TMCP #635: ASK RICK! – FIFTY YEARS of National Parts Depot! The REAL Story of Surviving and Thriving in Restoration Parts

National Parts Depot is celebrating an incredible milestone — 50 years in business — and we’re sitting down with Rick Schmidt for a special Ask Rick episode to talk about the journey that built one of the most respected names in classic car restoration. From its humble beginnings in a family basement to becoming a global leader in restoration parts, Rick shares the story of how his father Jim Schmidt built NPD through hard work, vision, and a relentless commitment to serving enthusiasts. We also dive into Rick’s leadership philosophy, the evolution of the restoration market, and what the next fifty years may hold. It’s also auction season, and Rick is ready to help us make some money. We break down what it takes to buy right, sell smart, and turn a profit with a quick flip. With a goal of keeping the upfront cost under $30K, Rick walks us through which cars make sense to chase at the January auctions — and which ones to leave on the block. If you’re looking to sharpen your auction strategy, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. The post TMCP : ASK RICK! – FIFTY YEARS of National Parts Depot! The REAL Story of Surviving and Thriving in Restoration Parts first appeared on The Muscle Car Place .

You can listen to TMCP #635: ASK RICK! – FIFTY YEARS of National Parts Depot! The REAL Story of Surviving and Thriving in Restoration Parts online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

TMCP #635: ASK RICK! – FIFTY YEARS of National Parts Depot! The REAL Story of Surviving and Thriving in Restoration Parts is an episode from The MuscleCar Place by Robert Kibbe.

This episode is 1:01:05 long.

This episode was published on Jan 9, 2026.

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