Best Corvette Parts Vendor?

[Dennis Voiro]

Recently purchased 70 coupe. I need to purchase a few small trim items and was wondering who the membership feels is best vendor out there. I need plastic frames for the storage compartment, plastic washer for lock and window crank knobs, etc. Any suggestions would be welcome. Thanks, Dennis

[Mike M.]

Re: Best Corvette Parts Vendor?

corvette central. mike

[Chris H.]

Re: Best Corvette Parts Vendor?

I like Paragon which is local to me. Also gives 10% discount to NCRS members.

Chris

[Mark #28455]

Don't forget Dr. Rebuild *NM*

[Donald T.]

Re: Best Corvette Parts Vendor?

I have found Corvette Central website to be the easiest to navigate, if you prefer to do your ordering online. However, if you need assistance with their products, I have found their customer service to be lacking on a couple of occassions. I have found Paragon to have the most courteous, knowledgeable, and helpful staff, however their website is difficult to navigate. Of course you have to respect the good Dr. as a real enthusiast that goes beyond making a buck. He is also a regular contributor on this board. Just my personal experience.

[James Keddie]

Re: Best Corvette Parts Vendor?

Does the Dr. have a website?

[Robert E.]

Re: Best Corvette Parts Vendor?

http://docrebuild.com/dr-r-web/aaa-home.html

[James Keddie]

THANKS! *NM*

[Chuck S.]

Re: Best Corvette Parts Vendor?

Dennis, it depends on which parts you need.

If you want the best products, you will need to shop vendors...an expensive proposition by mail order. Some vendors have the best selection of NOS parts (Dr. Rebuild?), some have the most accurate/highest quality reproduction parts (Paragon/TrimParts), some have the best selection of original used parts (Paragon, Bairs), some have the best soft parts such as rubber seals (Dr. Rebuild), some have the best seat covers (Al Knoch), some have the best door panels (Ecklers?), some have the best carpet(ACC?), etc.

I ended up using four different vendors for interior components for my 70 restoration, and felt that I bought the best available at the time. The names in parentheses above are my opinion, and I am sure others have their favorites. Those sources should also be checked out again since most of my information is 5-10 years old.

For the small trim parts you are seeking, I once would have said Ecklers for getting all of it in one place. At that time they still stocked a lot of NOS parts. I'm haven't had any recent experience with them, so I can't say if that remains an accurate statement. These days, I would probably check Dr. Rebuild first for NOS parts. A good time to shop vendors, particularly NOS or used parts, is at the annual Corvettes at Carlisle meet in August.

[Dennis Voiro]

Re: Best Corvette Parts Vendor?

My thanks Chuck to you and all the others who responded. I'm coming from the Tri-Five/Camaro World and have reviewed numerous sites and found that as you mentioned different sites offer a slightly varied menu if you will.

Couldn't make Corvettes at Carlisle this year. Is Thursday and Friday as good as the weekend there?

Thanks,

Dennis

[Mike M.]

Re: Best Corvette Parts Vendor?

Thursday is the BEST day for finding rare pieces at carlisle. i've even been known to go up on wed. mike

[Chuck S.]

Re: Best Corvette Parts Vendor?

If you're new to Corvettes, and plan to enter your car for NCRS judging, be advised that some parts sold as NOS are actually 2nd or 3rd generation service replacement parts. These will get you deducts in judging.

Be sure your prized NOS find is actually identical to the original part before you fork over big bucks. Vendors that actually know Corvettes will often tell you if a part is not the original style part; others are moving a product with a given description, and have no idea whether it will work in judging or not.

As Mike says, the earlier Carlisle will let you in, the better the chance to make a good find.

[Geoff C.]

[Chuck S.]

Re: I am the Greatest

Ah, yer just thriving on the wise investments of your youth. Yer just like the rest of us...hanging on by our fingernails to keep the this next generation from shoving us aside into the nursing homes. Got tapioca?

[Dick W.]

Re: I am the Greatest

I hear that train rolling down the track. It is a gittin' faster with each birthday (but I am only 21 ). In twenty years will this be the National Civic Restorers Society? Maybe the Camel Riders will survive and a few of us old pharts will still remember what a C-1, C-2, etc is.