Selling hundreds of parts from estate (All generations)

[nairb131]

Hello everyone,

A few years ago my grandfather passed away. He was the one of the last VW specific mechanics (specializing in air-cooled) in Alaska.

I have hundreds or parts for VW/Audi cars ranging from the late 50's to about 2010. There is even some original VW sheet metal from Germany for 60's Bugs.

My question for the forum is what is the best way to sell this? I had a garage sale for the local groups but it honestly didn't move a ton. The parts fill up a 20' connex plus part of a garage.

Any help anyone can offer would be great.

[Abscate]

Rent a box truck and deliver to the local scrapper. You’ve already exhausted the local scene of sellable stuff. Large metal like fenders might be worth pallete shipping to SoCal if you have a friend who would list them for a weekend but the future of this metal is likely new toasters
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[JohnsBug]

Suggest posting photos, especially if you think you have anything good or in good shape, also photos of NOS in boxes. Hope for a west coast parts person with a legit business to take a business trip up there so they can fish and write it off while they arrange to buy all your parts.. ....no, not me... I'd go get some salmon, but the business part I don't do ....good luck.... It'd be a shame to chuck anything good
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- Mike in SF
(...I am...an Accidental Enthusiast...)
'73 convertible, running
'70 sedan, patina project
'59 sunroof, get-it-or-regret it, project

[OldSchoolVW's]

The question is ... how much time and patience do you have to inventory/catalog what you have? You may have a significant collection of NOS VW parts which are far superior to any aftermarket products sold today. Even older aftermarket parts were made better than most the stuff being sold today. Whether you are interested in selling the collection piecemeal or as a bulk sale, any prospective buyer will need to know specifically what you have. Boxes of random parts without part numbers don't have much value.

Bottom line ... if you want to turn these parts into money, it will take time and effort. If you are under time pressure to just get rid of all of it, you can give it to a local enthusiasts group and they'll probably be willing to haul it away. This is probably the best chance of giving these parts a useful future. It would be a shame to see quality parts end up in a scrapyard.
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Tom

"Following distance is proportional to IQ."

"If you don't do it this year, you'll be one year older when you do." Warren Miller

"Research is what I'm doing when I don't know what I'm doing." Wernher von Braun

'63 Beetle Sedan
'69 Beetle Sunroof
'70 Beetle Sedan
'73 Type 3 Fastback

[finster]

there's probably several things to consider -
1 do you need them shifted by a deadline or are they costing money to store?
2 do you want/need to make some money selling them?
3 is it important that they 'go to a good home' where they can benefit owners?

regardless of which of these applies it will require you (or the local vw club) to sort through this stuff - unless you just scrap it.
I personally think that making money from them is unlikely as it will cost you to attend shows or in postage, as well as the time involved. I assume there are nos parts traders in the us that you could approach with a list but remember that the distance involved might put them off so you would likely be offering the parts for free or a token amount.
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"we're here on Earth to fart around" kurt vonnegut

nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect...

[Bobs67vwagen]

I think the last 3 posted opinions are your best shot. If you have the time post pictures of 5 to 10 items per week on this forum to get an idea of what you have and the demand and value for each. You may have some jewels mixed in that could make that a lucrative and fun part time hobby/ job. If storage is not a pressing issue that would be the approach I would take. Good luck-Bob

[Dusty1]

[oprn]

The problem with you selling that stuff is that you live in a remote location.

The problem I have finding stuff just that like to buy is that is I live in a remote location...

It's frustrating all around!
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Our cars get old, we get old but driving an old VW never gets old!

[zerotofifty]

The Samba want ads are a good place to list for sale items.

You have a lot of stuff, sort it out as you have both Audi and VW stuff. different markets for them.

You may do well to sell the maker specific items to a lower 48 state parts supplier in bulk, thus saving you time and reduced shipping cost

a vintage VW retailer may be happy to buy in bulk all the aircooled related VW stuff, but may have zero interest in the Audi or late model VW stuff.
the Audi stuff can be sold bulk to a Audi parts retailer in the lower 48 states. the late VW stuff to the appropriate late VW retailer.

Original 1960s sheet metal is valuable, as many reproduction parts are of poor quality. The killer for you is likely shipping if you sell them one at a time, but a retailer down here can buy in bulk, and resale them here where the market is better for them, and shipping to his customers will be lower.


Good luck, I hope all this stuff can find a new home, real shame to have it scrapped.

photos can help sales.

thanks for asking!!!!
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Words to live by.

[oprn]

Any chance you have a crank bolt and crank handle from a pre-60's car? I had one at one time and Dad gave it away! Just the crank bolt if you don't have the handle...

Thanks!
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Our cars get old, we get old but driving an old VW never gets old!

[HMVWNAB]

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