that they could encounter some delays due to extreme weather events.
To the infrequent part seeker, Summit is a mega-clearinghouse of the industry’s best manufacturers. They may not be able to hand-bend a bespoke bracket to fit a 1928 Packard, but their technical search engine is very sophisticated, with results being filtered as original fitment or modified. Their 24/7 technical service is a savior to hobbyists who are in need of knowing whether a particular bolt design is going to fit through the vintage drum brakes. Nonetheless, they are transactional due to their size; they are the “Amazon” of the car market; they are efficient, massive, but at the same time not as focused on the “pre-war” niche.
2. JEGS High Performance
Recommendation: ★★★☆☆
To B or C: Primarily B2C
Main Markets: North America
JEGS has been the major competitor of Summit over the decades, operating with a strong emphasis on the street machine and the so-called Restomod segments. JEGS is a high performance part manufacturer for those owners of vintage Chevys, Fords, and Mopars who wish their old ride to perform better than it did on the showroom floor. They are known to specialize in drivetrain components- such as the torque converters, ignition systems, among others- that fit the olden day footprints but incorporate 21st century technology.
JEGS has its strong point with the vintage collector through their inventory of “Legacy Mechanical. They will also carry clutch kits and rear end components that other generalist retailers have dropped. Nevertheless, in 2025, their response to customer service has been observed to be somewhat volatile, as observed by the market. They are still among the finest it has to offer the “Heart of the Machine,” however, in rare aesthetic trim, or a perfect show car interior, you can find their catalog trims more toward the “Go” than the “Show.”
3. CARS Inc.
Recommendation: ★★★★☆
To B or C: Both B2C and B2B (Specialized Shops)
Main Markets: United States (Global shipping available)
When you are passionate about the Bowtie family, the name CARS Inc. is one to be respected. CARS Inc. is a specialist, as opposed to the generalists, in that it has a laser focus on classic Chevrolet cars and trucks. Their list of 1951-1954 Chevys is said to be the standard in the industry. They do not merely sell parts, but they have a feeling of the exact development of the Impala, Bel Air, and Biscayne, and they offer the finest selection of quality sheet metal and body products.
The distinction of CARS Inc. lies in the fact that they focus on the American quality. A significant portion of their body hardware and interior components are assembled in the U.S., which is a huge requirement when doing a restoration of a car to the level of Concours d’Elegance. This is more than a store for the Chevy restorer of the early 50s who wants to be sure that your restoration project shines with an original look.
4. Collector’s Auto Supply
Recommendation: ★★★★★
To B or C: Both B2B and B2C
Main Markets: North America and Europe
Collector’s Auto Supply has established a niche by specializing in the so-called soft goods and hard-to-find seals, which in all too many cases are the most aggravating aspect of an automotive restoration. Their specialty is weatherstripping, window dressings, and vast exterior components of an outrageously diverse number of makes. Other old car parts stores cater to the “Big Three,” but Collector’s Auto Supply attracts the niche customers of restoring independent brands such as AMC or Studebaker and has the industry’s largest selection of such niche rubber goods.
They have a reputation for “Accuracy of Fit.” An increase or decrease of 2mm in the thickness of a rubber seal can cause a door to be stuck in the vintage world; Collector’s Auto Supply is highly praised for supplying items that are close to the original. To the restorer, who has the engine falling but cannot get the particular exterior automotive components, such as the clips to the door panels, this is the place to be to have that perfect look.
5. Sunway Autoparts
Recommendation: ★★★★★
To B or C: Strongly B2B (Wholesalers, Dealers, & Large Restoration Shops)
Main Markets: North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific
Sunway Autoparts is an embodiment of the “Intelligence Layer” of the contemporary restoration supply chain. As of 2007, they have shifted to being a supplier and have become a specialized manufacturing powerhouse with the widest range of wheel choices, including a vast array of wheel options and exterior components of Ford, Volkswagen, Jaguar, and Chevrolet from the 1920s to the late 1990s. Other ones are retailers, but Sunway is working behind the scenes of most of the top names in the tire business and parts distribution of the world.
Their Custom Manufacturing Capability is, in fact, the actual unique selling proposition of Sunway. They run an industrial chain of close to 200 suppliers and can integrate such processes as high-precision plastic injection of exterior parts and metal casting of drive parts. In the case of a restoration shop that is confronted with an obsolete part crisis, Sunway can make available the manufacture of a new-old-stock (NOS) equivalent product with better modern materials, and the problem of aging will be resolved forever.
In the case of B2B customers, Sunway provides some sort of consistency, which is uncommon in the vintage universe. With their flexible batch orders and consistent production cycles, a classic car dealer or hot rod shop may have its service bays busy. They are the liaison between the artisanal realm of restoring an old car and the effectiveness of the new production, so that your next show stopper is created based on a platform of quality.
Table 1: At-a-Glance Comparison of Top Dealers
| Dealer | Specialization | Best For | Manufacturing Ability |
| Summit Racing | General Muscle/Performance | Speed & Common Parts | No (Retailer) |
| JEGS | Mechanical/Drivetrain | Restomods & Speed | No (Retailer) |
| CARS Inc. | Classic Chevrolet | Authenticity for Chevy | Partial (Sheet Metal) |
| Collector’s Auto Supply | Seals/Soft Trim/Niche Brands | Hard-to-find Trim | No (Sourcing Specialist) |
| Sunway Autoparts | Global B2B Supply Chain | Custom Reproduction/Bulk | Yes (Full Scale) |
What to Look for in a Reliable Classic Car Parts Dealer
The cheapest part is sometimes the most costly when you are spending thousands of dollars on a restoration, and it does not fit. The following are the three conditions that a good dealer must not compromise on:
- Fitment and Material Transparency: Reputable antique car parts dealers have to differentiate NOS, OEM, as well as Reproduction. Find those that specifically mention that they make it with modern materials, including a massive selection of bushings of energy suspension, to surpass the original 50-year-old specifications.
- Service and Catalog Excellence: Does the dealer offer Exploded View diagrams? The finest classic car parts dealers have very elaborate schematics, which enable you to recognize a component, such as pinion conversion kits or disc brakes, by merely looking at it.
- Shipping Integrity: Parts such as glass and chrome are delicate, especially for a perfect show car. Good dealers must have a history of over-packing and providing free shipping levels to cover the expense of excellent logistics.
Pro Tips for Finding Obsolete Components That Are Out of Production
When the conventional catalogs indicate that it is out of stock, the professionals resort to these complex techniques in order to attain the ultimate stance or mechanical excellence.
Utilizing Cross-Reference Catalogs to Find Compatible Parts
Manufacturers usually transfer parts between the models. A tail-light housing of a customized Mercury can be a high-volume Ford product. Specialist restorers use the Part Group Number to locate the suspension components or carrier hubs that are suitable for several vehicles.
The Role of Custom Manufacturing in Classic Car Restoration
When an element is just unavailable, the business is redirecting into Custom Reproduction. B2B experts such as Sunway Autoparts base their manufacturing of a small run of parts on original molds or 3D scans. This will be of great use to:
- Particularly, modern metallurgy is needed in high performance chassis parts.
- Complex front suspension components are not in circulation.
- Individualized exterior automotive components to present your creation with a custom look.
Table 2: Restoration Component Quality Guide
| Component Type | Preferred Material | Key Benefit | Recommended Tech |
| Brakes | Steel/Ceramic | Safety & Performance | Disc brakes conversion |
| Suspension | Polyurethane | Ultimate stance | Massive selection of bushings |
| Body Panels | Galvanized Steel | Rust Prevention | Paint guns for finish |
| Wheels | Alloy/Forged | Period-correct style | American Racing / BF Goodrich |
Conclusion
The “Classic” in classic car restoration means eternal, yet the means of all this must be contemporary. Although retail outlets such as Summit Racing and JEGS offer the convenience of having speed in which to find the typical high performance parts, the uncommon aspect of the hobby needs to be done more surgically.
To the amateur, the expertise required to overcome brand-related challenges can be provided by antique auto parts dealers such as Collector Auto Supply and CARS Inc. To the professional shop or the international distributor, a partnership with a supplier capable of manufacturing, such as Sunway Autoparts, is the final factor as a backup in case of obsolescence, particularly in terms of obtaining high performance chassis components. Not only do you select your dealer as an old car parts store, but as an expert in the second life of your race car, so that it will continue to be the next show stopper for years on.
