The part you’ve been
hunting for, found faster.
Classic car parts hunting is a game of patience — obscure forums, dead supplier websites, and waiting days for a response that may never come. CarSpanner cuts straight to what you need: the correct part name, your options (OEM, NOS, or quality reproduction), and the specialist suppliers most likely to have it in stock.
No signup. No subscription. No nonsense.
One conversation. The right part.
Classic car parts hunting is hard. The part you need might go by three different names depending on the decade and the country. The supplier who stocks it may not appear in any Google search. The forum thread with the answer was posted in 2009 and the links are dead. CarSpanner knows all of this already.
You describe it. We find it.
Tell CarSpanner what you need in plain language, upload a photo of the broken or missing part, or paste a part number. No jargon required. “The rubber thing connecting the gear lever to the gearbox tunnel” works fine. So does a blurry photo of a rusty bracket with no markings.
OEM, NOS, or reproduction — you decide.
CarSpanner explains what you’re looking at. Original equipment, new old stock, quality reproduction, or reconditioned — each has its place in a restoration. We tell you the difference, when each matters, and which to avoid for safety-critical components. No guesswork required.
The suppliers who actually stock it.
The right part for a ’65 Healey isn’t at a chain auto parts store. It’s at a marque-specific specialist with deep inventory and decades of knowledge. CarSpanner knows which suppliers carry what, for which vehicles — and points you directly to them.
If it has a dedicated specialist community, we know it.
Classic and historic vehicles occupy a unique space — exempt from modern emissions regulations in most jurisdictions, maintained by specialist communities rather than franchised dealers, and sourced through supplier networks that have almost nothing to do with mainstream automotive retail. CarSpanner speaks this language.
- Jaguar (E-Type, XK, Mk2, XJ6)
- Triumph (TR2–TR6, Spitfire, Stag, Herald)
- MG (MGA, MGB, Midget, MGC)
- Austin-Healey (100, 3000, Sprite)
- Land Rover (Series I / II / III)
- Morris (Minor, Marina)
- Austin (Mini, A-Series, Westminster)
- Lotus (Elan, Europa)
- Ford Mustang (1964½–1973)
- Chevrolet Camaro (1967–1981)
- Chevrolet Corvette (C1–C3)
- Chevelle, Bel Air, Nova
- Pontiac GTO, Firebird & Trans Am
- Dodge Charger & Challenger
- Plymouth Barracuda & Road Runner
- Studebaker
- Porsche 356 & 911 (pre-1984)
- Mercedes-Benz (190SL, Pagoda, W114)
- Volkswagen (Beetle, Bus, Karmann Ghia)
- BMW 2002 & E9 CS
- Opel GT & Kadett
- Alfa Romeo (Giulia, Spider, GTV, Montreal)
- Fiat (124 Spider, 500, Dino)
- Lancia (Fulvia, Stratos)
- Citroën (2CV, DS, SM, CX)
- Renault (R4, Caravelle, Alpine A110)
- Peugeot (404, 504)
- Datsun / Nissan Z-cars (240Z–280Z)
- Toyota Celica (TA22–RA21) & FJ40
- Honda S600 & S800
- Mazda RX-7 (early FB / FC)
Free. Always.
CarSpanner is free to use and always will be. No subscription. No premium tier. No account required.
When you find the part you need and click through to a specialist supplier, CarSpanner earns a small affiliate commission — paid by the supplier, not you. You pay the same price you’d pay going directly. Not a penny more.
It’s a clean model: you get expert, unbiased guidance; suppliers get introduced to customers who know exactly what they want; we earn enough to keep the lights on. Nobody’s incentive is misaligned.
What restorers are saying
“Finally found the NOS carburetor needle I’d been hunting for two years. Asked CarSpanner, got three suppliers in thirty seconds. One had it. Still can’t believe how easy that was.”
“Didn’t know the name of the part. Took a photo of the rusted bracket, described where it sat on the car, and CarSpanner told me what it was called, what years it fits, and who has it. Ten minutes start to finish.”
Everything you need to know about CarSpanner
- Is CarSpanner really free?
- Yes, completely. There’s no subscription, no premium tier, and no account required. CarSpanner earns a small affiliate commission from specialist suppliers when you click through and buy. You pay the same price you’d pay going directly — the commission comes from the supplier’s side, not yours. You get free, expert guidance; suppliers get introduced to a buyer who knows what they want; we keep the lights on. Nobody pays for anything they didn’t buy.
- How does CarSpanner identify parts it can’t see?
- Upload a photo. CarSpanner’s AI examines visible part numbers, casting marks, manufacturer stamps, shape, dimensions, and mounting points to identify what it’s looking at. You can also describe the symptom: “leaking from behind the camshaft” or “the rubber connector between the gear lever and the tunnel” gets you to the correct part more often than you’d expect. On desktop you can drag-and-drop images or paste directly from your clipboard.
- Does CarSpanner cover all classic vehicles or just popular marques?
- CarSpanner covers any classic or historic vehicle with an active specialist parts community — which is most marques worth restoring. British (Jaguar, Triumph, MG, Austin-Healey, Land Rover, Mini), American (Mustang, Camaro, Corvette, Mopar, GM A-body), German (Porsche 356 and 911, Mercedes-Benz, VW, BMW 2002), Italian (Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Lancia), French (Citroën, Renault, Peugeot), and Japanese (Datsun Z-cars, Toyota Celica, early Mazda RX-7). If a vehicle has dedicated specialist suppliers, CarSpanner knows them.
- What’s the difference between OEM, NOS, and reproduction parts?
- OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) parts were made by or for the original carmaker — right for numbers-matching concours restorations. NOS (New Old Stock) are original parts, never used, still in their original packaging — the gold standard for serious concours builds. Quality reproduction parts are made to original spec by specialist manufacturers — ideal for driver-quality rebuilds. Reconditioned parts are original components professionally rebuilt to working condition. Pattern parts — cheap generic copies — should never be used for safety-critical components. Read the full guide →
- Can CarSpanner help with safety-critical parts like brakes and suspension?
- Yes, but with stricter sourcing guidance. For brakes, steering, suspension, and fuel system components, CarSpanner will only recommend OEM, NOS, quality reproduction from known specialists, or professionally reconditioned parts. It will not recommend pattern (cheap copy) parts for safety-critical applications. Always confirm the correct part with your chosen supplier before ordering, and consult a qualified mechanic before fitting safety-critical components.
The part you’ve been hunting for, found faster — with the confidence that you’re buying the right one.
Classic car restoration is a patience sport. The searching shouldn’t be.