Looks like the op is trying to solve a problem of broken links but has come up with a "brave choice" as they say on yes minister. The actual solution is put in

Looks like the op is trying to solve a problem of broken links but has come up with a "brave choice" as they say on yes minister. The actual solution is put in the work and redirect the old missing page to a relevant new one. If I had a link from vogue the BBC etc back in 1996 point to a product page to want to redirect that now broken link with a 301.