105 spares

[Campbeli]

Apologies if this has already been dealt with somewhere in the forum.
For my recently purchased 1969 junior I am building up a list of parts needed. Mainly trim items to bring the appearance up. Boot mats, heater controls cover, window washer bag, stuff like that.
The most prominate local supplier seems to be 105alive in WA - but I've compared the cost of my grocery bag of items from them with classic alfa in the uk and (excluding freight) the items from classic are generally half the price.
So I'm wondering, where do 105 restorers prefer to get their parts from?
Who provides the best quality parts?? Best value parts?
Many thanks
Neil

[Davidm1600]

Neil, I am afraid you have opened up a Pandora's box, for the real answer to your question could correctly be said as "it depends".

In terms of NOS, Pancho who posts both on this forum and the AlfaBB, is probably the guru for such hard to find stuff. There is also a guy in the UK, (Alex I think) who also seems to have a huge stash of NOS parts for 105s.

In terms of reproduction parts, then places such as Classic Alfa, Alfaholics, EB Spares, Highwood Motor Co in the UK are your best option.  Locally there are a number of options including Milano Spares in Melbourne, Turin Imports (SA), there is someone in WA also providing parts, and of course Rob Manning from Manning Motors in Sydney. 

Apart from that you have IAP, Sproul, and another option ? (can't think of the name) in the US.

Ricambi Automobili in Holland (via Ebay) also has both NOS and repro parts, and then there are a myriad of specific parts specialists across Europe, though mostly Italy, Germany and Holland.  EBay in general can also be a reasonable option, though you may need to be a little patient at times until what you are looking for may come up for sale.

The big question for some though is the quality of repro vrs NOS and then add the cost of such parts into the equation of what is the best value.  This question really is all about the "it depends' factor, that is what standards do you wish to achieve and/or are perhaps happy with.

It is not a debate I wish to enter, as I know from past experience that different people have differing views on this. 

Hope that helps a little.

[RobDee]

I've bought quite a bit from Classic Alfa and found them to be really good.  Prices are reasonable, delivery is super quick, and they answer questions by email ASAP.  I got a couple of bits from Highwood and Alfaholics and found them both to have less impressive online shopping facilities, relying on emails/texts to transfer credit card details.

Don't assume that repro parts are no good.  In most cases I think they're fine.  I've only been disappointed with a few items.