Rare spares business

[GaryFitz]

I am also looking to understand what sort of demand there is for rare spare parts for Stratos, 037, and Deltona's. I now have a very considerable collection of parts (all orginal Arbath factory parts) which are NOT FOR SALE as I need them for my own maintenance, but what I am interested in finding out is the demand for parts and if replica parts built to factory specifications are something that people are interested in, or are people only interested in original factory parts?

[tryphon]

Gary, how can this be a business if you say you're not selling?
Abarth parts would be for 037 and Delta. One who knows were to look will ALWAYS find the part he's looking for. Parts that have come to shortage are being remade, some times by the same people and workshops that were making them at the time.
I do not know of any part that cannot be sourced, given the money and/or time. The recent and questionable Ferrari P3/4 chassis 0846 story proves that even parts made in 2 or 3 samples 40 years ago can be sourced....
If you wish to remake parts you need to be very careful and use workshops that know what they are doing and use the appropriate raw materials. On top you also need to have good knowledge of mechanics yourself to be able to assess the quality of a part, remade or original.

In short unless you have a well established business in this field (and there are quite a few) I hardly see a newcomer jumping in and selling at the prices the well-known ones are selling.
Bottom line:
Keep your parts if you have use for them as if you had to remake or rebuy them you would certainly have to pay much more.

[tryphon]

For your enjoyment:
http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=113281

Some highlights:
Many newer collectors do not understand THE COLLECTOR MENTALITY.
Buy good puzzle pieces, WELL before you buy the puzzle!!!!
A true collector tends to purchase anything and everything for cars that they have sincere interest in, (in my case Lampredi engine 50's cars) to use, swap, trade, barter,sell (never!) etc. Some buy parts for cars and they have not bought the car , yet! You never know when you will need any of these parts, some you may NEVER need but "MAN ARE THEY COOL and I GOT 'EM" !!! The hunt!