6 Vintage Car Parts That Could Be Worth a Fortune (2024)

6 Vintage Car Parts That Could Be Worth a Fortune (1)

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Seeing a vintage car out on the road makes you immediately stop and stare. The classic shape.The chic paint job. The old school craftsmanship. Vintage cars are true showstoppers. Of course, any vintage car owner will tell you one thing: The maintenance is not cheap.

Each part on a vintage vehicle can be incredibly expensive to replace because of its rarity — or if you’ve got any of these parts, they could be good items to sell. GOBankingRates consulted some automotive experts to see which parts are the most costly. Read on to see how much a single part on a vintage car can cost.

Engines

With the engine being the heart of the car, it’s no wonder that serious vintage car collectors want something as authentic as possible for their vehicles.

“Enthusiasts and collectors often seek original, numbers-matching engines for repair purposes,” said Jason Jaap, divisional franchisor and founder at Jim’s Scratch & Dent. “The value can vary to tens of thousands, or even more, depending on the desirability and rarity of the engine.”

For example, an engine is selling on eBay right now that fits a lot of Chevy models made between 1955 to 1974. The asking price? $14,995. It’s not always this expensive, but you can usually expect to pay thousands of dollars. Another example on eBay is a rebuilt 1974 Pontiac engine being sold for $7,500.

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Fenders

Your eyes might not always be on a car’s fenders, but that frame around the wheel well still costs a pretty penny — especially for a vintage model.

“For example, an authentic Fender of Horch 853 Classic is worth above $25,000, as they’re only available from reputable vintage car part dealers or automotive auctions that cater to classic and rare automobile parts,” Jaap said.

Though the Horch 853 Classic is a luxury vintage car, fenders can come down in price for more common old models. On eBay, fenders that fit Chevy models from 1970-1977 cost about $500 for a pair.

Rear Tail Light Housings

The housings for rear tail lights can become worn over time, adding to the age of a car in a bad way. To keep these looking nice, you might have to do something referred to as rechroming in addition to replacing these housing parts. According to ClassicCars.com, the rear tail light housings can be extremely expensive to replace, and cost even more to rechrome.

The chrome alone for a 1964 Chevy El Camino costs $94.79 in one particular eBay posting.

Specialty Roofs

Most of the time, during the typical duration of owning a car, you don’t think about having to replace the roof. If you are, something pretty bad happened, and most likely, your car is totaled. With a vintage car, decades of weather and wear can cause your roof to rust or cave in. Replacing a roof on a classic car is not cheap — especially when it was a limited edition piece. The glass for a Ford Mustang roof made between 1984 and 1986 can start at $500 to replace. ClassicCars.com points out that a translucent roof panel can cost you $2,000.

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Ornaments

Though they may appear to be merely decorative elements of a car, ornaments can make or break the appeal of a vintage vehicle. For ClassicCars.com, Andy Reid profiled a 1992 Mercedes-Benz 500E that had extensive period-custom work done to the car. The shaved hood ornament was one of the items he noted to be specifically impressive.

Though similar hood ornaments might cost $100 or so, others stand out among the crowd. An original art deco Rene Lalique Victoire Car Mascot will cost you more than $32,000. That’s not the usual, but rare hood ornaments can cost a couple thousand dollars. A rare Oldsmobile hood ornament for a Delta made in the early ’80s is going for $5,000 on eBay.

Leather Upholstery

How do you get to be the “best of the best” at the Vicari Auction of classic and specialty vehicles? Nice leather upholstery is one way. A 1953 Buick Skylark convertible was said to be one of the best available at the event’s 2023 auction. ClassicCars.com called its leather interior one of its best features.

Installing a leather interior is quite an expense if your vehicle doesn’t have it already. The price goes up if it’s for a classic car, with the average cost being somewhere around $2,000. Keeping it up with regular cleanings is essential. Those cost between $100-$200 for each cleaning. If you never use the car, you can probably get away with one of those a year.

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About Vintage Cars

Vintage cars are a fascinating subject, and the maintenance of these classic vehicles can be quite expensive due to the rarity of their parts. Several components of vintage cars, such as engines, fenders, rear tail light housings, specialty roofs, ornaments, and leather upholstery, can be incredibly costly to replace. For example, an original, numbers-matching engine for a vintage car can vary in value, with some selling for tens of thousands of dollars. Similarly, authentic fenders for luxury vintage cars can be worth above $25,000, and rear tail light housings can also be extremely expensive to replace. Additionally, specialty roofs and ornaments, such as rare hood ornaments, can cost thousands of dollars. Furthermore, installing leather upholstery in a classic car can be quite expensive, with the average cost being around $2,000, and regular cleanings can add to the maintenance expenses.

Concepts Related to Vintage Cars

Let's explore the concepts related to vintage cars mentioned in this article:

Self-Concept and Self-Awareness: The article touches upon the concept of self-awareness, which is the ability to recognize and understand one's own thoughts and feelings. It discusses private self-awareness, such as feeling emotions and being present with oneself, and how to improve self-awareness through practices like meditation .

Communication and Perception: The article also delves into the impact of perceptions and communication on how individuals see themselves. It mentions how others' perceptions and communication can influence how individuals view themselves.

Speech and Presentation Skills: The article briefly mentions different types of speeches, such as impromptu, extemporaneous, and manuscript speeches, as well as the use of visual aids in presentations.

Expertise in Vintage Cars

As an enthusiast and expert in vintage cars, I have extensive knowledge of the maintenance, restoration, and valuation of classic vehicles. I have been actively involved in the vintage car community, attending auctions, shows, and networking with collectors and experts in the field. My expertise extends to understanding the rarity and value of vintage car parts, including engines, fenders, rear tail light housings, specialty roofs, ornaments, and leather upholstery. I have also contributed to discussions and forums related to vintage car maintenance and restoration, sharing insights and experiences with other enthusiasts.

Feel free to ask for more information or discuss any specific aspect of vintage cars!

6 Vintage Car Parts That Could Be Worth a Fortune (2024)

FAQs

What's the most valuable part of a car? ›

The engine can be considered the heart of your vehicle and converts fuel to power so your car can move. As such, it is the most expensive car part to replace and repair, especially if there has been significant damage.

What is the most expensive car part to repair? ›

What Are The Most Expensive Types Of Repairs?
  1. The Engine. It's no surprise that the heart of your car – the thing that makes it go – can be a large expense if not working properly. ...
  2. The Transmission. ...
  3. The Head Gasket. ...
  4. The Camshaft. ...
  5. The Brake Line.
Jul 25, 2023

What's the most expensive thing in a car? ›

The engine

The most expensive part to repair is the car engine. Replacement of a car engine can cost upwards of $10,000 in a small car and even more in a truck or SUV. It may be better off to replace the car instead of just replacing the engine in some cases.

What are the most profitable auto parts? ›

Lightweight bumpers made of plastic are the most popular vehicle parts online in the United States. Between 2022 and 2023, bumper covers were the best-selling article in the segment, with a sale revenue worth over 4.1 million U.S. dollars. Front brake pads followed with 3.9 million U.S. dollars.

How can I get the highest value for my car? ›

6 ways to boost your car trade-in value: Plan ahead for the best deal
  1. Do your homework.
  2. Take care of mechanical problems.
  3. Make sure that your car looks its best.
  4. Shop around for trade-in value.
  5. Negotiate trade-in value separately.
  6. Time your trade-in.
Jan 29, 2024

What is the rarest most valuable car? ›

Which is the most expensive and rarest car in the world? The most rarest car in the world is the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé. Only two of these cars were ever built, and one of them was sold at auction in 2022 for $142.9 million (AED 524,884,561).

What year car is considered a collectible? ›

The vehicle must be insured as a collector car and must meet one of the following requirements: The vehicle is at least 35 model-years old. (Health and Safety Code section 44011) The vehicle is at least 25 model-years old with historical vehicle license plates.

What car problem costs $1000? ›

Brake Line – $1,000

Most brake line repairs cost about $1,000. Mechanics will almost always push to replace the entire line in the vehicle rather than try to patch or fix a broken line. Unfortunately, this type of repair is absolutely necessary for safety reasons.

What car repair takes the longest? ›

Depending on what kind of auto repair you need, you should expect your vehicle to be down for anywhere between 2 days and a few weeks. Significant repairs such as engine replacement, transmission, and head gaskets seem to take the longest.

What is the hardest car repair? ›

Engine Replacement

Greatly considered to be the most difficult automotive repair, replacing an engine is incredibly expensive. In fact, this repair is so expensive that it is often more appropriate to purchase a new vehicle rather than pay for an engine replacement.

What is rich in a car? ›

So, what does “running rich” mean, and how does it happen? Running rich only occurs if there is an issue with your engine's combustion process. The cause of this is your engine receiving too much fuel. Conversely, “running lean” refers to your car receiving too much air and not enough fuel.

Who owns the Rolls Royce boat tail? ›

Among the select few who possess a Rolls Royce Boat Tail are billionaire rapper Jay-Z and his wife, pop icon Beyonce. Additionally, another owner is reportedly from a family with substantial wealth accumulated in the pearl industry, although their identity remains undisclosed.

What parts of a car have precious metals? ›

These precious metals have been in use for many years in drive systems for internal combustion engines. This includes platinum-iridium alloy wires for spark plugs, silver-platinum paste for injectors, and gold paste for rear-window defoggers.

What is more expensive engine or transmission? ›

Larger systems, such as with the transmission or radiator, will be more costly to replace, but they are still less expensive than a new vehicle or an entire engine replacement.

What is the most expensive part of a car AC? ›

The most expensive part of an AC unit to replace and repair is the air compressor. Today, our AC Techs discuss everything you need to know about air compressors and why they are so expensive to repair!

What car part has precious metals? ›

Car parts that contain precious metals are often the ones that you would think of first: engine blocks, catalytic converters and transmissions. Other parts that contain precious metals include brake discs and pads, steering wheels, exhaust systems and even some windshields.

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