airhead parts

What airhead parts does

Airhead Parts is a privately held manufacturer and retailer of replacement parts and accessories for vintage Volkswagen vehicles, founded in 1988 in Ventura, California. Originally launched as Karmann Ghia Parts and Restoration, the company grew to become the world's largest supplier of parts and accessories for Karmann Ghias before expanding in 2005 to serve all rear-engine Volkswagens and rebranding as Airhead Parts. The company serves individual restoration enthusiasts and small businesses who own and maintain classic VW vehicles including the Beetle, Split Bus, Bay Bus, Karmann Ghia, Thing, Type 3, and Vanagon, covering model years 1950-1991.

The core product offering is built on in-house manufacturing of approximately 750-1,000 reproduction parts designed to original specifications, each backed by a lifetime guarantee against material or design defects. The total catalog spans 5,376 products organized across six categories (Accessories, Body, Electrical, Interior, Mechanical, and Wheels/Suspension/Steering), with parts priced individually from approximately $0.59 for basic hardware to over $428 for major body panels. The proprietary product portfolio is the company's primary technical differentiator, supported by decades of accumulated engineering knowledge of vintage VW platforms.

Airhead Parts generates revenue through direct-to-consumer e-commerce sales via airheadparts.com, a wholesale program for restoration businesses, secondary marketplace sales through an eBay storefront, and direct sales at west coast VW car shows from Sacramento to San Diego. The company also runs the annual 'Border to Border Treffen,' a 10-day, 1700-mile West Coast Vintage Cruise that doubles as a customer engagement and sales channel. The company operates from a single headquarters and retail pickup location at 355 Harriet Street, Ventura, California, with no evidence of external institutional investment, acquisitions, or public market activity.

Name

airhead parts

Legal name

Airhead Parts

Website

https://airheadparts.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Airhead Parts manufactures and sells replacement parts and accessories for vintage Volkswagen vehicles (1950-1991 models), serving restoration enthusiasts and small repair shops through direct e-commerce, wholesale, eBay, and west coast car show channels from its Ventura, California headquarters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Automotive Replacement Parts

NAICS

Automotive Parts and Accessories Retailers (44133), Motor Vehicle Electrical and Electronic Equipment Manufacturing (336320), Motor Vehicle Steering and Suspension Components (except Spring) Manufacturing (336330), Motor Vehicle Seating and Interior Trim Manufacturing (33636)

SIC

Motor Vehicle Parts & Accessories (3714), Wholesale-Motor Vehicles & Motor Vehicle Parts & Supplies (5010)

akta.pro primary industry

Automotive Parts & Accessories Online Retailers (CRAFADAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Replacement Wear Parts Manufacturing (Filters/Belts/Hoses/Wipers/Spark Plugs) (IMACANAA)

Keywords

• Vintage auto parts
• Replacement parts
• Reproduction parts
• Classic car restoration
• Automotive accessories

Headquarters

HQ city

Ventura

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. E-commerce Parts Sales: Direct sales of reproduction and OEM vintage VW parts through the airheadparts.com website. Customers browse by vehicle model, year, and part category, purchasing individual parts at listed prices.
2. Wholesale Program: Wholesale registration available for businesses to purchase parts at wholesale pricing. Contact via [email protected] for wholesale inquiries.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Airhead Parts manufactures and sells reproduction replacement parts and accessories for vintage Volkswagen vehicles built between 1950 and 1991. The company produces over 750 reproduction parts in-house, each backed by a lifetime guarantee, spanning seven VW model lines (Bug, Split Bus, Bay Bus, Ghia, Thing, Type 3, and Vanagon). Products are sold through a proprietary e-commerce website, a wholesale program, and an eBay storefront.

Product overview

Airhead Parts operates an e-commerce platform selling vintage Volkswagen replacement parts and accessories. The company manufactures approximately 750-1000 reproduction parts in-house, each guaranteed for life. Their product portfolio spans seven vehicle model lines (Bug, Split Bus, Bay Bus, Ghia, Thing, Type 3, and Vanagon) covering model years 1950-1991. Parts are organized across six product categories: Accessories, Body, Electrical, Interior, Mechanical, and Wheels/Suspension/Steering. The company also maintains a wholesale program and operates a physical retail location in Ventura, California.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Vintage VW Parts - Bug Replacement parts for Volkswagen Beetle models including Sedan (1950-1977), Convertible (1951-1970), Super Beetle Sedan (1971-1976), and Super Beetle Convertible (1971-1979). Intended for owners restoring or maintaining classic Beetle vehicles.
• Vintage VW Parts - Split Bus Replacement parts for Volkswagen Split Bus models spanning 1950-1967. Targeted at owners restoring early-generation VW buses.
• Vintage VW Parts - Bay Bus Replacement parts for Volkswagen Bay Bus models spanning 1968-1979. Designed for owners of second-generation VW buses.
• Vintage VW Parts - Ghia Replacement parts for Volkswagen Ghia models including Coupe (1956-1974) and Convertible (1958-1974). Targeted at Karmann Ghia owners and restorers.
• Vintage VW Parts - Thing Replacement parts for Volkswagen Type 181 Thing models spanning 1973-1974. Aimed at owners of the rare VW Thing.
• Vintage VW Parts - Type 3 Replacement parts for Volkswagen Type 3 models spanning 1962-1973, including Notchback, Squareback, and Fastback variants. For owners of mid-generation air-cooled VW vehicles.
• Vintage VW Parts - Vanagon Replacement parts for Volkswagen Vanagon models spanning 1980-1991. For owners maintaining the final air-cooled generation of VW buses.
• VW Accessories Accessories for vintage VW owners including car care products, collectibles, exterior items, gift certificates, information books and videos, interior items, tools, and apparel. Complementary merchandise to the core replacement parts catalog.
• Wholesale Program Wholesale registration program for businesses to purchase vintage VW reproduction parts at wholesale pricing. Businesses contact [email protected] to establish wholesale accounts. For resellers, repair shops, and other B2B buyers serving vintage VW owners.

Quantifiable outcome

• Lifetime replacement guarantee - if any part fails due to materials or design defect, it will be replaced free of charge for the life of the vehicle

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Mid America Motorworks: Mid America Motorworks is one of the largest direct retailers of Corvette and Volkswagen parts and accessories in the US, hosting the massive Corvette Funfest and VW Funfest events. It is a direct peer given the overlap in VW parts e-commerce, event-driven marketing, and enthusiast community engagement.
• JBugs: JBugs is a specialty e-commerce retailer focused exclusively on Volkswagen Beetle parts and accessories, with extensive reproduction parts catalogs. It directly competes with Airhead Parts in the Bug-specific subcategory and shares the same customer demographic of vintage VW owners.
• Wolfsburg West: Wolfsburg West manufactures and sells reproduction parts for air-cooled Volkswagens with a strong emphasis on quality reproduction body panels and trim. It directly competes with Airhead Parts on the manufacturing side for vintage VW restoration parts, particularly body components.
• CIP1 (California Import Parts): CIP1 is a long-established wholesale and retail distributor of Volkswagen and Audi parts, including vintage and classic VW components. It competes directly with Airhead Parts across both retail and wholesale channels for the same vintage VW customer base.
• Klassic Fab: Klassic Fab manufactures reproduction body parts and chassis components specifically for air-cooled Volkswagens, including floor pans, heater channels, and body panels. It is a direct peer on the manufacturing side, competing for the same restoration shop and DIY restoration customer.
• Bus Depot: Bus Depot specializes in Volkswagen Bus (Type 2) parts and accessories across Split, Bay, and Vanagon models, covering the same 1950-1991 era as Airhead Parts. It is a direct peer with overlapping product catalog and customer base in the vintage VW Bus segment.

Regional players

• Heritage Parts Centre: Heritage Parts Centre is a UK-based vintage Volkswagen parts retailer and manufacturer, operating as Europe's leading VW heritage parts supplier. It is a regional peer offering similar product categories but primarily serving European customers rather than the US-focused Airhead Parts.

Emerging players

• The Samba: The Samba is a long-running vintage VW classifieds and community platform with an integrated marketplace for parts and vehicles. It serves as an adjacent player that connects buyers and sellers in the same vintage VW ecosystem but operates a marketplace model rather than primary retail/manufacturing.
• Airkewld: Airkewld is a specialty manufacturer and retailer of air-cooled Volkswagen performance and restoration parts, particularly known for tin and body components. It is an emerging player with meaningful overlap on the manufacturing side for vintage VW parts but a narrower product range than Airhead Parts.

Broad incumbents

• RockAuto: RockAuto is a large online-only retailer of aftermarket auto parts across all makes and models with a deep catalog and competitive pricing. It serves as a broad incumbent that competes with Airhead Parts on price and selection for the subset of vintage VW parts where overlap exists.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about airhead parts