One of the most important links in the chain when it comes to classic car restorations is the parts supplier. Regardless if you are restoring your vehicle in your own garage or having the restoration done with a restoration shop like Wilson Auto Repair. Being able to get the parts when you need them is imperative to getting the job done quickly.
High quality restoration parts delivered to your door in less than 3 days is what you can expect from National Parts Depot (NPD). In most cases the parts will arrive in 1-2 days via UPS ground. In addition to speedy delivery times, NPD offers very competitive pricing and customer service that is second to none in the industry. This is why they are the premier supplier of concours-correct parts and accessories for the Thunderbird, Mustang, Camaro, Chevelle, Firebird, Trans Am, El Camino and Ford Truck.
They stock, and in many cases overstock, thousands of parts from emblems to fenders in their 4 massive warehouses. They have strategically located their warehouse locations around the United States to ensure that you get your parts when you need them. They currently have locations in Florida, Michigan, North Carolina and California.
You can place your orders online through their ecommerce store, or by calling their toll free, 24/7 order lines 7 days per week at 1 (800) 874-7595. If you happen to be in the area you can also stop in at any of their locations and buy your parts directly. Each store is open to the public until 9:00 pm weekdays and 5:00 pm on the weekends! NPD’s knowledgeable staff is always available to guide you to the right part at the right price. They pride themselves on always having the parts you need in stock and ready to deliver to the customer.
NPD is arguably one of the largest restoration parts suppliers in the country and reaching this status was no accident. Their passion for parts all started back in 1957 when NPD founder, Jim Schmidt, was just a teenager. Jim had a dream of restoring a Ford Model A and found one for $50 in a local junkyard. In Jim’s words “It was so rusty you could hop in the trunk… and walk to the dashboard.” Jim soon found that many of the fasteners were too rusty to be used or simply had to be destroyed to get them out of the vehicle. Finding frustration with getting the parts, Jim decided to solve the problem with starting his very own business selling complete hardware kits for Model A restorations. Quite the undertaking for a teenager in high school!
After graduation Jim went on to work for his father’s pneumatic cylinder business, but dedicated his nights and weekends to his hardware business. By 1976 Jim stepped down from his father’s business to pursue his dream of starting National Parts Depot. He also sold his Model A hardware business and with humble beginnings he began selling mail-order parts for 1955-1957 Thunderbirds. It wasn’t long before Thunderbird parts expanded to Mustang parts as well and throughout the years they have expanded to cover all Ford cars and trucks, as well as GM and Mopar muscle cars.
With over 570,000 square feet of combined warehouse space and a $40 million dollar inventory it is easy to see why they are the nation’s leading supplier of restoration parts and accessories. Check out this short video and you will see why they are the number one restoration parts supplier in America.