10 Surprising Uses for Old Car Parts You Never Thought Of

Have you ever looked at your rusting junker and thought, ‘My car is good for nothing but a junk pile!’? Whatever you’ve done to it, there’s still more life in those old auto parts.

In fact, you can take those castoffs and make all sorts of things, from cheeky furniture to the kind of art that will make your neighbors green with envy.

So let’s have some fun together. Here are 10 surprising uses for old car parts you never thought of and ways to turn a rusty old rattletrap into something surprisingly different.

10 Surprising Uses for Old Car Parts 

1. Turn an Engine Block into a Coffee Table

Picture this: you enter the living room, and there is an engine block sitting there (really, it is), except, of course, not really.

It could just as easily be a coffee table (just add a glass top and, presto, a rugged, conversation starting piece of furniture industrial, unique, and a surefire way to make your space stand out from the rest).

Engine blocks are great for this purpose because of their interesting shape and oversized strapping. Also, you can paint the block or use a glass top to fit your chosen palette.

Sure, it makes a statement, and even better, this repurposes a discarded part into a functional and stylish object.

2. Repurpose Tires as Planters

It is also an especially good look when your tires now boast flowers growing out of them. Old tires make for great planters.

Run a few tires vertically, one within the other if you can, or paint them in bright colors and pile them all on top of each other. Fill with soil and plants, and your garden is not only bright and charming but ecologically nifty as well.

Tires are durable, and everyone knows they are weatherproof. Stack them up, lay them down, whatever takes your fancy. Get the kids to paint them in bright colors.

You can set up a variety of different setups that can add a totally different dimension to your garden. Lamppost flowers? Vertical gardens? All it takes is some imagination and old tires.

Or, grow your tires horizontally and hang them like planters. The environmental benefits are also a great plus. You’re recycling, and that’s always a good thing.

3. Create a Unique Wall Clock from a Hubcap

Do you have an old hubcap collecting dust somewhere? Make it into a wall clock! Hubcaps come in a variety of styles suitable for almost any décor.

A vintage hubcap can add a retro look to your home, while a more modern style cap can add a futuristic feel. Most craft stores carry clock mechanisms that work perfectly for repurposing an old hubcap.

Simply drill a hole in the center of the hubcap, attach your hands and mechanism, and you will have a timepiece of your style. It is the perfect addition to your garage, man cave, and eclectically decorated living room, you name it.

Need a new cover for your repurposed project or current car? Visit carcover.com. High quality car covers can shield your vehicle from the elements.

4. Use Seat Belts as Dog Leashes

When you have some serviceable seat belts, why not make a sturdy dog leash? They’ll be strong, serviceable, and of the length you choose.

Your mutt will have the envy of the park, the leash itself the envy of chic dog owners: ‘What is that?’ they’ll ask. ‘An old seat belt. Canine, er, harness ready.

How nice that dog looks on the lead. It’s not a sign of collapse, is there? Really in control. Wow.’ There’s nothing like vehicle occupant restraints to keep stain off a flexible spine.

Your handle can be readily added. So, too, a clip for collar optimization. And here are two pieces of detritus returned to service.

5. Make a Grill from an Old Car Hood

If you turn an old car hood on its side and add a grate, you will have a one of a kind BBQ grill where you can satisfy guests and friends with delicious foods and a sure conversation starter at your next barbecue.

The car hood is large and sturdy enough to hold all the meat for a big barbecue for the whole family. Add two wheels or legs to make it more mobile to carry around the house or garden.

This unique DIY project will provide you with a customized grill by repurposing an old large piece of metal destined for the dump. You can paint it or add decals or anything to express your taste.

6. Turn Car Doors into Garden Gates

Funky garden gate, anyone? With a bit of creativity, elbow grease, added hinges, a latch, and a fresh coat of paint, it can be done.

The solidity of some car doors would make for a secure garden gate made from solid metal that can stand up to the elements.

Include the windows in the gate, and you will have a peek through feature and a bit of extra garden curiosity.

This is a great way to recycle car bits and pieces and add some quirky personalization to your outdoor space.

7. Transform Headlights into Stylish Lamps

The headlight makes for a perfect base for the lamp! Add a bulb and a shade, and you will have a cool looking garage lamp or a themed room!

They are already made to be a beam of light, so you are using them for what they are designed for.

The headlight is great as a base when mounted to a base or even used as a pendant light for a more industrial feel to a room.

This is a great way to repurpose parts to make lights that are cool and functional at the same time. Plus, it’s a very cool conversation piece that will show off some creativity and ingenuity.

8. Build a Barbecue Smoker from an Oil Drum

What you need is a barbecue smoker, and an old oil drum is perfect for it. Any off-cuts of metal that you had would work, too.

With a smidge of welding a dose of imagination, and you’ve cut out the door of the drum and punched out a smoke stack. You’re ready to smoke!

The reason oil drums work so well is that the metal they’re made of is much thicker than the white cardboard bins that are a common sight in cities. That’s important for any smoker, especially if used for ‘low and slow’ cooking, as is popular with barbecue enthusiasts.

To do it right, you’ve got to get your fire hot and clear, the insulation has to be good, and the circulating air has to be minimal.

That’s tricky to do with thin metal, but a heavy duty oil drum is engineered to keep its contents hot and clean.

Create a set of hooks and a firebox for yourself to hang your meat, connecting to the space where the grates will go.

When you’re done, you’ve made yourself a smoker that’s great for large cuts of meat or even an entire chicken.

It repurposes a potentially forgotten hunk of metal, saving it from going to landfill, and it imparts a wonderful smokiness flavor to your food.

9. Use a Car Frame as a Garden Trellis

Antique automobile frames can become garden trellises. These old frames would make the perfect alternative to Trellis.

They have size and room for climbing plants and provide an industrial edge to your garden. Car frames are often made of very sturdy metal that can hold tonnes of weight, and this could be used to support some heavy duty climbers or vegetables.

A car frame could be placed within your garden, and some climbers could be trained to grow up the frame, creating a living sculpture that is both beautiful and functional.

Not only does this provide a wonderful use of waste material, but it can also provide an impressive focal point to your garden that would interest any guest. 

10. Create Art from Exhaust Pipes

Bend and weld exhaust pipes into all sorts of shapes. For floor sculpture or wall art, just pick out one of those great vintage exhaust pipes and bend and weld them into a shape that fits your decor.

You tell everyone, “I made that.” Exhaust pipes can be bent into all kinds of shapes, so let your imagination run wild and create wall art, floor sculpture, or practically anything else you can think of.

They can be used as a creative outlet and give new life to metal parts that usually find their way to recycling centers.

Conclusion

These ideas represent the multitude and ingenuity with which old parts can be used. The next time you find yourself taking your old ride to the junkyard, you should pause for a minute and consider giving it a different life in a hilariously unconventional way.

You don’t just save some money but also end up with something made and loved by you! If you’re a DIY enthusiast or simply looking to amuse yourself this weekend with a conscious wish to keep your car parts out of the junkyard, you’d love these repurposing ideas that will make you see your old car parts in a whole new light!