Early wagon parts easiest to find?

[TN GT Hawk]

I'm restoring a '54 Conestoga Commander Regal that I need to sell before winter, otherwise it will have to sit outside. I'm missing a few key trim parts, only because I sent them for replating to a well known Studebaker vendor who took them to his local plater- 8 months ago. Getting nothing but excuses so thought I would try to find the parts elsewhere. I read that the early wagons are easiest to find parts for because so few were restored, leaving a lot of NOS parts around. I'm not finding that to be the case. Here are the parts:

305360w and 305361w (Conestoga tailgate hatch trim pieces)
306388 (2 door wagon passenger door belt moulding
Driver side grill bar (I had an extra pitted one I put on the car for the photos)

If you can recommend a place or individual who might have these parts, or, if you have suggestions on how to deal with the chrome vendor, let me know.

[Mike Van Veghten]

At one time...yes, 54 / 55 wagon parts could be bought NOS. But that was a LONG time ago.
I was lucky, I was looking early enough that I was able to buy a few NOS parts for my two 54 wagons. But again, even then, it was basically the "end" of NOS. Hell, I even found a couple of, complete, NOS gauge panels, all the gauges included, "0" miles on the odometer. I put one in one of my wagons.
Now days, possibly private parties "may" have a few parts left collecting dust, but I'd guess, that's pretty unlikely.

Nice car, and best of luck finding what you need.

Mike

[TN GT Hawk]

At one time...yes, 54 / 55 wagon parts could be bought NOS. But that was a LONG time ago.
I was lucky, I was looking early enough that I was able to buy a few NOS parts for my two 54 wagons. But again, even then, it was basically the "end" of NOS. Hell, I even found a couple of, complete, NOS gauge panels, all the gauges included, "0" miles on the odometer. I put one in one of my wagons.
Now days, possibly private parties "may" have a few parts left collecting dust, but I'd guess, that's pretty unlikely.

Nice car, and best of luck finding what you need.

Mike

I can't really complain Mike- I was able to find all the NOS parts I needed except for these , including an NOS passenger grill bar and belt moulding- but then the plater got ahold of my others. I'll eventually get them back, but need to sell the car ASAP.

[6hk71400]

Fred,

What you can do is sell it with the understanding with the buyer the situation with the plater and make an agreement with them to ship the parts to the buyer sharing at 50 percent the shipping cost. The buyer with have the option to do that or take the car as is and you can sell the parts later. I am sure that would work as that wagon is very nice.

Good luck with the sale.

[TN GT Hawk]

Fred,

What you can do is sell it with the understanding with the buyer the situation with the plater and make an agreement with them to ship the parts to the buyer sharing at 50 percent the shipping cost. The buyer with have the option to do that or take the car as is and you can sell the parts later. I am sure that would work as that wagon is very nice.

Good luck with the sale.

Had thought of that scenario, but wasn't sure there would be much interest without the parts in hand, especially on Bring A Trailer auction. May give it a try.

[Captain Billy]

Private message sent

[6hk71400]

Fred,

Again, just trying to help. If you go with Bring A Trailer or other auction format, set your reserve at a price that will include the parts by the plater to be included and sent at the time they are received with the winning bid. If this small hiccup is not acceptable, I am not sure how serious a buyer would not accept those terms.

I will not offer any more advice.