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off the beaten path wrecking yards? Have they all dried up now?
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Topic: off the beaten path wrecking yards? Have they all dried up now? (Read 19424 times)
Jim Ratto
Hero Member
Posts: 7121
off the beaten path wrecking yards? Have they all dried up now?
«
on:
October 12, 2009, 21:45:57 pm »
Seems 18-20 years ago, I had a decent list of VW wrecking yards I could get to within a few hours. Most were in some pretty backwoods areas, which made the trips to them all the more... fun (?)
Coming back from Yosemite NP yesterday, I noticed one of my old haunts is now a weedpatch.
I'm certain the others have suffered the same fate. Has the internet killed off all the secret stashes? During the late 1980's and early 1990's we put a lot of miles on my '70 Scab Bus searching the corners of Nothern Calif for W-decklids, oval fuel tanks, radio block offs, heart taillights, all kinds of crap. Does anybody remember Coddington north of Clear Lake, CA?
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louisb
Hero Member
Posts: 3274
Runs with Scissors
Re: off the beaten path wrecking yards? Have they all dried up now?
«
Reply #1 on:
October 12, 2009, 21:56:56 pm »
Finding and roaming junkyards, especially old ones, is one of my favorite past times. Unfortunately, with all the law suits, it is almost impossible to find a yard that will actually let you walk around. I have found so many neat project cars int he back of some of these yards. One I knew about was actually owned by the grandfather of a good friend of mine with I was a kid. Years later I went by there and the guy let me go back and walk around. I found a 40 ford and 4 door early 30s Chevy and several 40 - 50's cars and trucks. Few years later I went by again and the place was closed and all the cars were gone. Probably scrapped is my guess.
--louis
«
Last Edit: October 12, 2009, 22:24:34 pm by louisb
»
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Louis Brooks
The Beatings Will Continue Until Moral Improves!
Jim Ratto
Hero Member
Posts: 7121
Re: off the beaten path wrecking yards? Have they all dried up now?
«
Reply #2 on:
October 12, 2009, 22:08:02 pm »
I bet the EPA cracked down too. I bet the soil where these cars rotted away glows in the dark now. The place I mentioned above... the plant life where the heaps used to be looks "off" compared to the surrounding areas.
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danny gabbard
Hero Member
Posts: 2925
gabfab
Re: off the beaten path wrecking yards? Have they all dried up now?
«
Reply #3 on:
October 12, 2009, 22:17:47 pm »
When your talking good sheetmetal, Yes it is drying up. In hisperia CA. There is a place called small car connection, and they always have something cool setting around. And a place called inner state auto wrecking in san deigo county I heard was pretty good. I hate to say it, But the samba in pretty handy sometimes for getting odd stuff or NOS parts. Some stuff is pretty spendy, But when you compare the same part on a new car, Its not so bad for a 40-50 year old part in my opinion.
«
Last Edit: October 13, 2009, 00:37:12 am by danny gabbard
»
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A poor craftsman, Blame's it on poor tools. GAB-FAB shop # 775 246-3069
Jim Ratto
Hero Member
Posts: 7121
Re: off the beaten path wrecking yards? Have they all dried up now?
«
Reply #4 on:
October 12, 2009, 22:24:47 pm »
Quote from: danny gabbard on October 12, 2009, 22:17:47 pm
When your talking good sheetmetal, Yes it is drying up. In hisperia CA. There is a place called small car connection, and they always have something cool setting around. And a place called all state auto wrecking in san deigo county I heard was pretty good. I hate to say it, But the samba in pretty handy sometimes for getting odd stuff or NOS parts. Some stuff is pretty spendy, But when you compare the same part on a new car, Its not so bad for a 40-50 year old part in my opinion.
I like dealing with Chris @ Small Car Connection. Good guy.
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Lee.C
Hero Member
Posts: 6458
I might be an Idiot but I'm not an Arsehole!
Re: off the beaten path wrecking yards? Have they all dried up now?
«
Reply #5 on:
October 12, 2009, 23:44:40 pm »
Quote from: danny gabbard on October 12, 2009, 22:17:47 pm
When your talking good sheetmetal, Yes it is drying up. In hisperia CA. There is a place called small car connection, and they always have something cool setting around. And a place called all state auto wrecking in san deigo county I heard was pretty good. I hate to say it, But the samba in pretty handy sometimes for getting odd stuff or NOS parts. Some stuff is pretty spendy, But when you compare the same part on a new car, Its not so bad for a 40-50 year old part in my opinion.
Have to agree thesamba.com is pretty handy - I often wonder why people complain about prices
Where else are you gonna find this stuff
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You either "Get It" or you don't......
Jim Ratto
Hero Member
Posts: 7121
Re: off the beaten path wrecking yards? Have they all dried up now?
«
Reply #6 on:
October 13, 2009, 00:04:17 am »
Quote from: monkiboy on October 12, 2009, 23:44:40 pm
Quote from: danny gabbard on October 12, 2009, 22:17:47 pm
When your talking good sheetmetal, Yes it is drying up. In hisperia CA. There is a place called small car connection, and they always have something cool setting around. And a place called all state auto wrecking in san deigo county I heard was pretty good. I hate to say it, But the samba in pretty handy sometimes for getting odd stuff or NOS parts. Some stuff is pretty spendy, But when you compare the same part on a new car, Its not so bad for a 40-50 year old part in my opinion.
Have to agree thesamba.com is pretty handy - I often wonder why people complain about prices
Where else are you gonna find this stuff
that may be true, but where's the adventure in clicking a mouse and using paypal? Some of my best memories are from rolling around in the weeds under some black widow infested early Bus trying to fight the front beam out in some hillbillie's wrecking field. In fact one time my buddy and I were driving back after an all day jaunt, to buy Bus parts, we're goign along in my Bus, in Napa, CA and I feel this itch on my belly. I lift my T shirt and find a big old fat blood sucking tick embedded under my skin.... now you can't get that on Samba. Can you?
Logged
louisb
Hero Member
Posts: 3274
Runs with Scissors
Re: off the beaten path wrecking yards? Have they all dried up now?
«
Reply #7 on:
October 13, 2009, 00:12:05 am »
Quote from: monkiboy on October 12, 2009, 23:44:40 pm
Have to agree thesamba.com is pretty handy - I often wonder why people complain about prices
Where else are you gonna find this stuff
Speaking of the samba, answer your dang email.
--louis
Logged
Louis Brooks
The Beatings Will Continue Until Moral Improves!
danny gabbard
Hero Member
Posts: 2925
gabfab
Re: off the beaten path wrecking yards? Have they all dried up now?
«
Reply #8 on:
October 13, 2009, 00:40:23 am »
You guys are right on both accounts, There is nothing better to go out and find some treasure setting some where. And The samba is so fricken easy to find some of the parts that we all seek, When you are limited on time all so often.
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A poor craftsman, Blame's it on poor tools. GAB-FAB shop # 775 246-3069
Lee.C
Hero Member
Posts: 6458
I might be an Idiot but I'm not an Arsehole!
Re: off the beaten path wrecking yards? Have they all dried up now?
«
Reply #9 on:
October 13, 2009, 01:00:58 am »
Quote from: louisb on October 13, 2009, 00:12:05 am
Quote from: monkiboy on October 12, 2009, 23:44:40 pm
Have to agree thesamba.com is pretty handy - I often wonder why people complain about prices
Where else are you gonna find this stuff
Speaking of the samba, answer your dang email.
--louis
sorry
Logged
You either "Get It" or you don't......
lawrence
Hero Member
Posts: 732
Re: off the beaten path wrecking yards? Have they all dried up now?
«
Reply #10 on:
October 13, 2009, 02:47:58 am »
I have never been to an aircooled or VW specific yard, but I always have fun going to pick-your-part. I found some great stuff for my 86 gti and I always got my entrance fee worth by stuffing my pockets full of misc. small parts
Oh, on one trip to pick-your-part my buddy and I stumbled upon a late model that had been involved in a front end collision. It had a complete engine . All he wanted was the cylinder heads so we pulled the engine out and tore it down to a short block on a piece of cardboard in the dirt. We should have taken the entire longblock though because after we got the heads off we noticed that the pistons were brand new. The engine had never been run.
«
Last Edit: October 13, 2009, 02:54:17 am by lawrence
»
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"Happiness is a Hot VW!"
youngnstudly
Full Member
Posts: 160
Re: off the beaten path wrecking yards? Have they all dried up now?
«
Reply #11 on:
October 13, 2009, 06:10:39 am »
Nothing like the feeling of finding that rusty old VW with the rare empi gauges, or steering wheel, or 5 spokes. Everytime I spot something with vintage cal-look parts (at the local mechanic shop, a random parking lot, or swap meet, etc) my heart skips a beat or two. I love that feeling. Especially if you get the opportunity to buy something.
Andy
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There may be rocks, there may be chips, but one things for sure...I drive this bitch!
kafercup
Sr. Member
Posts: 309
Re: off the beaten path wrecking yards? Have they all dried up now?
«
Reply #12 on:
October 14, 2009, 17:13:34 pm »
Quote from: The Other One on October 12, 2009, 21:45:57 pm
Seems 18-20 years ago, I had a decent list of VW wrecking yards I could get to within a few hours. Most were in some pretty backwoods areas, which made the trips to them all the more... fun (?)
Coming back from Yosemite NP yesterday, I noticed one of my old haunts is now a weedpatch.
I'm certain the others have suffered the same fate. Has the internet killed off all the secret stashes? During the late 1980's and early 1990's we put a lot of miles on my '70 Scab Bus searching the corners of Nothern Calif for W-decklids, oval fuel tanks, radio block offs, heart taillights, all kinds of crap. Does anybody remember Coddington north of Clear Lake, CA?
The yard by Yosemite is gone now??? That's sad.....
Logged
Jim Ratto
Hero Member
Posts: 7121
Re: off the beaten path wrecking yards? Have they all dried up now?
«
Reply #13 on:
October 14, 2009, 18:29:52 pm »
yeah nothing there but dust,
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Black Sheep
Hero Member
Posts: 2693
less is more
Re: off the beaten path wrecking yards? Have they all dried up now?
«
Reply #14 on:
October 14, 2009, 19:20:42 pm »
Most of the good yards were killed off over here by heath and safety rule's and the internet . I too had some great memories and top finds in old yards , there are a few still about way off the beaten track .
I must go on a recky and see whats still about .
Logged
Stick with what you know works .
13.03 @ 98mph
louisb
Hero Member
Posts: 3274
Runs with Scissors
Re: off the beaten path wrecking yards? Have they all dried up now?
«
Reply #15 on:
October 14, 2009, 19:29:15 pm »
Any of you like to drive around back roads or industrial areas and look for old cars? That's another thing I like to do, especially if I am in a new area. I just drive aimlessly around looking to see what is poking out of an old barn, shed or woods. Found some really cool cars that way. My wife is always fussing at me for rubbernecking while driving trying to spot some old car.
--louis
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Louis Brooks
The Beatings Will Continue Until Moral Improves!
Jim Ratto
Hero Member
Posts: 7121
Re: off the beaten path wrecking yards? Have they all dried up now?
«
Reply #16 on:
October 14, 2009, 20:40:45 pm »
I'd say 40K of the 77K miles I put on my Fiat X19 in 1990-91 were accumulated doing the same thing.
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.
Hero Member
Posts: 1768
Re: off the beaten path wrecking yards? Have they all dried up now?
«
Reply #17 on:
October 14, 2009, 20:47:41 pm »
There is a very old yard about 2hrs. drive from my house that still has a large number of antique and obscure cars left.
I own a Corvair Greenbriar and a friend mentioned he saw one there that had a lot of rare accessories, so I went to investigate !
The Corvair didn't have as much as I had hoped, but I did find a few trinkets.
While searching for it I found lots of Model T's, Model A's other cars from the 30's that were completely overgrown with foliage, even a Triumph Mayflower of all things.
As hard as I looked, I couldn't find any vintage VW's or Porsches. :-(
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danny gabbard
Hero Member
Posts: 2925
gabfab
Re: off the beaten path wrecking yards? Have they all dried up now?
«
Reply #18 on:
October 14, 2009, 21:15:59 pm »
I love driving around old neiborhoods and commercial properties looking for old treasures. I went and put a note on the door of a house in a town called dayton by my shop two weeks ago for a 58-59 bug convertable. I went back a couple days later, The front gate was chained up. I had my hopes up, It was a original paint and super dry car that the body was setting on saw horses and rolling pan setting next to.
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A poor craftsman, Blame's it on poor tools. GAB-FAB shop # 775 246-3069
Jim Ratto
Hero Member
Posts: 7121
Re: off the beaten path wrecking yards? Have they all dried up now?
«
Reply #19 on:
October 14, 2009, 21:32:29 pm »
anybody ever go see the stash on Bethel Island, near Stockton CA?
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lawrence
Hero Member
Posts: 732
Re: off the beaten path wrecking yards? Have they all dried up now?
«
Reply #20 on:
October 15, 2009, 04:08:49 am »
what the mothball fleet
Seriously though, Jim, what's on Bethel Island. Driving the back way from bugorama across the levy roads and 680 is always fun.
I see some stuff on google maps, but I bet Jim has a tale or two
«
Last Edit: October 15, 2009, 04:23:02 am by lawrence
»
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"Happiness is a Hot VW!"
danny gabbard
Hero Member
Posts: 2925
gabfab
Re: off the beaten path wrecking yards? Have they all dried up now?
«
Reply #21 on:
October 15, 2009, 04:20:51 am »
what-cha got there on bethel island JIM ??
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A poor craftsman, Blame's it on poor tools. GAB-FAB shop # 775 246-3069
javabug
Hero Member
Posts: 2103
WHAT'S UP WID DA BOOM BOOM???
Re: off the beaten path wrecking yards? Have they all dried up now?
«
Reply #22 on:
October 15, 2009, 13:05:41 pm »
I was searching bing maps on Bethel Island and saw some junkyards, but it was mostly boats.
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Mike H.
Sven was right.
Lee.C
Hero Member
Posts: 6458
I might be an Idiot but I'm not an Arsehole!
Re: off the beaten path wrecking yards? Have they all dried up now?
«
Reply #23 on:
October 15, 2009, 13:42:16 pm »
"While searching for it I found lots of Model T's, Model A's "
Now thats my kinda place
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You either "Get It" or you don't......
deano
Hero Member
Posts: 1851
Re: off the beaten path wrecking yards? Have they all dried up now?
«
Reply #24 on:
October 15, 2009, 16:16:29 pm »
Don't forget Interstate VWs in Lake Elsinore, CA. All VWs, all the time. Been around for years.
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Hot VWs Magazine Window Washer
Anglia Obsolete Guru
'67 Heaven
volksnut
Full Member
Posts: 189
Re: off the beaten path wrecking yards? Have they all dried up now?
«
Reply #25 on:
October 15, 2009, 19:36:15 pm »
When I lived in North Carolina I found a local yard in the sticks called "Town & Country" had lots and lots of old cars, lots of corvair vans, turbo convert vair too....Oh and saw a 58 ghia on top of a heap of cars...tons of stuff.
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speedwell
Hero Member
Posts: 14718
the archivist
Re: off the beaten path wrecking yards? Have they all dried up now?
«
Reply #26 on:
October 15, 2009, 19:57:52 pm »
junkyard
....what do you think about this one
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http://speedwell55.skynetblogs.be/
oldspeed 61 standard empi/speedwell
speedwell
Hero Member
Posts: 14718
the archivist
Re: off the beaten path wrecking yards? Have they all dried up now?
«
Reply #27 on:
October 15, 2009, 20:58:50 pm »
found this in my old vw mag
vw junkyard in socal
may be some of you are remembering this old place
still exist today ?? the report was in april 89
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http://speedwell55.skynetblogs.be/
oldspeed 61 standard empi/speedwell
speedwell
Hero Member
Posts: 14718
the archivist
Re: off the beaten path wrecking yards? Have they all dried up now?
«
Reply #28 on:
October 15, 2009, 21:00:26 pm »
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http://speedwell55.skynetblogs.be/
oldspeed 61 standard empi/speedwell
speedwell
Hero Member
Posts: 14718
the archivist
Re: off the beaten path wrecking yards? Have they all dried up now?
«
Reply #29 on:
October 15, 2009, 21:08:29 pm »
another report from another socal junkyard "durgin cars & parts" at bellflower
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http://speedwell55.skynetblogs.be/
oldspeed 61 standard empi/speedwell
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