
WE MAKE 11,749
different classic Ford Parts
Many of them are made in our facility in Concord, NC.
Rubber Extrusion OperationDoor and Trunk Weatherstripping
Metal Stamping Operationsfor Bumpers, Hubcaps and Scuff Plates
Plastic Injection Moldingfor light lenses, emblems and fan shrouds
Parts made from Original Ford ToolingFenders, Grilles, Running Boards
Our Manufacturing PlantOver 300,000 Square Feet
EXACTLY LIKE THE ORIGINALS
You Get What You Pay For. That's A Promise.
Daniel as a boy with his Dad's disassembled 1940 Ford Convertible
As a family owned and operated company, Dennis Carpenter has been making Ford restoration parts for over 46 years. As a kid, I was at my dad's side when he hand poured the first plastic dash knobs for our 1940 Ford convertible in an unfinished room in our home. Demand for these was strong because no one had ever made factory correct replacement knobs, and good originals were impossible to find. The business was birthed, and soon thereafter, my dad Dennis purchased our first injection molding machine for making large runs of higher quality knobs.
As the business grew, we began manufacturing rubber seals, rubber bumpers, die cast chrome parts and metal stamped parts. In 1998 Ford granted us the honor to use the original Ford factory tooling for many parts that we make now. Today we have over 160 employees at our facility making and selling quality Ford parts. We now have 12 plastic injection molding machines, a rubber extruding operation, 54 rubber molding machines, 48 metal stamping presses, 2 zinc die casting machines, 3 roller mills and many other special machines for making quality parts in America.
In the Ford restoration parts market, where most parts manufactured by others are sourced overseas (due to economics), we are proud to say that 85% of Dennis Carpenter rubber products, 95% of our stamped metal parts, 99% of our plastic injected parts and 100% of our Ford tooling parts are made in the U.S.A. Sometimes products made in the USA cost a little more than those made overseas, but you can rest in the fact that our parts are made from the highest quality materials and offer long term durability.
We appreciate your business!-Daniel and Dennis Carpenter 
46 Years of Quality Parts
A look at how Dennis Carpenter Ford Restoration Parts has grown over the years
TIMELINE
1969-The Beginnings
Dennis starts restoration on his 1940 Ford convertible, realizes the need for plastic knobs and convinces an antique car friend into developing tooling for making them.
In this photo, Dennis' son Daniel stands beside his dad's disassembled Ford
1970-Knobs and more Knobs
Dennis takes extra dash knobs that he made to the Hershey AACA car show and sells out.
Realizing that he is able to support his hobby, he continues to develop all dash knobs for 1932-48 Fords.
1971-Bigger Machines
Dennis takes out a 2nd mortgage on his house and buys a bigger injection molding machine for making better quality knobs in larger quantities.
He moves his part time business from home into a rented vacant railroad depot.
1972-WeatherStripping
Dennis realizes that the weatherstripping and seals he purchased for his 1940 had hardened, cracked, and needed replacement after 6 months.
He is determined to make premium quality weatherstripping for his 1940. Due to minimum production requirements, he starts selling the extras.
1973-Sales take off
Sales of his quality dash knobs and seals takes off, so he quits his full time job as a purchaser at a local textile plant.
He buys a 5,000 sq. ft. building on Hwy 29 in Concord, NC. which is still located in the front of the business today.
1974-More Land
Dennis purchases 25 acres of land behind his business for $75,000.
1976- New 10,000 Sq ft. Building
Dennis builds a 10,000 sq. ft. building next to the first one and remembers thinking that he was set for life as far as buildings go.
Little did he know that it would eventually grow to be over 300,000 sq. ft.
1977-Stamping Presses
Dennis purchases two used stamping presses for making stamped metal parts and a used die casting machine for making emblems.
1978-Bridgeport Milling Machine
Dennis hires his first tool and die man for making tooling for more new parts and purchases his first new Bridgeport milling machine.
1979-25,000 Sq ft. Warehouse
Growth of the company continues, and he builds a 25,000 sq.ft. warehouse and showroom that are still in use today.
1987-Rubber Extrusion
Because of inconsistent size and hardness of rubber from outside suppliers, Dennis decides to develop his own rubber extruding operation from a desire to offer the very best quality weatherstripping and seals.
1990-Cushman Scooters Introduced
Dennis buys more plastic injection machines and develops more plastic parts.
He also starts making Cushman Motor Scooter parts in an effort to keep his employees busy in a bad economy.
1993- Official Ford Licensed Products
Ford Motor Company works with Dennis to become the first official Ford licensee for products made with the Ford name or logo on them.
1994-Builds Museum
Dennis (the original American picker) fulfills a dream in building a museum to house his long time collection of Fords, Ford memorabilia, Cushman scooters, tractors, and Americana.
1998-Original Ford Tooling
Ford Motor Company works with Dennis and his son Daniel on a pilot program to start using the original Ford tooling for parts they were no longer selling.
2000-Official Original Tooling
The Original Ford Tooling program becomes official. We buy bigger machines and build more buildings to take in these large tools and run them.
Ford traditionally scraps tools they are finished with. We are honored to save these tools from scrap for continued use,so we can make products for all the restorers out there that need them.
2003-48,000 sq ft. Warehouse
Our biggest warehouse is built with 48,000 sq. ft. of high stack storage.
2005- Daniel Buys Company
Daniel Carpenter purchases the company from Dennis on a payment plan.
Dennis is now able to focus on his core strength of developing new products and working with the tool makers.
2009- CNC Machines
The economic downturn forces us to cut back and examine our ways but not one of our employees is laid off during the whole downturn
. We are able to purchase some much needed equipment such as a digitizer and CNC machines at bargain prices from companies that were going out of business during this time
2010-Edsel Ford II Visits
Edsel Ford II arrives at Carpenter Industries to tour the facilities.
2011-New Computers
We transition to a new software and computer system after being on an old Unix based system since 1991.
2013-New Website
We launch our all new user friendly web store and introduce flat rate shipping to better serve our customers.
Dennis still works at the business everyday and enjoys every bit of it. Also, those knobs and weatherstripping he put on his 1940 convertible back in the 1970s are still good to this day.
A Snapshot of Dennis Carpenter and His Fords.
Growing up on a farm in Dover, Minnesota, Dennis Carpenter was raised with a strong work ethic and was taught early on how to use machinery and what made it work. Like many young men he was fascinated with automobiles.
By age 12 he bought a 1941 Ford for $12.00! That first car established an allegiance to Fords that Dennis would carry with him for the rest of his life.
Passion has been described as "Implied energetic and an unflagging pursuit of an aim". Dennis Carpenter's passion is to develop, engineer, and produce superior Ford restoration parts. From that passion comes
Premium Line Weather Stripping from our extrusion department and from our stamping and injection dies, comes a dynamic variety of
Officially Licensed Ford and Original Ford Tooling parts. This has been the driving force at his company since 1970.
1956 Dennis buys '52 Mercury
When Dennis became legal driving age he paid $600.00 for this 1952 Mercury that also included a new set of tires. He later installed a 1956 Y Block and a manual transmission with overdrive.
1960 Dennis buys '36 Coupe
Dennis paid $162.50 for this 1936 Ford 5 window coupe.
1960 Dennis buys '57 Convertible
Dennis in uniform with his 1957 Convertible.
1960 Army and '57 Convertible
Dennis on Army leave with his 1957 convertible.
1961 Dennis buys '61 Galaxie
Dennis' first Galaxie was a beautiful 1961 convertible.
1962 Dennis buys'62 Galaxie
Dennis with his new 1962 Galaxie. The Base price was $3,033. He added a push button radio for $58.50.
1964 Dennis buys '56 Police Car
Dennis bought this 1956 Police car for $160. It had a police interceptor engine with a manual transmission.