OEM parts availability question
 

Does OEM parts availability begin to dwindle with a particular model? Or at all?

I've been driving a 1988 Volvo 245 and certain parts are no longer available. Understandable since the car hasn't been made since 1993.

I've been restoring a 1967 Beetle. There are many German parts available but for many things, Chinese crap only.

I've been on a hunt for a 911 for a while. I've debated the era I want. I'm aware of the advice "buy the newest you can afford". But I'm open if the right previous owner and good car come along.

Since I like to do most of my work myself and given some of the frustrations I've had with Beetle parts, quality parts availability has moved way up the list as well.

Any dwindling in parts availability for older models would push me toward newer.

On the contrary. Porsche is starting to remanufacture parts they had previously stopped manufacturing. The ‘74-‘89 years use a lot of the same parts so there is a huge used market, too. There are some items that are rare as hen’s teeth on the long hood cars (‘64-73) but those years are way more expensive anyway :)

Parts availability is good and quality is generally pretty good.

Prices can get a bit silly on certain things. Like OE steering wheels with fat diameter, yellow screwdrivers, or those damn sunroof opener tool things.

Thanks for the responses, this is great to hear.

Yeah, ‘64-‘73 is out of the question due to prices. I really like all the different eras anyway.

The used parts availability for most of the 911 model years is rather high. There are certain parts and certainly for the earlier years where the availability is scarce and the cost high.

+1

The CIS parts are available but getting more spendy for 73 1/2 on up to the 3.2. Not nearly unobtanium prices, though

Used/refurbished is perfectly fine.

Rotors/pads for street are very palatable $ for a basic 911. Shocks/struts sting a little for a basic car and that includes Bilstein, but they always have been steep vs Camry struts.

I would go with an SC or a 915 3.2. Both of those cars have the 930 case. The G50 3.2 is the tits but there is a premium.

Now a mid-year where the potential engine issues have been rectified is perfectly fine.

The only part I ever had a problem finding for my SC was the locking nut that keeps the joy stick thingy that controls the side mirrors from falling into the door. The owner of my local P-car shop let me rifle through a few parts bins and I found one. No charge! Happy days indeed.

3.2 w/915 (well sorted or rebuilt) is, in my opinion, a nice platform as it relates to performance, ease of work and parts availability.