A upull it yard in Bradenton ,Fla had a '70 GS Stage 1 hardtop,around 1998.Complete automatic car w/ rebuilt original engine. The dumba$$s there hacked the 3.64 posi out with a torch.Cut the eyelets on the rear end ,where the control arms attach.That wasn't working too well,so they torched the control arms,including the rear swaybar. I tried in vain to buy the whole car,but was told NOT,due to rear being sold. I did manage to get a nice grille and some emblems off before being told to leave the holding area.The following weekend,I returned to find the car had been put into the crusher.Bye,bye Stage 1 motor and dozens of other good parts. And yeah George N.,it was a Copher yard. SUKS! Another rarity was at a yard in Narcoosee,Fla.(near Orlando). Airport Towing.1985.LOTS of old cars! '58 Cadillac Eldo Biarritz convertible,'56 T-bird,a few 55-56 Ford ragtops,'70 Riv GS,Coronet RT ragtop,'60 Tbird with factory sunroof ,a/c,430 motor.Some Skylarks,but no GS cars. A friend told me of a yard in Blairsville ,Ga with a GSX,Stage 1's,W-30 442's,Many bigblock Chevelles, GTO's and a few Judges,Lots of Mopars,including the H word. Around '99/2000 ,the whole yard was crushed after the owner passed on. Was told by another friend in Ga. this weekend,during a conversation about this yard,NOTHING was saved.All in the shredder. Now I am depressed again...
Just remembered some more...a guy in central Maine has a junkyard with some rare stuff.Want's to keep most of it(high prices,rough shape). I saw a Lucerne Blue '72 Trans Am 4spd car, '39 Hudson convertible,'42 Lincoln Zephyr convertible,'39 Ford convertible sedan,'58 Corvette fuelie big brake car,'59 Olds 98 ragtop,'57 Studebaker Goldenhawk,'56 pontiac Starchief ragtop,3 '55 Studebaker President Speedster,'55 Bel Air ragtop,'41 and '42 Cad Fleetwood 75 Limos,'38 Chevy rumble seat roadster, and a lot more. He had a '54 pontiac 8 convert reportadly owned by Teamster boss Hoffa,a Kennedy owned'57 Cad 75 limo and '69 GTO ragtop. Unbelievably,Maine has a lot of old,rare cars sitting around. My next trip will include checking a lead on a guy with a big barn full of old muscle and classic Buicks in the Augusta area. A friend there restored a '65 GS Skylark for the guy,and gave me directions.
A few months ago I heard from a friend here who had come into a yard to see a 57? Edsel conv. complete, but in need of resto (1/65?). It had a sticker price on it of 2500?$, but it had been sold as soon as it was put up for sale. It went on ebay for 13k$ untouched to Sweden. I recently saw two 70-73 camaros back to back at a yard. Some good pieces were still left, but I didn't know what to take o No: . I'm otherwise still waiting to see my first boat tail Riv at a pick a part, I've only seen them at memory lane, pricey. I have seen about 10-15 71-73 electras/lesabres though, and a centurion or two in the last year and a half.
Here's another one! November,'04 I ran across a '55 Chevy Nomad wagon that was just hauled into a local RisingSun ,Md junkyard. The proverbial barn find. I offered the guy $1,500. for it ,but he said a couple of guys were looking at it in the morning.They were coming from Reading,Pa.a couple hour drive.Unfortunately,I had to head back to Fla. next morning. The Nomad was complete w/265 4bbl and P glide.They bought it for $2,400. which I would have gladly paid! How many yards have '55 Nomad wagons?!
Buicks in Iowa Mike, I will have to meet you to show you what is in EASTERN Iowa. I know of this farmer. He drove cars back to his woods/barns back in the 1960's. He has a dozen Roadmasters from 1946-1952 sitting under some pine trees, not to mention a 1946 Buick hearse in a barn (it still starts) and a '66 Buick GS. Lots of other GM and non-GM cars. I remember a 1964 Dodge Dart GT, pretty clean. Here is the sad part...Development is quickly going his way, and he lost his son to a car accident. I'm sure if nothing is soon done all will go to the crusher. Let me know when you can come with your camera! Thanks, Robert
Rare find(s) ! Last Fall (2005), Near Muskegon Michigan. A shell/ carcass of an AAR Cuda. Nothing left to salvage but it appeared to be legit. The faded AAR letters were visible but what a shame. Oh well.... Upstaged.
1953 vette Hello, in 1988 I found serial# 32 1953 corvette in a barn in South Dakota with the original engine laying on a palette under some hay bales. Still had title from 1957. I paid $7000 for it and resold it for 10K .I recently saw this same car for sale in Hemmings for $169K.
In the late 1980s, I used to go to a little salvage yard in Wisconsin with my dad - LOTS of 60s cars, and stuff going back to 20s!! Got a posi rear out of a 68 GS 350 there (LAST thing left on that ride!) So the unique vehicle I saw was a Ford pickup - must've been around a 1964, black - it had 427 flag badges on it, and inside had buckets, console and gauge cluster!!! Neat pick'em up for sure Jeff
68 Corvette About the grass :laugh: ,done :laugh:. I was going home from a relatives house and saw a bunch of little kid using a 68 Corvette for a sliding board :blast: :af: . I told the kid to get off the car than knocked on the door and ask if the car was for sale and I bought it for $2000.00 around 1984. Since have been finishing a frame off restoration and has been a great car contrary to the Corvette owners that say it was the worst year, I must have got a good one! Its been a fun restoration because of being a numbers matching Corvette that has not been abused. AL.
WI Junkyards Found a 1970 Challenger T/A, Panther Pink, rotted bad. Still had the 340, but no trans, heads,intake or hood. Early 50's DeSoto with the hemi still in it A Ram Air III GTO/Automatic (rolled) 2 W-30 442's (engine fire) 2 '65 GTO post sedans 396/375HP '66 Super Sport Chevelle (well picked over) 1969 Coronet R/T - 383/4 spd 1970 Super Bee - 383/Auto (compete & very rough) 1965 409 Impala 1970 & 1971 GTO Judge's 1969 Charger Daytona - 300 miles on the odometer. Now is part of Elmer's Auto Salvage museum. Word is that Leno has tried to buy this one, Originally was being sold thru a Winona MN dealer, and didn't sell, so Elmer took it to the junkyard, stored it for a while, then stuck it in the museum. Don't know if it's still around. Mid-60's Sunbeam w/ 260 v-8 - now is dead under a very large pine tree. 70-73 Vette - arguement with a bridge at high speed, guess who won! SS396 ElCamino ('69) - Hugger Orange/auto - rough by Kentucy Standards Jim Sailor
Back around 1990 I saw an 1987 GNX at a junkyard. It was a theft recovery. The owner fixed it and I believe still owns it today.
Al, I've had a bunch of corvettes of various flavors. Mid year coupes, convertibles, T tops, etc. 65, 66, 71, 80, 95 ZR1. You got nothing to hide here. The 68-69 may not in the lime light like the mid years but they are terrific cars. First Stingrays as opposed to Sting Rays. Fast and furious. You had vision when other people did not. Finish it off and be proud of what you did, eh?
Thanks Mike!! :beer When I got her over 20 years ago all the mid year owners ragged me on the 68 and told me it was worth more in parts, there was a lot of truth in that but that car was not going to see that. And then one I deceided to do a frame off on a small block 68 I got the same deal but your right I guess your right I saw the big picture and its been a great car and no doubt a keeper for I got my wife the same year I got the Corvette over 20 years ago, AL.
Tim, Glad your home and hopefully ready for your big endeavor. Still praying for you! No, I downloaded it from the net. Mark and I are the same age, had the same nickname and I pitched in College in Tennessee during the time he was drafted. When he got called up to Detroit I had moved to Flint and was playing semi-pro ball. He became an instant icon for me because of that connection. I was in the stands the night he beat the Yankees on national television 2-1. It was a great experience. :TU: BTW..l still have all my ballcards from when I was 10 years old.
