What would you do with old car parts?
Discussion
My neighbour used to run a motor factors however he has recently passed away. His family is having a clear out and found a large number of parts, gaskets, distributor caps etc. It's all bagged and from his shop before he closed.
His family have asked if I know how to get rid of it rather than scrap it. For me the best way would be organise into either engines or brand and job lot on eBay rather than individual classic car forums or are there any good all encompassing forums?
Just an example of what's there
There are also some rusted heads and other engine parts again not sure if any of it is salvageable or if it's just easier to weigh it in
His family have asked if I know how to get rid of it rather than scrap it. For me the best way would be organise into either engines or brand and job lot on eBay rather than individual classic car forums or are there any good all encompassing forums?
Just an example of what's there
There are also some rusted heads and other engine parts again not sure if any of it is salvageable or if it's just easier to weigh it in
Richard-D said:
If you can't sell it in big batches it just isn't worth the effort.
Sadly, this is true. There's weeks of effort there to try and work out what fitment each part is, list them, deal with punters fannying about over a £3 dizzy cap, etc.Doubtless someone will come along and lecture us on what a travesty it is to throw away NOS Maestro head gaskets, to which there is only one reply - they should buy the lot, and do it themselves.
I'm sorry to hear of your neighbour's passing.
I agree with the view that a job lot is the best way and that there will always be someone somewhere who would actually be in need of some/all of it. We only need to look at banger vehicles here to know that many in some parts of the world don't get scrapped, they just get shipped out to other parts of the world where there'll be demand and things get mended.
It's one of the things wrong with the world and a consumerist, throwaway society IMO.
It would be therefore be a shame to just scrap and dispose of all these items just because of ease and convenience.
It's also clearly someone else's graft and it would be better to see it go to good use etc.
I went to a Mathewsons auction in 2019 and before the vehicle auction, during the general items (but mostly automotive related) auction there were bidding wars on eclectic job lots like yours. There'll certainly be interest.
Check to see if there are other websites (freecycling, upcycling, Facebook groups and Instagram profiles etc) as well: always a chance of people on those looking for automotive items or able to point you in the right direction.
I'd take a batch of photographs and give a reasonably detailed overview of what there is and why the job lot exists to avoid timewasters at a sensitive moment. Free or optional cash donation for the bereaved maybe.
I agree with the view that a job lot is the best way and that there will always be someone somewhere who would actually be in need of some/all of it. We only need to look at banger vehicles here to know that many in some parts of the world don't get scrapped, they just get shipped out to other parts of the world where there'll be demand and things get mended.
It's one of the things wrong with the world and a consumerist, throwaway society IMO.
It would be therefore be a shame to just scrap and dispose of all these items just because of ease and convenience.
It's also clearly someone else's graft and it would be better to see it go to good use etc.
I went to a Mathewsons auction in 2019 and before the vehicle auction, during the general items (but mostly automotive related) auction there were bidding wars on eclectic job lots like yours. There'll certainly be interest.
Check to see if there are other websites (freecycling, upcycling, Facebook groups and Instagram profiles etc) as well: always a chance of people on those looking for automotive items or able to point you in the right direction.
I'd take a batch of photographs and give a reasonably detailed overview of what there is and why the job lot exists to avoid timewasters at a sensitive moment. Free or optional cash donation for the bereaved maybe.
Appreciate all the advice. I'd be happy to sort and sell but don't have enough space for all he had. Going to discuss with his family and see if they will let me job lot it on eBay/facebook/auction house.
They don't seem in a massive rush to clear it all out so hopefully they say yes. Honestly I'd be happy to sit and sort it all...I'm not sure what's wrong with me.
He even has a massive collection of Haynes manuals
They don't seem in a massive rush to clear it all out so hopefully they say yes. Honestly I'd be happy to sit and sort it all...I'm not sure what's wrong with me.
He even has a massive collection of Haynes manuals
My thought would be to make a snapshot survey of some randomly selected items from various categories to see how easy or difficult it is to determine just what the part is for.
If it turns out to be relatively easy cataloguing job then perhaps as Riley Blue suggests an owners club.
If it's difficult to determine even makes then you / they are in autojumble / scrap territory. Phrases involving barges and poles come to mind.
Maybe a word with such as Mathewsons for advice. Even if such as they don't see a place for it in their sales I bet they know someone with the knowledge and time to be interested.
But imo it's down to the neighbours to devote the time and effort unless a particular interest in seeing it through.
If it turns out to be relatively easy cataloguing job then perhaps as Riley Blue suggests an owners club.
If it's difficult to determine even makes then you / they are in autojumble / scrap territory. Phrases involving barges and poles come to mind.
Maybe a word with such as Mathewsons for advice. Even if such as they don't see a place for it in their sales I bet they know someone with the knowledge and time to be interested.
But imo it's down to the neighbours to devote the time and effort unless a particular interest in seeing it through.
No idea where in the country you are, but the local motor museum to me would take them as a donation or maybe buy them. https://llangollenmotormuseum.co.uk/ there may well be a similar setup near you. Far better than skipping them.
If the packaged items have a part number on them you could use AUTODOC to input the part number and find out what it fits. You can also do the same on eBay.
Even some of the cylinder heads and engines may also have part numbers stamped on them.
However if they are parts he hasn’t sold I’d expect the market for them is limited and you struggle to sell them as you are looking for a unicorn customer.
As stated auto jumbled is you cba, or weigh them in if you are able to. Other than that a complete listing of the parts and sell to another factor might work if it’s cheap enough.
Even some of the cylinder heads and engines may also have part numbers stamped on them.
However if they are parts he hasn’t sold I’d expect the market for them is limited and you struggle to sell them as you are looking for a unicorn customer.
As stated auto jumbled is you cba, or weigh them in if you are able to. Other than that a complete listing of the parts and sell to another factor might work if it’s cheap enough.
Easiest is as one job lot on Ebay as a 28 day fixed price ad
Best way is into as many smaller lots that you can be bothered with
My father who was a classic car dealer recently died, I'm selling off all the big stuff (over £100) on ebay but I've given all the smaller stuff to his mechanic - he's over the moon because there is probably £10k of stuff but it takes too long to clean, photograph and post
Auctions only work for desirable stuff that people constantly search for everything else you're better with a BIN / Classified Ad EG a Morris Marina gasket set will likely sell for the auction start price IME
Best way is into as many smaller lots that you can be bothered with
My father who was a classic car dealer recently died, I'm selling off all the big stuff (over £100) on ebay but I've given all the smaller stuff to his mechanic - he's over the moon because there is probably £10k of stuff but it takes too long to clean, photograph and post
Auctions only work for desirable stuff that people constantly search for everything else you're better with a BIN / Classified Ad EG a Morris Marina gasket set will likely sell for the auction start price IME
FiF said:
But imo it's down to the neighbours to devote the time and effort.
Exactly.Is the OP really willing to spend months of their life not flogging head gaskets and dizzy caps? There's a reason this is unsold stock from a car parts store - there's basically no demand for it.
Seriously, it's a fool's errand. The only sensible closure is,
"I've asked around, and your best bet is to eBay the entire lot as one, buyer collects. You're welcome."
Edit - incidentally, I'm actually selling old parts on eBay as we speak
stuff that's in high demand and sells easily, and I still have a trickle of,- "Buyer" asks lots of questions, then goes silent.
- "Buyer" offering 1/3rd of what things are worth, and getting the hump when you refuse.
- "Buyer" asking for lots of detail to ensure they're buying the right thing. Then it turns out they've bought the wrong thing, and can they have their money back?
I certainly wouldn't be messing about like that for stuff that's going to sell for £5-10 a go.
Edited by shtu on Saturday 10th September 10:29
Edited by shtu on Saturday 10th September 10:33
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