ED. TEAM CHATTER
I’m either well outside of the loop on where everyone is slanging their parts these days, or there’s a drought plaguing this country and we’re all feeling the effects. Parts are getting harder and harder to find, especially for the really in-demand stuff. If it’s not general wear and tear, breakages, or rust drying up the pool, then it’s collectors and hoarders stockpiling the good stuff for their own use. It only takes a quick scan of the local marketplaces to see that there’s less available and finding once-plentiful componentry is now more akin to prospecting for gold. You’ve got to dig through a whole lot of dirt to find what you need.
But it’s these aforementioned hoarders that I’ve grown to appreciate, most of who have been quietly putting away parts since before they were even worth anything. Whether it was out of pure personal necessity for a steady flow of specific items, a fascination with the brand and the need to get their hands on anything made by it, or solid anticipation of a future shortage, these hoarders’ collections are absolute gold mines waiting to be tapped. The trick is getting them to crack open the vault and let you walk out with parts in hand without being chased down with a cricket bat.
The first hurdle is finding these people, and that usually involves quite a bit of time investment. In my experience, the biggest and most fruitful examples are found when buying the smallest and most mundane items, sometimes not even car related! It’s all about being able to talk to the seller, having a good old chinwag about what the item you’re buying came off, or what they might be building. Be observant of the cars they have sitting around — if the driveways are packed with notable cars, it’s usually a good indication. I often find most buyers simply want to get in, hand over the money and receive the item they’re buying, then get the hell out of there. Fair call; standing around making small talk with a complete stranger can be punishing at times, but it can also lead to a beneficial contact for the future.
So, the next time you’re buying or selling something, take the time to have a quick yarn. Find out what they’re into and what they’ve got; even asking outright can get the job done. You never really know who has what and where you’ll find that one piece you’ve been searching for.
Correction: Last issue (No. 279) I accidentally credited myself for images shot by Aaron Mai in the Tim Butler Evo II article on page 38. I’d like to take the time to apologise to long-time NZ Performance Car contributor Aaron for the error and thank him for his talented work on the photo shoot — cheers for understanding, mate.
Jaden Martin