outdoorsnz:

 

The issue with older cars now, is actually sourcing parts either new (after market etc) or 2nd hand.

 

I've been told anything over 10 years is now hard. So I decided to first get car back home and use local mechanic. As sparky rightly said, we could take alternator to bits, and if can't get parts, you are stuck...

 

Will see what options we can find. I'm also mindful of something relatively simple becomes quite expensive!

 

How hard probably depends on make and model of vehicle and the type of part required. What make model are we talking about? 

I've not had issues getting parts from my 22 year old car.

Parts like alternators are generally off the shelf models which a manufacturer has used. You'll often find the same model alternator was/is used in a variety vehicles.

At a component level particularly parts that may need replacement during the life of the alternator, items like bearings, brushes, rectifiers etc, these parts are often parts that are common to other models of alternators as well. I'd be very surprised if there weren't parts available.