And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
I live in the high plains of northeastern El Paso County, Colorado. We have several packrat car collectors whose front, side and back yards look like this. An eye sore if there ever was one. But then, I am not a gearhead or car buff so it's all one big trash heap to me.
That photo above shows an orderly operation. It's your packrat neighbors that proliferate with no regard for others. They're not running a business and are simply hoarders who view their wreckage as priceless.
I remember those days in the U-Pull-It junkyards. Now it's hard as hell to find one due to insurance regulations (or so they say). I used to scour those places trying to restify my '70 Camaro. I needed a full gauge package instrument panel and newer bucket seats (the stock for that year were low-backs). I imagine I put $30K in that thing and could only get $12K in a forced sale (don't ask).
About 20 years ago, some idiot junkyard owner in NJ decided to save time/money by only sitting the cars on THREE welded wheel stands, instead of the normal FOUR. Well, a customer got careless/stupid, and knocked a car off that setup and got crushed. Didn't help that the yard wasn't flat, but had lots of uneven surface. Bankrupted owner and business.( I was visiting my dad, and we went to the yard while it was being emptied, as he knew the owner.)
What is frustrating is that the CA Pick-n-Pull junkyards around the same time started doing the same thing with 3 stands. I talked to the manager of one of the local yards and explained the recent history of that setup, but they continued to employ it. Well, a year or so back, a customer got hurt when a vehicle fell on him. I guess they don't hire smart people there... Will
Used to look thru salvage yards to keep an orange 77 Datsun B210 on the road. The passenger door hinges rusted out and I found a brown door as a replacement. It was ugly as sin, but we drove a few more years. Merging on that side was easy. Folks knew I had nothing to lose.
No such thing as a fifty dollar car anymore. My first car was twice that amount back in 75. Guy had a 67 Pontiac GTO with a 400 CI tripower setup with 3 flat tires sitting on the side of his garage and he couldn't get it started. Sold it to me for 100 bucks on a forced sale ( his wife said get rid of it). Don't remember exactly how many bent push rods were bent but it was a lot. Replaced those and she ran hard. I mean really hard. Every time she ran rough it was push rod replacing time. Just a kid then and my motor knowledge was limited.
Mine was a 63 Pontiac Tempest with the Trophy 4 engine and a 3 speed manual, bought it for $35. Drove it for a year and the only thing I bought for it was tires.
In 1972 I wandered thru 9 junkyards in FL looking for a salvageable hood for a 1966 Mustang. Finally found one.
ReplyDeleteWonderful way to spend the day - wandering about a well laid out junk yard.
ReplyDeleteYou ain't lived until you've found a spot like that in some small-town in the desert southwest. It's like stepping out of a time machine.
ReplyDeleteI live in the high plains of northeastern El Paso County, Colorado. We have several packrat car collectors whose front, side and back yards look like this. An eye sore if there ever was one. But then, I am not a gearhead or car buff so it's all one big trash heap to me.
ReplyDeleteThat photo above shows an orderly operation. It's your packrat neighbors that proliferate with no regard for others. They're not running a business and are simply hoarders who view their wreckage as priceless.
DeleteIt has become frustratingly more difficult to find parts.
ReplyDeleteMy '89 Power Ram has had parts stolen.
I remember those days in the U-Pull-It junkyards. Now it's hard as hell to find one due to insurance regulations (or so they say). I used to scour those places trying to restify my '70 Camaro. I needed a full gauge package instrument panel and newer bucket seats (the stock for that year were low-backs). I imagine I put $30K in that thing and could only get $12K in a forced sale (don't ask).
ReplyDeleteAbout 20 years ago, some idiot junkyard owner in NJ decided to save time/money by only sitting the cars on THREE welded wheel stands, instead of the normal FOUR.
DeleteWell, a customer got careless/stupid, and knocked a car off that setup and got crushed. Didn't help that the yard wasn't flat, but had lots of uneven surface. Bankrupted owner and business.( I was visiting my dad, and we went to the yard while it was being emptied, as he knew the owner.)
What is frustrating is that the CA Pick-n-Pull junkyards around the same time started doing the same thing with 3 stands. I talked to the manager of one of the local yards and explained the recent history of that setup, but they continued to employ it. Well, a year or so back, a customer got hurt when a vehicle fell on him. I guess they don't hire smart people there...
Will
"Gilman's", Kirtland Ohio, bottom of Garfield Rd hill- from my youth c.60s, and by God it's still there-
ReplyDeletehttps://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/2618b2657e7ac00c236648379331f5ee35a15f8699ef2b2f8eca2528c08f5a11.jpg
Used to look thru salvage yards to keep an orange 77 Datsun B210 on the road. The passenger door hinges rusted out and I found a brown door as a replacement. It was ugly as sin, but we drove a few more years. Merging on that side was easy. Folks knew I had nothing to lose.
ReplyDeleteThat's right. Never tangle with an aggressive driver in a fifty dollar car
ReplyDeleteNo such thing as a fifty dollar car anymore. My first car was twice that amount back in 75. Guy had a 67 Pontiac GTO with a 400 CI tripower setup with 3 flat tires sitting on the side of his garage and he couldn't get it started. Sold it to me for 100 bucks on a forced sale ( his wife said get rid of it). Don't remember exactly how many bent push rods were bent but it was a lot. Replaced those and she ran hard. I mean really hard. Every time she ran rough it was push rod replacing time. Just a kid then and my motor knowledge was limited.
ReplyDeleteMine was a 63 Pontiac Tempest with the Trophy 4 engine and a 3 speed manual, bought it for $35. Drove it for a year and the only thing I bought for it was tires.
Deletetransaxle, per "my cousin vinnie".
DeleteGoin to junk yards with my dad looking for parts for our 54 Chevy, 55 Cameo Carrier and a 67 Chevy Station wagon are cherished memories!
ReplyDelete