A donor vehicle bought specifically to supply components for a primary repair or restoration project. Builders and mechanics often find it cheaper to buy a complete, non-running chassis than to source individual obsolete components like trim pieces, wiring harnesses, or specific drivetrain mounts. Once the needed hardware is stripped, the remaining shell is typically sent to a scrapyard.
I pulled the wiring loom and the good fender off the parts car, so call the scrapper to come drag the shell away.
The golden rule of buying a donor vehicle is to make sure it shares the exact sub-model and production year as your main project, otherwise the wiring and mounting points will likely not match.
Also heard as
- donor car
Related terms
Barn find
A vehicle discovered in long-term storage that is often covered in dust and sold in as-is condition.
Beater
A cheap, cosmetically flawed daily driver used to spare a primary vehicle from wear and tear.
Car part
A distinct component or assembly used in the construction, repair, or modification of an automobile.