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Some Advantages

Advance Auto Parts tries to be a bi-lingual business and encourages Spanish speaking employees to come work for them.  Their website even has a Spanish version.  Advance Auto Parts knows there is no bargain getting advanced auto parts on sale if the sales staff is rude, dimwitted or indifferent.  Don’t be afraid to ask questions to the employees at Advance Auto Parts about your new advanced auto parts – it’s their job to help you, or they have to look for another job.

Another advantage of Advance Auto Parts is that there is a whole bunch of them all across America, so you’re not stuck having to go to just one store.  There are currently about 3000 stores in the East Coast and the Central states.  If you live on the West Coast, sorry – there aren’t any stores out there yet.

Big Online Shop

However, even if there aren’t any real world Advance Auto Parts stores in your state, you can still buy your advanced auto parts, tools and car fluids from their huge online web catalogue.  They ask that, if you want a specific car part, to tell them what make and model of car you have, so this will better help you select the right part for the right car the first time.

You can shop by category or even by advanced auto parts numbers (if you happen to know the exact numbers that you need; hey, it can happen).  As of this writing, you can pay online only by major credit card.  Most shipping of your order is in about five business days or less.  When you make an order, you get a “promise date”, which is their lingo for “estimated delivery date” or “when you really have to start worrying date”.

If you do have an Advance Auto Parts real world shop near you, but don’t have a lot of time to shop in the actual store, you can shop online and pick all your stuff up at the store. 

How To Find Classic Car Parts

In the old days if you were looking for a classic car part you would have to drive from one wrecking yard to another, having to search each wrecking yard yourself. How times have changed, now every wrecking yard has a computer that will not only tell the computer operator if that classic car part is available, but also where to find it. So now you can sit in the comfort of your own home and search the world for the part you are looking for.

Most often times the definition of a classic car includes the numbers that were produced, since this figure has a direct relation on its classic value.

How To Find Classic Car Parts –The Internet

The internet is definitely the place to begin when you are searching for a classic car part. You will be able to search the world for this part but in some cases you might want to keep the search area close to home because of the size/weight of the part. Most of the people advertising parts for classic cars on the internet have a web page that allows you to search by year, make, and model.

How To Find Classic Car Parts – Your Local Newspaper

Since an engine or transmission can be very heavy, finding one close to home that you can pick up might save you a lot of money. Another comfort from buying locally is that you are able to inspect it with your own hands.

How To Find Classic Car Parts – CraigsList

Craigslist has become one of the most popular ways to buy or sell anything. The very successful goal of the company is to eliminate the middleman and thus give everybody concerned a great deal.

How To Find Classic Car Parts – E-Bay

E-Bay has become the largest middleman in the world, by taking just a little commission from the seller. E-Bay has a very nice feature that allows the looker to see how each E-Bay provider has provided for his customers over time.

Classic Car Clubs And Associations

 Another great source for finding classic car parts is to join an organization like the “Antique Automobile Club of America.” By joining the oldest and largest automobile historical society, you gain instant access to the thousands of members who might have the part you are looking for.

On the other hand, if you specialize in one brand of car you might be better served by joining the club that only deals with your particular brand of car. Just think of the enormous possibilities that exist within an organization where everyone owns the same car: the sharing of common information not only you but all members of the club. 

Car Part Maker – Nicolaus August Otto

Nicolaus invented the gas motor engine in 1876, and this turned out to be one of the most important landmarks in engine design. He built the first practical four-stroke internal combustion engine called the “Otto Cycle Engine.” He was an engineer and an inventor, so it was not surprising that he used the engine to build a motorcycle. 

Car Part Maker – Gottlieb Daimler

In 1885 Gottlieb Daimler received the first patent on what is generally recognized as the prototype of the modern gas engine. This engine was small, lightweight, fast, and also used a gasoline-injected carburetor. The size, speed, and efficiency of the engine allowed for a revolution in car part design.

Gottlieb is given credit by historians for designing the world’s very first four-wheeled automobile in 1886. This first four-wheeled car started what is today considered to be one of the top ten industries in the world: used car parts and aftermarket parts.

Car Part Maker – Karl Benz

In 1885, German mechanical engineer Karl Benz designed and built the world’s first practical automobile to be powered by an international combustion engine. He also received the first patent in 1886 for a gas-fueled car. It was a three-wheeler; Benz built his first four wheeled car in 1891. By 1900, his company had become the world’s largest manufacturer of automobiles.

Car Part Maker – John Lambert

John Lambert was a very successful developer and businessman in the town of Ohio City.

Car Part Maker – Duryea Brothers

Charles and Frank Duryea were America’s first commercial car manufacturers. The brothers were originally bicycle makers who became interested in gasoline engines and automobiles. In 1893 they built their first automobile and successfully tested it on the public streets of Springfield, Massachusetts. Charles founded the Duryea Motor Wagon Company in 1896, the first company to manufacturer and sell gasoline powered vehicles. In less than a year the company had sold 13 cars of the model Duryea, an expensive limousine, which remained in production into the 1920s. 

Car Part Maker – Henry Ford

Henry Ford’s greatest gift was his ability to improve mass assembly techniques as his (Model-T) automobile was being built. He was so confident about his assembly line technique that he proclaimed, “I will build a car for the great multitude.” In the nineteen years of production of the Model-T, fifteen and half million were sold for a low of $280 and a high of $950. By 1914 his Highland Park, Michigan plant was turning out a chassis every 93 minutes, compared with other manufactures at 728 minutes. 

Auto historians herald Henry’s Model-T as the beginning of the Motor Age. In the nineteen years the Model-T was produced in the United States, the car evolved from a luxury item for the well-to-do to essential transportation for the ordinary man. 

About Napa Auto Parts

Your car is only as good as the parts in it (unless you just like a really expensive lawn ornament).  Although it’s great that there is so much competition in the auto parts business, it is also a bit annoying that there is so much competition in the auto parts business.  If you are within walking distance of a car parts place, then that will probably make the decision for you of what shop to choose.  But if you have to drive to get to a car parts and auto supply shop, you most likely will drive to Napa Auto Parts.

There’s A Lot Of Them

There are over 6,000 Napa Auto Parts stores across the nation and they aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.  Napa stands for National Automotive Parts Association.  There is at least one Napa Auto Parts store in your state.  (If you don’t live in America, then I’m afraid you are going to have to look elsewhere for your automotive supply needs). 

Napa Auto Parts has been around for over eighty years.  However, the actual parts they sell are a lot younger than that.  They claim they stock over 375,000 parts and have every single one of them listed in a computer inventory that any customer with an internet connection can access. 

Huge Online Site

Just in case you can’t get to a Napa Auto Parts store, you can always try their online website, which lists what you would find in all of their real world stores.  Keep in mind that law prevents some chemical items from being shipped through the mail, so those items you would have to buy in an actual store. 

You’re not limited to just regular car parts at Napa Auto Parts.  If you drive a commercial truck, an All Terrain Vehicle, motorcycle, snowmobile or tractor, you can find equipment for your rig.  You just need to click on to the Napa PartsPro SE online catalogue.  They also list parts for boats and personal watercraft.

My favorite section on the Napa Auto Parts website is the “Know How” section, which lists a lot of free and useful information on basic car maintenance that every car owner should do (but usually pays someone else to do).  These sundry activities include how to do oil changes, replacing your wiper blades, replacing the fuses and changing an air filter. 

It’s amazing how such a tiny thing as a microscopic virus can knock out a whole body.  The same happens to your car.  I remember when my mighty Buick suddenly refused to move.  Turned out to be a surprisingly small auto part in the engine needed replacing.  So, your car is only as good as the parts in it.  This is one reason why many Americans rely on O’Reilly Auto Parts.

A Brief History

O’Reilly Auto Parts began as one little Springfield, Missouri shop in 1957.  There is actually an O’Reilly who founded and named the shop after himself.  Michael Byrne O’Reilly was forced to leave Ireland because of the potato famine and wound up in America.  O’Reilly Auto Parts was opened by his two sons, who learned about the auto parts business from a stint in Fred Campbell Auto Supply.

For some unknown reason, Michael Byrne named both of his sons Charles.  Perhaps it was his sense of humor; but we really don’t know.  Charles Francis and Charles H. (Chub) were offered a Link dealership when Link went into a management shake-up, but refused it for unknown reasons, preferring to be bull-headed and open up their own store.

And America is sure glad about Irish bull-headedness.  Old Michael worked in the store, too, even though he was in his 70s.  They must’ve done something right, because in their first year they made over $700,000.  Eventually, the stores grew into a mighty chain with nearly 1800 stores across 26 states in America.  Today, O’Reilly Auto Parts is still in the O’Reilly family.

What’s The Big Deal

You can get everything you want for the care and maintenance of your car at O’Reilly Auto Parts, except the original car.  Not only can you get quality and affordable car parts, but you can get oil, fluids, tires and those little pine trees you can hang off of your rear-view mirror.  O’Reilly Auto Parts offers service as well as parts, including brake retuning, car fluid recycling, electrical testing and a loaner tool program for do it yourself auto repair.

O’Reilly Auto Parts also has the clout to buy in bulk and pass on the savings to their customers.  They also have gift cards, good for any O’Reilly Auto Parts in the nation.  They put out their own auto parts and accessories catalogue and sponsor their own fun contests for their customers.  They also sell their own line of limited edition stuff, including Hot Wheels and T-shirts.