Junkyard Life: Classic Cars, Muscle Cars, Barn finds, Hot rods and part news

Cars in Yards: 1968 Mustang 2+2 Fastback, "Bullitt" beauty is a one-owner (video, photos)

2012-05-31T12:25:00.000-05:00

No looking back on this one-owner 1968 Mustang 2+2 fastback. Janice T. was 22 years old when a Presidential Blue 1968 Mustang 2+2 became her first new car. She traded in her red on white 1963 Buick Skylark convertible on the day she grabbed this pony car’s $3,200 payment book. Her 'Stang was a stunner back in the day and still stops people in their tracks wanting to buy it. "You can look, but it will never be for sale." Let's take a look.

Carroll Shelby designed the fastback Mustang to compete in the marketplace with Corvette buyers.

Fastback fever
Walk around this parked pony car just one time and the urge to own a 2+2 Mustang is overwhelming. This car has a menacing stance, like it's ready to pounce. I’ve never owned a Mustang and now I know that I should, and will own an early fastback. I don’t even mind the subtle signs of rust from years of weathering storms unsheltered.
The fastback's light blue interior is in great shape and holds a surprise bigger than that set original 1968 hubcaps in the back seat. Janice wheeled her Mustang 2+2 from a bench seat!

Bench seat fastback
Bench seats are an oddity on early Fastback Mustangs. Ford built just 1,335 Mustangs Fastback with the front bench seat option for 1968. A small number (less than 0.5%) when you consider 317,404 Mustangs were manufactured by Ford that year. Janice's Fastback is a 63C code bodystyle. 1-of-1,079. Here is a breakdown for the numbers nuts:

1-of-1,335 Mustang Fastback 2+2s equipped with bench seat in 1968

63C 2dr Fastback, bench seats: 1,079
63D 2dr Fastback Deluxe, bench seats: 256

1967-1968 Mustang 2+2s gained legendary status due to the high speed heroics that unfolded onscreen in the 1968 movie "Bullitt."

Trim tag on the door jam of this 1968 Mustang.

Trim tag breakdown
Warranty Number: 8F02C195185
Vehicle Data-
Body: 63C 2+2 Fastback, Standard Bench
Color: X Presidential Blue Metallic
Trim: 8B Lt. Blue Crinkle Vinyl and Dk. Blue Knitted Vinyl, Bench Seat, Standard Interior
Date: 16E May 16, 1968
D.S.O: 21 Atlanta
Axle: 2 2.79:1, Conventional
Trans: W C4 Automatic
Year: 8 1968
Plant: F Dearborn, MI
Body Series: 02 2+2 Fastback
Engine: C 289 2v V8
Unit: 195185
Source: mustangdecoder.com

1968 was the first year for the script 'Mustang' emblem on the fender. This one is equipped with a 289-V8.

1968 Ford Mustang production

Body Code Body Style # Built

01 65A Hardtop 233,472

01 65B Hardtop, Deluxe 9,009

01 65C Hardtop, Bench Seat 6,113

01 65D Hardtop, Deluxe, Bench Seat 853

02 63A Fastback 33,585

02 63B Fastback, Deluxe 7,661

02 63C Fastback, Bench Seat 1,079

02 63D Fastback, Deluxe Bench 256

03 76A Convertible 19,224

03 76B Convertible, Deluxe 3,573

03 76C Convertible, Bench Seat 2,579
Other Mustang links
How to "Bullitt" your Mustang is a good reference site for building a replica of the Fastback Steve McQueen thrashed in "Bullitt." You will learn that McQueen ditched the stock steering wheel for a 1967 Shelby Mustang wood wheel wrapped in black leather.

– Jody Potter, junkyardlife.com

The sweeping lines of the 1967-1968 Mustang 2+2 fastbacks gained fame in the movie "Bullitt."

Ford made few changes to the 1968 model Mustangs. The 'FORD' letters were eliminated from the edge of the hood.

The original 1968 Alabama license plate adorns the front of Janice's fastback Mustang.

Know of a junkyard I need to visit or want to send me photos and info about a car or junkyard? Send emails to junkyardbull@gmail.com.

Ron’s Colorful Firebird Request: We Need Your Pontiac Skybird, Redbird, Yellowbird Stories!

2012-05-23T00:15:00.001-05:00

Pontiac Skybird or Sky Bird? Either way its Lombard Blue code 21.

Show us your Pontiac Skybirds, Redbirds and Yellowbirds. The Firebird Esprit was the nicer side of sporty transportation. That why this story is dedicated to them. More specifically the other Firebird Esprits that received the sporty appearance package. The Skybird, the Redbird and the Yellowbird. These were the infusion of color Pontiac splashed on the Firebird buying public between 1977 and 1980.

Photo courtesy 78TA.com

1977-1978 Skybirds

The Skybird, born mid year 1977 and produced halfway through 1978. This car was a strange color blue, code 21 (something between “sky” and “baby”) with color keyed Snowflake wheels, grills and interior

1979 Pontiac Redbird ad targets the ladies.

1978-1979 Red Bird sail panel decal.

1978-1979 Redbirds
The Redbird (my personal favorite) appeared the second half of 1978 and the entire production year of 1979. It was Roman Red (code 72) with red Snowflake wheels and other red necessities with a hint of gold to wink at you.

Yellow accents highlight the tail light ribs on 1980 Pontiac Yellow Birds.

1980 Yellowbird
The Yellowbird, although available the entire year in 1980, seems to be the most elusive. It had a unique shade of yellow (code 56) I have never even seen one in person and believe me, I look.

1980 Pontiac Yellow Bird sail panel decal.

All show, comfort
These cars were not the cheapest Firebirds on the books. They usually had a lot of comfort and power options to drive the window sticker into shock. I have seen them with manual windows and vinyl interior, but more often than not, they were decked out well with velour seats, tilt wheel, air conditioning, cruise control and more.

1979 Pontiac Red Bird.

Underpowered performance

They seemingly had it all. Almost. There was one thing these cars were not known for. Ground pounding performance was out of the question. The fastest Skybird would have to be the 1977 when optioned with the Pontiac 350. After that they were mostly powered by Chevrolet 305s and occasionally a 350. Then in 1979 the fastest Redbird Esprit you could buy had a Pontiac 301. They could also be had with a Chevrolet 305 or a V6. Things only got worse under the hood for the 1980 Yellowbird. Most were V6 powered and if you were lucky, the 301 could be found. What was wrong with Pontiac? Why were they building a bunch of girly cars? Actually, that’s it exactly. The Firebird Esprit appearance packages were actually made for a female demographic.
I know there were and are several exceptions, but its mostly true that whatever is between the fenders is less important to a woman than other factors like fuel mileage and curb appeal. Instead of the famous Phoenix bird, these cars were adorned with something resembling a dove with some groovy 1970’s pinstripes around it. Men were not drawn to these cars and today there are few left. Disclaimer: I am not saying that because women bought them and destroyed them they are hard to find today. There were not that many to begin with and marketed towards a small part of the new car buying public; it only makes sense there are not many left. So I need your stories. Any memory involving someone you knew or like my story below, knew of. Anything is great and I will be thankful to read it.

Photo courtesy barrett-jackson.com
1977 Pontiac Skybird

Ron’s Skybird story

My story was told to me by a gentleman who grew up in a small northeast Alabama town. The daughter of a bigwig (maybe even the owner) at the local Pontiac dealership was pumped up and excited! She had placed an order for a new Skybird! She found herself having to explain again and again to the crowd of young people at the local hang-outs. No one knew what a Skybird was. Well, one was on the way and it was hers.

One night she arrived in a brand spanking new 1978 Trans Am. It wasn’t even blue, but it did have a bird on the hood. “Is this a Skybird?” she was asked. “No,” she sadly replied. “We couldn’t get one.” There was some issue with availability and she had to “settle” for a new Trans Am. Poor girl.

My guess is this was mid-year 1978 and the production of the new Redbird phased out the Skybird package and it was too late to get one. That was the last time that gentleman heard the word “Skybird” until he walked in my office one day and overheard a conversation I was having about one.

1980 Pontiac Yellowbird

Sky Birds, Red Birds and Yellow Birds featured a darker shade of the primary paint color along the rocker panels.

Now we need yours!

So what is your Skybird, Redbird, Yellowbird story? I must know! I need your “My Aunt Mable thought it was a nice blue color” stories. I must have your encounters with “that weird red color Firebird”. I need to know how, when and where you somehow crossed paths with that “girly looking” yellow car.

Email me at Kidd403@bellsouth.net and let me know your stories! And if you have pictures… I shouldn’t even have to say it.

Thanks and happy hunting!

Ron Kidd, junkyardlife

Know of a junkyard I need to visit or want to send me photos and info about a car or junkyard? Send emails to junkyardbull@gmail.com.

1978 Pontiac Skybird

2012 Bandit Run: Texarkana to Atlanta route celebrates 35 years of "Smokey and the Bandit," black and gold Pontiac Trans ams

2012-05-16T11:20:00.000-05:00

Black and gold Pontiac Trans Ams unite for the 2012 Bandit Run.

Just watch ol’ Bandit run as "Smokey and the Bandit" fans retrace movie route in 2012 edition of Trans Am road show. This week nearly 250 participants and over 100 cars have signed up to participate in the sixth edition of The Bandit Run. This year the annual event celebrates the 35th anniversary of the original "Bandit" movie and the car that became an international star, a 1977 Pontiac Trans Am. All makes and models, not just Trans Ams, were invited to join the tour, sponsored by Restore a Muscle Car and YearOne. The event kicked off on May 12 in Texarkana, Arkansas and ends in Braselton, Georgia on May 18 at YearOne. The Trans Am convoy has been known to enjoy triple digit highway speeds along the way to pit stops for food, sightseeing, music and track time in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.

The 2012 Bandit Run travels through Birmingham, Alabama on Thursday.

Cars and characters

The "Smokey and the Bandit" movie was a hit because it was fast, fun and filled with snappy one-liners by a cast of memorable characters. Who can forget Burt Reynolds, as Bo Darville, a.k.a. the "Bandit," at his gear jamming best in his red shirt, cowboy hat and devil-may-care attitude? Or Sally Field, as Carrie, a.k.a. "Frog," at her lovable best shedding her wedding dress in the black and gold Pontiac T/A Special Edition? Jerry Reed hauled the Coors beer as "Snowman" and Jackie Gleason gave his most memorable, over-the-top performance as sheriff Buford T. Justice. The movie and the car became phenomenal success stories. A record number of Pontiac Trans Ams were sold and the movie grossed over $126 million.

Black and gold birds
The original "Bandit" film ignited a Firebird buying frenzy when the film was released on Friday May 27, 1977. Pontiac dealerships were full Saturday morning as "Bandit" wannabes lined up to order their T/As. Many of the cars on the tour are meticulously restored or low-mile originals painted black with gold striping. These are Special Edition Trans Ams (or replicas), similar to the 1977-1981 Pontiacs used in the first two "Smokey and the Bandit" movies. Legions of fans still love the car and the movie. The pedal is to the metal on how far the "Bandit" phenomenon can run.

– Jody Potter, junkyardlife.com

Know of a junkyard I need to visit or want to send me photos and info about a car or junkyard? Send emails to junkyardbull@gmail.com.

A 1977 Pontiac Trans Am Special Edition at the 2007 Bandit Run.

Just like "Smokey and the Bandit," this 1977 Pontiac Trans Am wears a Georgia flag tag on the Bandit Run.

A 1979 Pontiac Trans Am WS6 sports the Y84 Special Edition decals on The Bandit Run.

Black and gold Pontiac Trans Ams get the most attention on The Bandit Run.

A row of black Pontiac Trans Ams and a 1969 Dodge Charger were on hand at the 2007 Birmingham stop of The Bandit Run.

Third Generation (1983-1992) Pontiac Trans Ams join the fun at The Bandit Run.

A Fourth Generation Ram Air Pontiac Trans Am, left, at The Bandit Run.

Look for the differences between Year One's Burt Reynold's Edition (BRE) Pontiac Trans Am, left, and the stock T/A.

Check out the projector beam headlights on Year One's Burt Reynold's Edition (BRE) Pontiac Trans Am.

2007 Bandit Run participants gathered at The Redmont Hotel in Birmingham.

Pontiac Trans Am and "Smokey and the Bandit" fans unite at the 2007 Bandit Run.

Year One brought their Ban II Pontiac Trans Am on the 2007 Bandit Run.

Year One's custom Ban II Pontiac Trans Am has a 550 hp engine.

W84 Special Edition 1977 Pontiac Trans Ams included gold decals, striping and unique gold highlights inside and out.

Pontiac Trans Am pit stop for repairs during downtime on the 2007 Bandit Run from Texarkana.

Year One's Burt Reynold's Edition (BRE) Pontiac Trans Am listed for more than $120,000 when it was released in 2007.

Know of a junkyard I need to visit or want to send me photos and info about a car or junkyard? Send emails to junkyardbull@gmail.com.

Junkyard tour: Junkyard jalopy hauls parts, tools as road warrior of the salvage yard

2012-05-13T23:26:00.001-05:00

Wrecked but still runs. Few cars hold the title as the toughest, battle-scarred S.O.B.s known as the junkyard parts wagon. Not much value to anyone but the junkyard man. These unloved, worthless war horses are invaluable at lugging tools and parts without breaking the backs of the dirty, sweaty men and women who work in the yard. Only the doggiest beasts make the cut. Mercedes, BMW, Lexus need not apply. Busted body panels and engines belching smoke are a requirement. Cheap, ugly and willing for abuse. Like a bad date and perfect for navigating a maze of salvage cars and cavernous potholes in a junkyard.

Rewarding ride
Junkyard work is hard. Pulling parts, hands bathed in grease, and bloodied. A thankless job that comes with the small reward of driving the junkyard jalopy. “Yeeeehaawww!,” belted out “Dukes of Hazzard” style. Tires spin, kicking rocks across the oil-blackened dirt. A parts puller speeds away on another mission into the mosquito-infested bone yard wearing a crooked grin. “Back in a jiffy!”

Bumper, doors and headlights removed or destroyed on this junkyard jalopy.

1996 Buick Regal serves junkyard duty at Jefferson County Auto Parts in Alabama.

A car no one would steal
Form follows function these doomsday machines. No doors, no problem. Desired parts are pulled from the junkyard jalopy and sold as necessary. Some body panels are yanked because they have no use. Doors? Optional. Rear glass? Broken intentionally to make grabbing tools and hauling parts easier. Trunk lid? Really, you had to ask? A car transforms into a Car-Camino without a deck lid. Perfect for hauling a Turbo 350 transmission and torque converter.
The battery is the most valuable remaining part on these mutilated cars. You will find the keys in the ignition, unless the steering column is jacked up and the jalopy cranks with a screw driver. Jump in and go. Junkyard life continues for these cars as long as the junkyard man wants to keep them running. He has all the parts after all.

– Jody Potter, junkyardlife.com

"Pony Machine" scrawled on this junkyard beast of burden.

Know of a junkyard I need to visit or want to send me photos and info about a car or junkyard? Send emails to junkyardbull@gmail.com.

Cars in Yards: 1974 Chevrolet Monte Carlo

2012-05-08T23:03:00.001-05:00

“Why didn’t we think of that?” moments with a 1974 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. I imagine the designers and engineers in the Pontiac Division of GM were not happy in 1969 when they heard the name of Chevrolet’s new model on the personal luxury platform. “Monte Carlo” would soon be introduced as the new kid in Chevrolet’s 1970 models. The very name fit Pontiac’s image to perfection. I can imagine Pontiac designers snapping their pencils in two pieces, in fits of anger. Monte Carlo was not only a classy upscale place (not unlike the expensive places Pontiac placed their cars in ads), but it was also a race. Pontiac loved to name models and trim levels after races. “Why didn’t we think of that?”

This photo does not do justice to the incredible swivel seats. The flip of a lever actually turned the seat 90-degrees to allow the driver or passenger to sit down without “climbing” in. This shot does show the power window and lock options.

This brochure photo for 1973 Monte Carlos gives a better idea of the Swivel Buckets. Notice the ad color was green. Green was still popular in 1974, although it was on the downhill slide. By 1980, green was associated with grandmothers and bridge players. I would have bought it!

Plush and powerful
Personal Luxury was the craze. Pontiac’s Grand Prix led the way in 1969 for the taste of a two door model that ran like a muscle car and felt like a larger car. Chevrolet answered the call with the 1970 Monte Carlo. You could have had a V8, and you certainly did, you power hungry consumer, you. A six cylinder was not an option. Don’t even ask. A couple of 350 C.I.D’s , a 400 small block, a 402, and a couple of 454s were on the option list, including an LS6 450-horsepower ground pounder in the Super Sport models. Wearing small SS454 badges, it was discreet and dangerous.

Our first surprise was a near perfect set of 1970 Camaro Z28 wheels on this Monte. Although they did not come on this car from the beginning, they still add a muscular stance to an already good looking car. Any chance of the Camaro still hanging around? Maybe its wearing the Monte Carlo’s wheels.

Monte Carlo redesigned for 1973
Chevy produced the first generation Monte Carlo from 1970-1972, giving way to a major redesign in 1973. The first of GM’s new “Colonnade” body style didn’t really go over well at first. They were slower and heavier than their older brothers due to government mandated safety standards. Also, rising insurance rates and fuel costs were attempting to kill the muscle car. We still love them, so when The Junkyard Life guys spotted this 1974 Monte Carlo we had to investigate! Was it a 454? It wasn’t, but still we hit Junkyard Green Gold on this one! Ironically, that was actually a color option for 1973-74 Monte Carlos. This baby was decked out too! It had seemingly everything, including the way cool-way limited-way hard to find swivel bucket seats! In green even. Pause to take recovering breath here, you weird forgotten option fans, like us.! It was also packing tilt wheel, cruise control, power windows, air conditioning power locks and originally had a Landau top. Lucky for us Junkyard Life guys, someone ripped it off years ago prolonging the cars life due to the rust vinyl tops promote. Another forgotten weird option was the “Sky Roof” –the predecessor to the sun roof. In a Monte Carlo? Yes! It was in the brochure!

Sky roof baby! GM touted it in their 1973 brochures.

Our first glance from the rear hinted this car was special. Good hint!

How many 1974 Monte Carlos were built?
Selling 312,217 Monte Carlos in two trim levels, the S Coupe and the Landau, one would incorrectly assume we would see more of these. We don’t. We wish. Can this one be ours? We wish that too!

Happy Hunting – Ron Kidd, junkyardlife.com

Dear Prudence, what have you become? The swoopy lines of the 1974 Monte Carlo look great when accented with the thin pin stripe following the body lines. My family had two of these along the way, including one that was Hugger Orange with Rally Wheels – the same wheel I suspect this car was wearing in its younger years.

I (Ron) point out the rear taillights and classy Monte Carlo emblem. This was right before Jody and I hit the dirt to look for other goodies like the optional Posi-traction rear end and rear sway bar (inconclusive). Speaking of which, in 1972 John Delorean was finishing his run as a GM executive and ordered the 1973 Monte Carlo to have a world class handling package. It was to “have the cornering abilities of its European counterparts” as Chevrolet claimed in their brochures.

This Monte Carlo wears a replacement header panel from a white donor car.

Last look at the nearly 40-year-old swivel seat design in the ’74 Monte Carlo.

Know of a junkyard I need to visit or want to send me photos and info about a car or junkyard? Send emails to junkyardbull@gmail.com.

Hunting project car parts leads to rare “X” Code 1972 Pontiac Trans Am in Sweden

2012-05-01T09:23:00.001-05:00

Thomas Rosenborg with his 1972 “X” Code Trans Am in Sweden.

Searching Sweden for Pontiac parts leads to discovery of rare 1972 Trans Am used for smuggling drugs. A few weeks ago Sweden’s Thomas Rosenborg found a classified ad listing early 1970s Trans Am parts. “I wondered, if there are so many parts, what happened to the car?,” said Rosenborg. Several hundred miles from home, Rosenborg bought the parts and began the chase for the Trans Am to which they belonged.

Parts, no car
“I ended up meeting, Raimo, a guy that had seen better days and probably a lot of booze,” said Rosenborg. “Raimo told me the story of his life and that he was still the registered owner of the Trans Am, but he didn’t know where the car was!”

1972 Pontiac Trans Am “X” Code found in Sweden.

Drugs, stolen engines
During a 5-hour chat, the owner revealed the T/A’s sordid past and that it was indeed a 4-speed “X” Code car. The ’72 T/A had been on a bumpy ride through Sweden even before he purchased it in 1976.
In 1975, the Trans Am arrived in Sweden, 4,300 miles from the Norwood, Ohio assembly plant where it was built. Resourceful drug smugglers believed the Trans Am would the ideal for transporting their goods. Illegal drugs had been packed inside the inner roof of the T/A before it crossed the border. More criminal activity followed the Pontiac in Sweden. The car was soon stolen and the 455 H.O. engine disappeared. Another owner installed a 455 Super Duty engine which also was stolen.
The car changed hands several times within a year. Raimo was the fourth owner to hold the title to the T/A by 1976. He had stripped most of the remaining parts off the car when he eventually lost track of the shell in 2006. Rosenborg left a contact number with the Raimo because he was still interested in tracking down what was left of the rare Pontiac.

Trans Am hunt begins
Rosenborg loaded the T/A parts and went home. A few days later he received a phone call from the parts seller. Raimo had dug up a phone number. It was a contact for a woman who owned the barn where the T/A was last seen around 2006. Now Rosenborg had a lead.

Too many dead ends
The Trans Am was moved around Sweden without legally changing ownership from Raimo. “I gave it to a neighbor,” the woman, who answered the phone, told Rosenborg.
Rosenborg found and phoned the neighbor. “I gave it to a panel beater (body man),” said the neighbor.
“I was really pissed,” said Rosenborg. The trail to the Trans Am was full of dead ends. Rosenborg called the panel beater. “He told me he gave it to a friend,” said Rosenborg. Undeterred, Rosenborg tracked the friend down and phoned this “friend.”
The panel beater’s friend tried to brush Rosenborg’s attempts at locating it aside. “I’ve got the car, but it’s nothing to have, no fenders, no instrumentation, no rear axle,” the friend said.
Rosenborg had found the car but he had to push hard get it.
“The car is not yours,” Roseborg said. “I’ll call the police if you don’t give it to me.”
“Come and get it,” said the panel beater’s friend.

Thomas Rosenborg, right, shakes hands with Raimo, the former owner of the ’72 Trans Am as it begins to rain.

Not so fast ...
The same day Rosenborg was to begin a 450-mile trek to pick the Trans Am up, the father of the panel beater’s friend called and he was not happy. “You are not allowed to pick up the car without bringing the previous owner and his ID,” said the father. “No problem,” said Rosenborg. Raimo accompanied Rosenborg to rescue the car. A front end loader was used to lift the Trans Am and move it to Rosenborg’s trailer.

Sixth owner
Raimo was paid $1,750 USD for the Trans Am including almost all of the removed parts except the engine. Rosenborg is still tracking the original Muncie 4-speed transmission which makes the “X” Code so special.
All 1972 Trans Ams were packing 455-cu. inch H.O. engines but the one Rosenborg purchased was one-of 458 built with the M22 Rock Crusher close ratio 4-speed manual transmission. A “WM” or “WD” was stamped into the block on “X” Code T/As during the strike-shortened ’72 production year.

“X” Code Pontiac project home at last
Rosenborg hauled the ’72 Trans Am 450 miles home. He arrived at 3 a.m. and parked his trailer loaded with the rusty T/A shell on the street in front of his house. The next morning his neighbor summarized the situation.
“Thomas, I know you have a diagnose (sickness), but I didn’t know it was this bad.”

– Jody Potter, junkyardlife.com

Rosenborg inspects his latest Pontiac purchase.

The rare 1972 Trans Am is loaded onto trailer a for 450-mile ride to its new home in Sweden.

Know of a junkyard I need to visit or want to send me photos and info about a car or junkyard? Send emails to junkyardbull@gmail.com.

How to sell a 1972 Chevrolet C10 on Craigslist

2012-04-22T21:59:00.001-05:00

Sell your old car or truck online. I sold my 1972 Chevrolet C10, using the internet, to a buyer in Pennsylvania. Call me a skeptic, but it sounded odd that someone 800 miles away would buy my old truck without seeing it in person. I placed an ad on craigslist and in The Birmingham News classifieds. Part of the News' package included placing my ad on al.com. It was just my luck that a lady in Pennsylvania called me up wanting photos of the truck. She was surfing the web for a good deal on a 1972 C10 to buy for her husband. This prospective buyer was eager and willing to go the extra mile to purchase the truck. My scam-alert went off. She offered to mail a credit card check right away. I worried that I could be arrested for cashing this possible bogus check.

Medium Green 1972 Chevy C10 truck LWB. (Long wheelbase)

What to do?
I asked friends and family for advice. They reassured me PayPal was the answer. For novices like myself, PayPal is owned by Ebay, the online auction giant. Setting up a PayPal account lets any individual or business with an email address to securely, easily and quickly send and receive payments online. My buyer said 'no, problem, I can do PayPal'. Whew, after several days, the PayPal money is in my bank! PayPal transactions can take 3-5 business days before they are cleared and moved to your bank account. Be ready to deal with this delay. You don't want to mail a title out to a buyer until their money has cleared.

Almost sold
A dozen emails and a few letters containing the Bill of Sale and miscellaneous paperwork were mailed and returned. All that was left to do now, was wait for a transport company to pick up the truck.

Dan Stephens with Quality Transport readies truck for haul to Pennsylvania.

Going, going, gone
Delay number one - Trucking company lost the key to the back door of their truck, would not make it out that day. Delay number two - same trucking company got lost the next day, then their truck broke down on the way to my house. A different transport company was called to take the job. A friendly, pierced and tattooed fellow with Quality Transport and Leasing arrived to usher the green truck to Pennsylvania. So long, Chevy. I miss you already.

Chevy orange paint dressed up the 307-cu. inch V8 engine.

Why did I sell it?
I'm a car guy. I love to buy older vehicles, work on them and and make them run better. Trouble is, I just had vehicle number eight towed home recently. Something had to go. I had spent a little time and money rehabbing the somewhat tired old truck. A new gas tank and a carburetor rebuild joined my growing tab of C-10 expenses. New spark plugs, wires, points and condenser and the 307 engine purred like a sewing machine.

The trouble was actually driving the '72 Chevy because it had the road manners of the S.S. Minnow. Constantly correcting the direction I steered the truck as it wallowed down the road with 40-year-old manual steering and brake components. The old truck's shortcomings outweighed the dollar amount I deemed worthy to fix them.

A good wash and the '72 Chevy looks slick, even without the camper top.

Basic green on green, 3-speed column shift, C10 Chevy truck.

No local buyers
It was a love it or hate it thing for buyers who responded locally to the ad. They loved the look of the '72, but wanted the short-wheelbase variety. Luckily for me the internet opened up my truck to a world of possible buyers. The buyer was a woman who wanted to surprise her husband with a gift.

An 800-mile trip from Alabama to Pennsylvania awaits the 1972 Chevy C10.

Buyer, seller beware!
My story ended successfully but that doesn't mean I should let my guard down. There are plenty scam artist waiting to take your money or your car. Be very careful, do your research and expect the unexpected.
Go the extra step to make sure your not being scammed. It is best to keep the conversation ongoing with the buyer or seller. Ask too many questions. Do you have their home phone number and address? A face-to-face meeting on skype may bring the trust level up for both parties. Also, do not rush a payment out just to get a good deal.

My mother-in-law offered to buy lunch if my online buyer turned out to be legit. I'm hungry.

– Jody Potter, junkyardlife.com

Know of a junkyard I need to visit or want to send me photos and info about a car or junkyard? Send emails to junkyardbull@gmail.com.

105k showing on the 1972 Chevy's odometer.

No luck locally selling the '72 Chevy on the highway.

1967-72 Chevy trucks have a huge following. I may have to find another one soon.

Cars in Yards: 1956 Chevrolet 210, a poison ivy covered project car abandoned in field since 1971

2012-04-16T10:12:00.000-05:00

Itching for a 1956 Chevy project? This Pinecrest Green Chevrolet 210 was found buried in a poison ivy patch in Minnesota. Risking an itchy rash, Joe Marano, of Ham Lake, Minn., hauled the complete but rusty, two-door Tri-Five off the original owner's property last summer. The green machine endured 40 years of Minnesota’s brutally cold, snowy winters without shelter. Marano rescued the '56 Chevy and your green with envy. Am I right?

This 1956 Chevy had been parked in a field in Minnesota since 1971.

History - how the 1956 Chevy got there

Marano learned from one of the original owner's sons that the car was purchased new in 1956. "His son told me his dad bought it off the factory line in 1956," Marano said. The Chevy was equipped with an inline 6 cylinder and manual three-speed transmission. The 2-door Chevrolet served duty for 15 years as the family car and was handed down for his sons to drive. "In 1971, the brother of the guy I bought it from, drove it out into a field," said Marano, "and just turned off the key." The very spot where Marano found it covered in poison ivy. "What a time capsule! To bad they didn't park it in the barn instead of the field," Marano said.

Tri-Five Chevys are notorious for rust around the headlight eyebrow.

Restoration started?

Marano traded the 1956 Chevy to a friend for a 1976 Dodge D100 pick-up truck and a scrap truck. "My friend is going to build a rat rod or restore it," Marano said. "So, it's not going to get crushed."

Original Chevy 235 cubic-inch inline six cylinder engine rest under the ’56's hood.

Steering wheel and horn ring intact on this three-on-the-tree Chevy.

More than 200,000 Series 210 2-door post Chevys were built for 1956.

Joe Marano rescued this weathered, original ’56 Chevy.

More from Minnesota
Joe Marano has loaded me up with junkyard photos. So, expect more from this gear head, car crafter who found his own barn find 1969 Dodge Charger. Marano is chasing his dream, combining a business with his passion for old cars in Minnesota. If you need his services at Junkers Towed by Joe, you can reach him at mnmusclecarguy@hotmail.com.

– Jody Potter, junkyardlife.com

Know of a junkyard I need to visit or want to send me photos and info about a car or junkyard? Send emails to junkyardbull@gmail.com.

Original ’56 Pinecrest Green paint clings to the poison ivy covered Chevy.

Fuel filler cap is hidden behind driver's side tail light on ’56 models.

Marano took these winter photos 2 years before he bought the '56 Chevy.

What you find on a typical 5-degree hike in the woods of Minnesota.

Junkyard find: 1973 Pontiac Grand Prix SJ 455, 1974 Model J 400 hit end of road as parts cars

2012-04-13T01:00:00.000-05:00

Not-so-grand exit for two of Pontiacs finest, 1973-1974 Grand Prixs. Foley, Alabama's Brian B. stumbled upon these soon-to-be recycled Pontiac Grand Prixs at Pull-A-Part in Montomery. Looking more demolition derby, rather than the mix of luxury and performance that was a staple of the Grand Prix line-up. Restyled 1973 GPs rolled off the assembly line with stylish sheetmetal, an angled cockpit appointed with real African crossfire mahogany and the largest engine Pontiac ever produced. The ability to withstand nearly four decades as a battering ram was never a selling point. It no doubt would have boosted the impressive total of 153,899 Grand Prixs built in 1973. Of those 133,150 were standard Model Js with the 400 four-barrel. Only 9,812 savvy buyers opted for the rare SJ model. Let's dig deeper.

Smaller but larger?

The '73 Grand Prixs decreased their wheelbase to 112-inches from 116-inches but gained 3 inches in overall length to 216.6-inches. Try parallel parking one of these beast downtown. No wonder the body panels were beat to heck. Did I just crush a hybrid?

1973 Pontiac SJ "455 cu. in." engine, see top left corner of emission decal.

Junkyard 1973 Pontiac Grand Prix. Note the distinctive '73 tail lights.

Pull it before its gone

Grab your tools and run if you see Grand Prix parts you need. These two Grand Prixs are still on the yard in Montgomery as I write this. 1973-1977 models are difficult to find. Many of these colonnade-style GM models have already been scrapped over the years because of the 4,400-pound curb weight on some loaded examples. High gas prices will continue to send many more of these to the car crusher. That's a double edge sword for Grand Prix fans. These cars and parts will be more expensive in years to come. Good news if you have a GP in decent shape, bad news if you want to buy or restore one.

Junkyard 1974 Pontiac Grand Prix Model J. One-of-99,817 total GPs built in '74.

1974 Grand Prixs had simulated woodgrain decals on the dash. Wraparound cockpit is too cool.

– Jody Potter, junkyardlife.com

Know of a junkyard I need to visit or want to send me photos and info about a junkyard or cool car? Send emails to junkyardbull@gmail.com.

Junkyard tour: Gibbs Salvage in Ridgeville, Alabama a family-owned junkyard for 40 years

2012-04-05T14:10:00.000-05:00

Bo Gibbs’ place. Forty years ago a junkyard was built on the rugged, hardscrabble hills of northeast Alabama. Bo Gibbs returned from the Vietnam War and found a business in old cars. “Bo started working on cars in 1969 after he got out of the service,” said his daughter, Raquel. “He bought his first parts car for $35. He received so many requests for parts off that one car that he decided he needed to start a business.”
In 1972, Bo opened what would one of the largest African-American owned junkyards in the Southeastern United States, Gibbs Brothers Salvage, with his brothers Charles and Kenny.

Entance to Gibbs Salvage in Ridgeville, Alabama.

1958 Mercury Medalist has been at Gibbs Salvage for years.

Family matters
In 1986, Bo changed the name to Gibbs Salvage when his children were old enough to work at the yard. Bo's daughter, Raquel, and four sons, Kevin, Rodney, Jamie and Alan have all worked at the yard throughout the years. Bo continued to build the salvage yard near Attalla into a successful, family business while holding down a job at Gulf State Steel. Bo continued to work at the salvage yard until he passed away on January 2, 2007.

Bring your hiking shoes and a lunch if your going to Gibbs Salvage in Alabama.

Future of Gibbs Salvage?
Bo Gibbs’ family struggles to keep their father’s legacy alive. Health issues and money woes make operating the large salvage yard almost impossible without Bo's expertise. A recent run-in with a rogue, scrap dealer did not help matters. The scrapper brought a mobile car crusher onto the Gibbs' property. Dozens of cars were crushed and hauled away and sold for scrap but the Gibbs’ were not paid their part of the money. Losing cars is like losing money and there is not enough to go around. Their advertising budget is nonexistent. Most customers find the place by word of mouth. Gibbs' hard-earned reputation may be their saving grace. Bo Gibbs’ place is known all across the South as a good place to find older, hard-to-find parts.

Who: Gibbs Salvage in Ridgeville, Alabama. Located near Attalla in Northeast Alabama.

What: A junkyard started by James “Bo” Gibbs after he returned from service in the Vietnam War.

Notable: Known as the largest junkyard in Northeast Alabama at one time. Visitors from neighboring states can be found searching for older, classic car parts on any given day. If you mention an African-American-owned junkyard in Northeast Alabama, chances are someone will say, “You mean Bo Gibbs place?”

Gibbs Salvage is 75-acres of junkyard treasure.

View Larger Map

Where: 104 Gibbs Drive, Ridgeville, Alabama 35954
Located off Highway 431 turn East on Duck Springs Rd. Turn Left onto Gibbs Drive. A small trailer serves as the office. It is located on the right as you make your way along Gibbs Drive.

Contact: 256-538-8326

Hours: Monday - Friday 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

1972 Plymouth Gold Duster sits on top of a 1967 Ford Falcon.

What I saw: I scanned the jagged hillside and rut-filled, red clay roads that meander throughout 75 acres of land at Gibbs Salvage in northeast Alabama. My goal on a cool, damp February day was to find some usable seats for my junkyard dog 1980 Trans Am. I stopped by the office, located in a small trailer, and asked for a general direction to start searching for 1970s Firebirds and Camaros. “Have a look around,” said Kevin Gibbs. Most yards with older inventory are not as friendly and open to customers picking their own parts. Ask one of the employees at Gibbs what your looking for and a price. There is a chance they might now where to look. Once you find the part, you pay on your way out. Kevin mentioned that the yard has a few cameras stationed around the unfenced property to deter theft.

The hunt: My adventure began as I hiked, climbed and crawled around a large portion of the yard with junkyardlifers Ron Kidd and Anthony Powell. We didn’t have any luck on the seats for my car. Anthony spotted a couple of interesting late 1960s and early 1970s Buick Rivieras.

Difficult driving: It must have been 6 or 7 years ago when I made my first trip to Bo Gibbs Salvage yard in northeast Alabama. Even then, when Bo was alive, the salvage yard was a challenge to navigate. The hilly, dirt roads have deteriorated and overall the place is a shadow of its former self. New inventory is nonexistent and many of the older cars have been damaged as they’ve been moved about the yard.

What to take if you go: If your not in shape to climb the hills, a four-wheel drive truck would be best. Tools, possibly a machete may be needed to cut away brush. Patience. Cars are scattered across the land in no particular order. You will have to search the yard for what you are looking for. This may take a large chunk of your day.

Cars stacked like this 1969 Buick Riviera are not uncommon at Gibbs.

Careful out there: There are some good parts waiting for the right buyer to find them. The trick is finding what your looking for. It could be under a stack of cars 2 or 3 deep or buried in a hillside. It won’t be an easy picking day.

– Jody Potter, junkyardlife.com

Know of a junkyard I need to visit or want to send me photos and info about a junkyard or cool car? Send emails to junkyardbull@gmail.com.

1963 Olds Super 88 interior is mostly complete. Note the a/c vents on dash.

1967 Pontiac Catalina 2+2

1970 Buick Riviera

1967 Ford Ranchero. Looks tired.

1970-1972 Chevy El Camino parts are mashed between trees and the roof of a van.

1960 Chevy Impala 4-door.

Beefy ’58 Mercury emblem found at Gibbs Salvage.

In 1960 GM stylists designed a wrap-around rear window for many of their full-size cars.

1953 Chevy was customized into a camper.

Know of a junkyard I need to visit or want to send me photos and info about a junkyard or cool car? Send emails to junkyardbull@gmail.com.

Cars in Yards: 1967 Pontiac Firebird

2012-03-26T00:39:00.000-05:00

Only original once. Tucked away behind a house in rural, east Alabama, a rust-scabbed, first generation Pontiac Firebird soaks up the sunshine. Vent windows on the doors and lack of arrowhead marker lights on the quarter panels are a definite sign this is a 1967 model. A quick scan of this Pontiac’s ramshackle shell reveals a silver arrowhead emblem on the front bumper. A clue that this Firebird was born to fly. Beneath the clutter atop this beaked ’Bird is an original, twin-scooped 400 hood.

Finding an original first generation 1967 Firebird 400 is rare.

Faster than a GTO?
All 1967-1969 Firebirds equipped with 400-V8s had the silver Pontiac arrowhead on their front bumper. These first-gen Firebirds were fast. They were smaller and lighter than the GTO but were offered with a wink-wink, “detuned” GTO engine. A quick adjustment of the carb and these F-bodies were hot to trot.

We love to drive our Trans Ams.

Trans Am cruisers
This ’67 Firebird was discovered on a recent, day-long cruise across east Alabama with my Firebird/Trans Am friends. Most of us have at least one second generation Firebird (1970-1981) model. We stopped in our tracks when we spotted a yard full of decaying hot rods. 1955 Chevys, 1969 Chevelles and a 1968 Corvette were in plain sight from the road. The homeowner was gracious enough to show us around his place and field a barrage of questions. Unfortunately, none of his cars were for sale. “The 1967 Firebird 400 is going to be restored by a relative someday,” he said.

Under the junk on this 1967 Firebird is a 400 hood.

Rust rules!
Most of this man’s cars were parked outdoors, aged by the sun and rain and sporting the perfect patina of neglect that I embrace. Patina and rat rods are currently all the rage. But battered cars have long been a choice I’ve made out of necessity, because I deal with a non-existent hot rod budget and zero disposable income. Crusty cars are cheaper. Fact. Your junk, my treasure.

– Jody Potter, junkyardlife.com

Know of a junkyard I need to visit or want to send me photos and info about a junkyard or cool car? Send emails to junkyardbull@gmail.com.

White paint, primer, rust. And you thought they painted your car one color at the factory.

The deck lid spoiler was not offered on the 1967 Firebird.

1967 Pontiac Firebird production numbers
Hardtop Coupe / 400 Coupe / Ram Air Coupe: 67,032 / 18,632 / 65
Convertible / 400 Conv. / Ram Air Conv.: 15,528 / 3,658 / 2
Total Coupe / Total 400 / Total Ram Air: 82,560 / 22,290 / 67

1967 Pontiac Firebird commercial

Cheap garage tips: Hose reel from dub wheel

2012-03-16T14:51:00.002-05:00

Put those big 22-inch rims to work. What to do with those embarrassing rims you thought were so cool in 2008? Tastes change and rims get bent. Chrome spinners no longer spin. You can no longer afford the 22-inch-tires or, worst of all, your too ashamed to ride around with “look-at-me, I spent more on my dub rims than my car.” You’ve got the big wheel blues? Instead of hauling them to the recycling yard, make a flashy water hose reel that will stand up to the elements.

Heavy duty, functional

This discarded 22-inch, chrome wheel has new life as a hose reel. The rim’s wide width and low profile lip height allow the hose to slip off the wheel easily. That makes for quick work when you’ve got to hose off the shop floor. As a bonus, this wheel won’t become brittle and break like a weathered, plastic hose reel.

How to build dub wheel hose reel

Weld a sturdy bracket that you can make from pieces of flat, scrap steel. Be sure to measure the backspacing to get the proper fit on your wall. Weld two wheel studs, facing out from the wall it will mount to, onto the bracket. Bolt bracket to your shop’s wall then mount the giant rim using lug nuts onto the bracket. This rim had a universal bolt pattern with 10 lug holes, so lining up the two welded wheel studs was easy. Depending on your neighborhood, you may want to use locking lug nuts. You could also build it to allow the rim to spin on a center hub as well.

Plenty of room inside the wide wheel to park scrub brushes and soap.

Send us your tips
Save time and money doing things the junkyardlife way - on the cheap. You can’t afford to buy every tool or part that you need, so what can you do? You learn to make use of the things you have at your disposal and create an efficient wrenching area that saves money while your doing it.
More thrifty garage tips are on the way but if you want to share your ideas, send me an email at junkyardbull@gmail.com

– Jody Potter, junkyardlife.com

Cars in Yards: 1977 Pontiac Grand Prix SJ

2012-03-09T09:34:00.000-06:00

Where did the ’73-’77 colonnade cars go? In a recent Junkyard Life story, I was wondering aloud where all the Pontiac Grand Prix models from 1973-1977 were. Especially those of the SJ pedigree. Well, I found one! A recent road trip to South Carolina revealed this baby. I know, another ’77 model, it’s the least of my favorites from that generation of colonnade, but this one is an SJ package!

1977 SJ Grand Prix – something special.

Highly optioned SJ
What a well optioned car it was, too. Some further Sherlocking uncovered a lot of features. Whomever ordered this car new must have emptied two ink pens checking off goodies to make this one expensive Grand Prix. Talk about sticker shock in 1977, it had power windows, power door locks, tilt wheel, cruise control, Rally gauges (minus the tachometer) hatch roof (t-tops) power bucket seats , deluxe lighting package and much more. It had four plain Jane GM wheels on it, indicating it may have worn hub caps at one time. I find that unlikely. I would venture a guess that it rolled out with Pontiac Rally II wheels or even the optional Snowflake wheel and some other car is rolling on them now.

Before the term “T-Tops” was coined in the late 1970’s Pontiac referred to their new sporty roof option as a “Hatch Roof”. This super fun option was offered on the Grand Prix as well as a few other GM models. Pontiac started offering this roof on the Grand Prix in 1976.

Pontiac paint code quirks
This Grand Prix was also a color that was hard to find in 1977, dark blue. I know it looks black in the photos (it was a rainy day) but it is in fact blue! The official Pontiac name was “Nautilus Blue.” You have to hand it to Pontiac for their colorful (get it? 'colorful') names for their paint choices. Code 29 changed names several times in the 1970s. Admirality Blue, Nocturne Blue, Midnight Blue and Gotta-gotta-gotta-the Blue just to name a few. I may have made that last one up, but the others are real.

This dark blue Pontiac Grand Prix SJ model was trimmed with gold stripes. I bet it was stunning when it was new. The flat tires and weeds are just mocking us now! Notice the fancy side marker lights.

Is this Pontiac 'Grand' enough?
Roughly, one out of every five Grand Prixs were of the SJ variety in 1977. By the late 1970s it was easier to get a base model with not a lot of options and an appropriate sticker price. The top performance option in ’77 would have been the 400-V8 Pontiac engine. Sadly, the 'Grand' name was not so glamourous on all Grand Prixs. They were seemingly lost in a sea of several makes and models that had become comparable. But look! You could still have a decked out SJ model in 1977 – you just had to jump through more hoops to do it. You would think that since the original market for these cars was the sporty side of the affluent population that they would be better preserved than we seem to find them. In other words, it seems that we would find them vaulted and well preserved. But no! Something must have happened along the way. I know they are out there – so the search is still on. Happy Hunting!

Ron Kidd, The Earth Roaming Car guy at junkyardlife

Send junkyardlife your photos and story:
Email junkyardbull@gmail.com

Project Junkyard dog Pontiac Trans Am - Rescue and recovery

2012-03-05T13:11:00.001-06:00

Mothers warn children to stay away from “bad” cars. You know, rusty ones with busted windshields and sharp protruding edges that can cut you quicker than the saw blade on a Swiss Army pocket knife. These cars have existed unloved, neglected and unmercifully abused. They are always bathed in an uneven coat of gray or black primer. Visually unmatched by a sinister reputation as “most likely driven by a convicted felon to his next crime.” Bystanders murmur cautiously in the unfortunate event that one of those “bad” cars parks next to them at the supermarket. Pulling their trembling children close as they anxiously approach a car known to all gear heads simply as a Junkyard Dog. Somewhere a mom can be overheard saying, “You will go to not heaven if you ever drive a car like that!” That’s exactly why I had to have this Junkyard Dog 1980 Pontiac Trans Am. It was love at first sight.

This 1980 Pontiac Trans Am was in line for the car crusher.

The rescue
Late last year I spotted an abused late 1970s Trans Am wearing grey primer behind a chain link fence. It was in a sketchy neighborhood and the surrounding fence was topped by razor wire. The lot was used to store the “good” cars. The ones that the junk car buyer thought were worth saving instead of sending to the crusher. Several weeks later I saw a portable car crusher outside another storage lot owned by the same junk car buyer. He was clearing out his over stocked lot due to high scrap prices and lack of room. The same primered Trans Am was now parked in that lot! I had to act quick. A hasty deal was made and I had the ratty, Junkyard Dog T/A delivered to my house for a $1,000.

Vintage slot mags, 14-inch rims up front and fat 15-inch rims on the rear, ride on the hubs of the junkyard Dog Trans Am.

The paper trail
I probably paid too much considering it was on the way to the car crusher but I let Firebird fever get the best of me. The junk car guy mentioned possibly selling it on ebay and he knew it was worth a grand. He baited me like a pro wheeler-dealer and I jumped on it.

The T/A had a 1975 model 400 Pontiac engine (not correct for 1980 T/As), with 6X heads under the hood, chrome valve covers and a new looking fuel pump. Just enough eye candy to distract my brain from making a smart decision about the T/A's title. I received no paper work in the junk man’s deal, so it was left up to me to track down the previous owner who sold it to the junk car buyer in order to get a title. I wasn’t concerned until the car hit the ground at my house and I had no proof of ownership. Stupid. Stupid. Learn from my mistake. No title, no deal.

Now it gets interesting. After a few dozen phone calls, because of an old lien against the vehicle, I tracked the Pontiac's former owner down. I made a surprise visit to the gentleman who was in his early 70s. I explained my situation and the previous owner got tears in his eyes. He regretted selling the car to the junk car man and wanted to buy back his Trans Am. But he could only pay me what the junk car guy paid him – $150. We talked about his days hot rodding the T/A and he decided to sign the Trans Am over to me. “Whew!” Now I could get the papers in order and get to work.

That Camel Tan seat belt was part of the 1980 Trans Am's interior before it was used to secure the steering wheel by the junk car buyer.

Junk car man is in the money business
Save the cars worth saving. Crush the rest. It must be the mantra for people in the business of buying junk cars. They haul automotive eyesores away and give the former owner’s around $150. Easy money, for the junk car business. They can turn around and sell a 3,200 lb. car to a scrap metal recycler for around $400. The market price fluctuates but recently $12-to-$14 per 100 pounds is common.

Moisture found its way into the long-dormant Pontiac 400 engine, making a mess of the rocker arms.

Know what it’s worth - get to work
Before you get all fired up and decide to haul all the old cars out of junkyards to save them from neglect or worse, a date with the car crusher, consider the value of the car as a whole and the sum of its parts. Is it worth it? Are you willing to pay up and do the work required to drive a junkyard dog? So many cars, so little time.
Do I want to keep the Junkyard Dog Trans Am or sell it to a new owner pining for a Second Gen Trans Am? I’ve got the JYD T/A in my driveway, now it’s time to put up or shut up. Can I get this mean machine back on the road? Stay tuned.

– Jody Potter, junkyardlife.com

Know of a junkyard I need to visit or want to send me photos and info about a junkyard? Send emails to junkyardbull@gmail.com.

Junkyard Dog T/A does have chrome valve covers to hide the rusty valvetrain.

Leaky T-tops and Camel Tan Hobnail cloth rear seats.

This is the Junkyard Dog T/A’s good door panel. Power locks!

JYD Trans Am's flashy second-gen cigarette lighter has been heavily used but still remains in place.

Unloading the Trans Am without damaging the front spoiler... too late. It already had a split in the center.

In true Junkyard Dog form, the ’80 Trans Am has a driver's seat from another car. Check out the shaker hood scoop. It's riveted to the hood. Not the first time I’ve had one like this.

Send junkyardlife info about your Junkyard Dog project:
Email junkyardbull@gmail.com

B-Body Mopar mania Part II: 1973-1974 Roadrunners, Satellites and Chargers

2012-02-27T11:00:00.000-06:00

Digging up 1973-1974 B-bodies from Minnesota’s Mopar muscle car graveyard. In 1973 Plymouth’s advertising team found ways to "beep-beep" their horn about the many virtues of the latest Roadrunner. Print ads read "400 4-barrel V8. Performance hood. Torsion bar suspension. Anti-sway bars. And now Electronic Ignition." Heady stuff for a company that built a reputation on the 1/4-mile strip.

Mopar was merely playing the cards they were dealt at the end of the muscle car era. Gas prices, smog, foreign cars and big government (insurance) were busy running Roadrunners off the road. It was unfortunate timing for the redesigned "fuselage" B-Bodies, which first hit the streets in 1971 and were updated in 1973. These shapely B-Bodies haven’t gained the huge following that the boxier 1968-1970 models claim. That’s bad news if your restoring a 1973-1974 Plymouth Roadrunner, Satellite or Dodge Charger. Unless your Joe Marano who found this bumper crop of Mopars in Western Minnesota.

Crushing view of a 1973 Plymouth Roadrunner at this Minnesota junkyard.

Mopars everywhere
Sometimes hard work pays off after spending a day searching for parts. Joe Marano, of Ham Lake, Minnesota, sent us these photos from “a yard out in the sticks." Marano, owner of a '69 Dodge Charger, isn’t ready to reveal all the details of this secret junkyard yet. He found dozens of muscle car era Mopars in this large rural junkyard. The name and location will be revealed in a future story, so stay tuned.

White bucket seats remain in this 1973 Rallye Red Roadrunner.

Reproduction parts - chicken or egg?
The restoration industry isn’t keen on manufacturing parts that have a limited demand. But when does a part have enough demand? Does the lack of reproduction parts keep people from restoring ’73 Roadrunners? Or does the lack of restoration projects keep the new repop parts from being produced?
In the meantime, finding usable junkyard parts is challenging and time consuming. Locating a yard that hasn’t crushed all the once undesirable iron is a major score. Once you find a treasure trove of hard-to-find parts you may find your willingness to share compromised. If you want to share some your prime parts picking send them my way - junkyardbull@gmail.com.

Even more to come from the Mopar graveyard in Minnesota
I will have more Mopars from Joe Marano soon. Marano keeps the wheels turning on old cars and operates Junkers Towed by Joe in Minnesota.

– Jody Potter, junkyardlife.com

Joe Marano rests on a 1973 Dodge Charger in a junkyard in Minnesota.

A pair of 1973 Dodge Chargers, the top an SE model.

Junkyard 1973 Plymouth Satellite in Amber Sherwood green paint.

Rallye Red 1973 Roadrunner pounding the ground at this Minnesota junkyard.

Send junkyardlife your photos and story:
Email junkyardbull@gmail.com

B-Body Mopar mania in a Minnesota junkyard

2012-02-20T09:03:00.000-06:00

Mopar muscle car graveyard, B-body edition. Hundreds of muscle car-era Mopars, including Chargers, Challengers, Road Runners, Duster and Darts are piled in a snowy field at a junkyard in Western Minnesota. Our good friend Joe Marano, of Ham Lake, Minnesota, sent us the goods on the yard after spending five hours on a blustery day searching for parts. "The yard is out in the sticks," said Marano. "The owner gave me the impression that cash talks and every part or car has a going home on your trailer price."
Marano, owner of a '69 Dodge Charger, doesn't want everyone in on this secret junkyard yet but he did share a ton of photos. He sent so many photos, that they are divided by body style. The bulk of this group are primarily 1968-1972 B-Body models. Seeing so many project cars and parts in one place is more than enough to get Mopar nuts revved for a road trip to the 'Land of 10,000 Lakes.'

Joe Marano found plenty of Mopars in this Minnesota junkyard.

A days worth of Mopars
Marano took a friend and his two sons, Alex and Nick, on the day-long Mopar adventure. A snow suit helped fend off the 15-30 mph winds and 30-degree temperatures as Marano explored the mystery yard which also includes a section of GMs and Fords. "I dug through the Mopar and a few GM’s that had trickled into the Mopar pile for 5 hours until they closed. I think I only got through 75% of them," said Marano. "I ran out of daylight!" The junkyard is massive and easy to get lost in. Marano had to use his cell phone to locate his buddy. "It is easy to get turned around and overwhelmed with the massive scope of Mopar muscle just stacked and rotting away."

White 1968 Dodge Charger with a Challenger resting on its roof.

1968 Plymouth Road Runner (top) in Bright Blue Metallic (QQ1 paint code).

Chargers all over the place
"If you count closely there are nine 1968-70 Dodge Chargers and those are only the ones I found," said Marano. "It broke my heart to see the '68-'69 Chargers, almost every one of these are still build-worthy. The saddest one was the '68 R/T with the quarter panel stripe."

A 1968 Dodge Charger R/T is a rare sight at any junkyard.

Watch your step
Too many cars to see can be a pain in more than one way. "We got lost in the Mopars section and ended up in the GM cars," Marano said. "That field was so full of cars that you cannot see them under the brush and I walked into one with out seeing it." The level of difficulty navigating the yard escalates in Spring and Summer.

1968-'69 Chargers are abundant in this Minnesota junkyard.

Must be a 1968-1970 Charger parked next to the '66 Charger.

1974 Dodge Challenger (E-Body) in B1 Powder Blue sits atop a white 1968 Charger.

Front end parts were recycled on this Dark Green Dodge Charger years ago.

Rallye Green 1969 Dodge Charger rests beneath a less flashy medium green Charger.

Y3 Yellow 1969 Dodge Charger has shed a few parts but the engine remains in the K-member.

Minnesota winters have not been kind to the sheet metal on classic Mopars.

Dodge sold a lot of green Dodge Chargers in 1969.

A good body man would have his work cut out on this Dodge.

Wow! A Plum Crazy 1970 Dodge Charger hidden in this junkyard graveyard.

The 1970 Dodge Coronet/Super Bee with its like-it-or-not, double hoop front bumper was a one-year only design.

1970 Plymouth Road Runner is a muscle car restoration in waiting.

Wrecked blue 1970 Plymouth Satellite stands out in a sea of junked cars.

Plenty of desirable parts left on this 1970 Plymouth Satellite.

Closer look at the red interior on the 1970 Satellite.

1967 Dodge Coronet in red among the many Mopars in this junkyard.

Thanks to Joe Marano for sending us the photos of the Minnesota Mopars.

More to come from the Mopar graveyard in Minnesota
I will have more Mopars from Joe Marano soon. Marano has a passion for old cars and operates Junkers Towed by Joe in Minnesota.
– Jody Potter, junkyardlife.com

Know of a junkyard I need to visit or want to send me photos and info about a junkyard? Send emails to junkyardbull@gmail.com.

Junkyard Adventures: Parts search uncovers pile of 1969-1977 Pontiac Grand Prixs

2012-02-03T23:29:00.000-06:00

The accidental Pontiac Grand Prix junkyard crawl. It was actually a Junkyardlife Adventure day when Anthony, Jody and I took to the highway to spy our eyes on some cool out of the way junkyards. I, however turned the day into…drum roll, please…. Ron’s Grand Prix Adventure!

Although, more realistically we were all on quest for other things-like a whole host of things for a 1955 Chevy sedan, that I am wrenching on, and odds and ends for Firebirds, which we all three own. I just have a strange addiction to Pontiac Grand Prixs and I had a feeling these off-the-beaten path junkyards may produce.

‘69 - First of the second gen Grand Prixs
This 1969 Grand Prix Model J (top photo) was one of the first things we saw at Gibbs junkyard in Attalla, Alabama. Also the belly of the GP was one of the last things seen by the unfortunate Mustang II beneath it. How did this happen? This blue beauty was full of great parts and didn’t need to be there in the first place. Odd find of the day # 1: This car was equipped with a 400 engine and 2-barrel carburetor. This gentleman’s muscle car could have used a bit more to drink in its day. You never associate, or even hear of, Grand Prixs of this era to have a miserly, 2-barrel carb. Did John DeLorean know about this?

2-barrels are not better than one 4-barrel.

1969 Grand Prix 400-cubic inch engine
See what’s missing? Three years earlier, Pontiac offered three 2-barrel carbs on top of your motor! You can bet John DeLorean knew about THAT!

Park the classic ’71 Grand Prix on top of the econobox!

Smacked black ’71 Pontiac
May I direct your attention to the 1971 Grand Prix in this painful slide? It’s on the bottom. Of course it is. I studied this car for a while and determined the damage this Model J sustained did not come from an accident during road duty. I feel the damage was done after someone’s bad decision to allow the Grand Prix to come here. I also noticed a Gadsden State parking sticker from long ago. The white thing on top we will never miss. The El Camino in the middle is also a shame, making lots of readers cringe, but the Grand Prix on the bottom? Unforgivable.

Bench seat, no tilt in a Grand Prix. What happened?

Low-buck Grand Prix
Odd find of the day # 2 is really more of what you don’t find on the black 1971 GP. Most Grand Prix models even in basic form had some options. Most restored and rescued models you see are equipped with bucket seats, consoles and power everything. This character has a basic bench seat and a column shifter. It doesn’t even have tilt wheel. Weird. Factor in the manual windows and it makes you wonder why the original owner sprung for the spendy Grand Prix, seeing as they could have gotten a much cheaper car with these same features. Grand Prixs without power options are unusual.

I think I had a refrigerator this color when I was growing up.

1975 Model J
This ’75 Model J was wearing its original Rally II wheels. It appeared to have lost a battle with a fork lift. This car didn’t have tons of options either. It did have bucket seats, though! Despite not having an attractive color and lacking a lot of options that I would prefer to have, this may have been my favorite Grand Prix of the day!

1975 Model J Grand Prix interior.

1977 Grand Prix

Base 1977 Grand Prix in red This ’77 was pretty much a base model with a lot of standard issue equipment. By 1977 the Grand Prix was losing its somewhat pricey reputation. Pontiac offered more entry-level priced cars due to harsh economic times and a “do what you have to do to sell cars” mentality.

Want to bash your Toyota Camry into this bad boy?

Tail dragging ’77, no SJs
This 1977 GP we found off the beaten path in the weeds was very intact. Again, a base model. I am starting to see a pattern here. SJ’s! Where art thou?

What year is that Pontiac Grand Prix?

Brer rabbit, er Grand Prix
Wait! Another Grand Prix! I couldn’t believe it! I could see no good way to get to it, as it was surrounded by huge barriers and briars that were trying to eat us. I had to check this out. Jody and I still got luckier than Anthony — while we were “Indiana Jones”-ing our way to this white Pontiac GP — he was simultaneously finding his elusive Buick at the bottom of a ravine. It turns out free-falling is much better if one has a parachute.

What's a Grand Prix like you doing in a place like this?

Crud! Another ’77
Made it to the white GP. Crud! Another ’77. It’s not that I don’t like the 1977 models. When I endure physical strain and pain to see a Grand Prix, I would prefer it be a ’73-’75 SJ model or LJ model with a 455-cu. inch engine and tons of comfort and go fast options. These cars were special! Not so much an entry-level ’76 or ’77 with square headlights and base equipment. Although in ’76 and ’77 you could still get a big but not super-powerful engine (455 for ’76 and in ’77 a 400 was top dog.) Still with the SJ package you got bucket seats and often comfy velour.

Dare I say a ’76 or ’77 was (gasp) “common place”? No, I will not go that far because they are far from common today and if the right ’76 SJ came along I would fall into its loving trap. They were just easier to get with run of the mill options by then. Pontiac actually commemorated their 50th Anniversary in 1976 with a Golden Anniversary Edition Grand Prix. 4,807 of these “golden opportunities” were produced, many of them with Hurst Hatches in the roof. Think how cool that would have been — a brand new 1976 Golden Anniversary 455 Grand Prix with bucket seats and the tops out on a cool fall night with Starbuck’s “Moonlight Feels Right” playing on the stereo… See? Can you feel it? I can! Although the ’73-’75 models pull me in like a classy magnet, I can see the attraction to any Grand Prix of this generation. Happy Hunting!

— Ron Kidd, The Earth Roaming Car Guy at junkyardlife.com

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“The wind blew some luck in my direction I caught it in my hands today
I finally made a tricky French Connection
You winked and gave me your Okay”

"Moonlight Feels Right" by Starbuck, 1976

Junkyard find: 1972 Plymouth Road Runner

2012-01-25T22:25:00.000-06:00

Lemon Twist 1972 Road Runner sold for scrap price to junkyard. Brian B., a hotrodder from Foley, Alabama, sent junkyardlife photos of this fresh find at Barry’s U Pull It junkyard in Mobile, Alabama. There’s no doubt that Brian quickly noticed this Road Runner’s eye-searing, yellow paint and unmistakable strobe roof stripes. Any would-be-junkyard-junkie knows this car is a valued relic from Mopar’s muscle car past. How this shabby, one-of-7,628 B-Body Road Runners built in 1972 landed in this parts pulling purgatory is anybody’s guess.

Scrappin' for dollars
Most cars that land in ‘pull-your-own-parts’ lots are hauled in and sold for scrap prices. These type yards make a few bucks by charging admission and selling a few parts to do-it-yourselfers. Their inventory is constantly changing because most of the cars are sent to the scrapper in about 60 days. Some yards set aside an area for older vehicles to keep them out of the scrapping rotation until space is needed. 1972 model year and older vehicles appear to be the normal dividing point. Sorry, 1973 Dodge Chargers, its the crusher for you.

1972 Plymouth Road Runner 340-V8 engine gets yanked home for $163-plus a $40 core charge at this pull-your-own junkyard.

Plymouth built 7,628 Road Runners for the 1972 model year.

Plucking Mopar power
Brian, a regular at south Alabama junkyards, caught a glimpse of the Road Runner’s 340 cu.-inch V8 as it hung above the engine bay. “Someone was pulling the motor when I took the pictures but they weren’t around,” said Brian. The orange engine block, bolted to a TorqueFlight 727 transmission, was plucked using ‘U Pull Its’ enormous engine hoist on wheels. “I’m not well versed in Mopar, but it looked like a small block,” said Brian. The trim tag on the Road Runner’s fender revealed that a 340 cu. inch V8. engine was originally installed in the car at Chrysler’s St. Louis, Missouri plant.

For less than $300 the 340-cu. inch engine and 727 transmission now have a new home. That's a nice profit for the junkyard and a good find for a Mopar gearhead.

Original engine?

This battered, junkyard Road Runner doesn’t appear to have its factory engine. The small block 340-V8s, painted orange in 1970-’71 and changed to blue in 1972, were an option on the Road Runner which came standard with a 383-V8 engine. The 340 engine originally had a beefy block, big mains, forged-steel crank, forged pistons and heavy duty connecting rods. The heads on the 340 also had big valves until 1972 when performance was zapped across the board throughout the muscle car spectrum. Compression on the Road Runners 340 engine dropped to 8.5:1 as the intake valves shrank from 2.02 to 1.88. A cast iron crankshaft also replaced the forged steel unit mid-year.

Save the planet, don't crush classic cars

You can recycle your aluminum cans, paper, plastic and glass but don't toss classic cars to the junk man. Try craigslist, ebay or your local newspaper to sell your decaying, four-wheeled friends. All their rare, usable parts will not be saved before they are crushed. You may even make more money along the way to making a car nut happy.

The Mopar fender tag reveals many options equipped on this '72 Road Runner.

By the numbers
The fender tag reveals that this 1972 Plymouth Road Runner was built on 5/9/1972. Here are some highlights according to a tag decoder:

Code Description
E55 340-V8 4-barrel
D34 TorqueFlite automatic transmission
RM23
R = Plymouth Road Runner
M = medium
23 = 2 door hardtop
H2G
H = 340 V8 (240 hp net) 1-4bbl
2 = 1972
G = St. Louis, Missouri
195945 Sequence number
FY1 Lemon Twist paint
D6X9
D = Deluxe
6 = Vinyl bucket seats
X9 = Black
509 Build date 5 / 09 / 1972
B41 Front Disc Brakes
B51 Power Brakes
C56 Bucket Seats
G11 Tinted Glass all
U21 8.25 X 15 Black side wall tires
N23 Electronic Ignition
N42 Chrome Dual Exhaust Tips
M42 Front End Molding
R11 Music Master Radio AM

– Jody Potter, junkyardlife.com

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Cars in Yards: Crushed dream cars, Corvette, Impala convertible lost to storm damage

2012-01-19T23:04:00.000-06:00

Being a muscle car owner is much like being “Treasure Keeper.” Think of all the traps and downfalls you are always up against to maintain your collectible car in pristine condition. From the beginning of ownership in the late-1960s, you paid heavily for ultra cool options besides the big engine, like disc brakes and a convertible top. Then you had to deal with with large insurance premiums and government-mandated, smog equipment. You hung on to your gas-guzzler through the oil embargo even when fuel was hard to find and you could barely afford it. Years later your dedication paid off, as your friends and neighbors envy the original classic muscle car housed in your garage. You are a winner. You are a visionary, preserving and investing in automotive history. Life is great. Until...

A mid-seventies Corvette and a 1968 Impala convertible rest beneath this wreckage caused by a storm many months ago.

The trees come tumbling down
Look at this disaster scene I found in west Alabama. There is no way a car could be under the mangled shed. Only there's not one, but two cars under the shed covered by debris left by a storm. Two classic cars, a 1968 Impala convertible and a mid-1970s Corvette, were crushed by falling trees. It also appeared like no one was in a hurry to remove them from the carnage.

The top of the 1968 Impala convertible is crushed under fallen trees and tin. With over a million cars built on this Chevy's big car platform in 1968 (Biscayne, Bel-Air, Impala and Caprice), only 24,730 were convertibles. That's about 2% of the total build. That’s the numbers I like!

Life happens
"Easy does it, careful with the car," you say. Somehow you evade fate and protect your treasure from millions of potential accidents over several decades as you drive alongside knuckleheads on the highway. You cringe at the idea of parking your car in a parking lot with countless, careless door-openers. "No door-dings, no, sir!"
Then, you have the elements to deal with. Rain verses convertible top. The rain usually wins, so you only drive your convertible on sunny days. Then you have the classic case of snow-plus-ice, equals salt on the road. That means certain death of metal. "Harsh sunshine, no!" The chrome-eating, paint-baking sunshine.
Through it all, you carefully maintain your “treasure” for future generations to enjoy. You may even add another classic to the collection somewhere down the way. I’m not talking a mini-van. I mean an impractical, world-class, fuel-guzzling, sports car like a Corvette. It too survives many years of potential automotive disasters such as teenagers, prom nights and insurance sales people, you would swear do not want you to have these cars. So what do you do to protect these classics from such dangers? You could build a separate garage to house them. That would be a great idea! Well, that’s what this unfortunate guy thought too. The shelter was no match for these giant trees.

Notice the Impala’s Chevy Rally wheel is not body color like the Corvette, it is finished in a polished aluminum look, although the wheel is steel. Also notice the “short” center cap as opposed to the larger “cone” style like on the Vette. The Corvette wheel (in this case) has the center you automatically got when checking off the higher wheel option. Ironically, the short centers were usually found on the Corvette, although an option on any vehicle ordered with Rally Wheels. This example, if you look closely, denotes the Power Disc Brake option. This is a rather rare center piece that promotes (and now celebrates) the first year power disc brakes were offered as a regular production option on the Impala and many other GM master pieces.

Lessons to be learned
So what is there to learn from this bad dream? This lesson is simple – make sure-and-double-darned sure, your insurance covers catastrophic events. Don’t give them any reason or loop holes to escape liability for your treasure. It is NOT just an “old car.” It is history and heritage. It is a future inheritance.
Don’t let them say “Oh-you didn’t tell us the tree was there” or “the garage and contents thereof are not covered because the garage isn’t connected to the house” or “we only cover this if caused by an angry penguin in an August snow storm in Alabama.” Check and double check the insurance company's agreed value of the vehicles. If your insurer doesn’t offer you a suitable policy, check into collector car insurance. If you have a tree threatening to fall, don’t bet that it won’t. Bet that it will and take it down yourself. Whatever measures you can take to prevent disaster is good and whatever doesn’t happen allows you to sleep a little better.

— Ron Kidd, The Earth Roaming Car Guy at junkyardlife.com

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Here is the distinctive rear bumper of the 1968 Impala convertible. Even this sturdy bumper was not made to withstand a garage falling on it.

Catch-22 project car, free 1955 Chevrolet is a classic but it comes with a 30-year-old tree

2012-01-04T16:23:00.000-06:00

Grab a chainsaw we’re going to pick up a free 1955 Chevy. If only it were that easy for Robert Capps, a 48-year-old gear head from Auburn, Alabama. Capps picked up this freebie, 2-door, blue and white 1955 Chevy 210 after it spent the last 30 years parked outside. "The car was free, the problem was removing the 30-year-old water oak," said Capps. "It took two people, eight hours using a chainsaw, cutting torch, and a Hi-Lift Jack to remove the car from the oak's firm grip."

I got a free '55 Chevy growing out back.

Sixty 1955-1957 Chevys!

This tree-hugging '55 chevy was located behind a shop west of Auburn Alabama. "The '55 was one of about sixty '55-'57 Chevys that the shop's owner had collected during the 1980s," said Capps. "During the late 1990s people would steal parts off his cars, so he sold them off." The 1955 Chevy anchored by a water oak was the last one to go, because no one wanted to do the work to remove it, until Capps came along.

This '55 Chevy might need more than floor pans.

Room to grow

"We don’t really know how long the car has been sitting there, but we did count over 30 rings on the tree trunk," said Capps. "At some point, someone had cut a hole in the floor to put a floor shifter. That is where the oak tree started to grow." What you might not be able to see in the photos is that another tree had fallen on the roof decades ago, which broke the front glass out. With the front glass out, the tree had an exit route.
Originally the Chevy was equipped with a 265-V8 and a three-speed transmission. A tree-speed was not on the option sheet.

Tree won't let go

It wasn't a total win, the oak refused to let go of the left side of the frame rail and the Thrush Glasspack muffler. "The tree had grown around the left exhaust pipe and the frame rail," said Capps. Cutting a section of the frame was the only way Capps could extract the car and load it onto a car hauler. "The tree trunk pushed the steering column to the left five inches and mashed the steel dash forward four inches." The oak tree gobbled up a few more interior pieces in its path. "The speedometer gauge is buried inside the tree. I am told the ignition key should still be in the switch, but it too, is buried inside the tree."

A Thrush Glasspack muffler, installed in the 1970s, was claimed by the oak tree that ate a 1955 Chevy.

Future plans

Capps, who also owns a '66 Nova, '53 Ford Customline and a '53 Chevy truck, has no current plans to restore the free '55. "I have started removing all the good parts and storing them inside," said Capps. "I had an idea to make it a 60’s-style gasser, but overall the car is in too bad of shape." Capps plans to explore some other creative ways to salvage the Chevy. "I thought about cutting the back half of the body off and splicing it on the front of a '55 Chevy four-door donor car." For now the old Chevy will not be crushed. "I still don’t know what to do with the dash that has part of an oak tree stuck to it. Maybe I could take the dash to Moultrie, Georgia (swap meet) in February and sell it."

Do it again?
The question everybody ask is was it worth all the time and effort for $200 worth of rusty steel? "I guess only a car guy would understand," said Capps. "The answer is always yes."

– Jody Potter, junkyardlife.com

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More than 30 rings on the tree trunk embedded in the '55 Chevy.

The busted windshield allowed the water oak to grow up, up and away.

Robert Capps spent the better part of a day rescuing this '55 Chevy.

– Jody Potter, junkyardlife.com

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Cars in Yards: Buccaneer Red 1973 Pontiac Trans Am tops my Christmas wish list

2011-12-25T22:59:00.001-06:00

Santa didn't leave a Buccaneer Red 1973 Trans Am under my tree this year. But I did have this 455-powered ’73 T/A project on my wish list this year. This Trans Am, one-of-4,772 built for the 1973 model year, reappeared this summer after being tucked away in an ancient, clapboard garage several years ago northeast of Birmingham, Alabama. The owner didn’t want to talk about his rare bird when I first saw it parked in his driveway in front of his battered, Carousel Red, 1969 Pontiac GTO. I remember the GTO had Judge decals and a black plastic bag covering the passenger's side window. The Trans Am scabbed with severe rust damage in its lower tail panel. Two rare Pontiacs parked in the elements. Oh, the humanity!

Don’t go away mad ...

The owner, possibly a Pontiac fan like myself, had no intentions of selling the Trans Am or GTO to me or anyone else that day or that year, for that matter. With minimal pleasantries exchanged, I gathered that full restorations on both Pontiacs were in his plans. Maximizing his profits when they were sold was the name of the game that day. Be on your way now.

1973 was the last year of the Endura front bumper on the Pontiac Trans Am and the first year of government mandated 5 mph front bumper standards.

’73 Trans Am parked outside again

It must have been late July or early August, two years after I first spotted the T/A in the yard, when I slammed on the brakes. The Buccaneer Red Trans Am briefly reappeared to taunt me on my way to work. Was it a Super Duty? Four-speed? I dreamed of hammering through the gears and listening to the 455-V8 roar. Why was it parked outside? A few days passed and the red, rusty beauty was gone. My questions remain unanswered, for now.

1973 Trans Am facts
The 1973 Trans Am was a year of many firsts. It was the first year Pontiac offered the hand-built, beefed-up, Super Duty 455-V8 engine. Trans Ams needed little help attracting attention on the road but 1973 was the debut of the large, iconic, decal that featured Firebird’s screaming chicken graphic smack dab in the center of the hood. 1973 was also the first year the second generation (1970-1981) Trans Am was offered in colors other than Cameo White or Lucerne Blue. Single, wide stripe T/As were no more. Buccaneer Red, Brewster Green and Cameo White were the only paint options. Lucerne Blue was no longer an exterior color option.

Buccaneer Red 1973 Trans Ams are rare birds and were the epitome of "The Fast and Furious" in the 1970s.

1973 Trans Am production total: 4,772
BASE 455 T/A total: 4,550
- 4-speed manual: 1,420
- TH400 3-speed automatic: 3,130
455 SUPER DUTY T/A total: 252
- 4-speed manual: 72
- TH400 3-speed automatic: 180

– Jody Potter, junkyardlife.com

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Crushed Pontiac Grand Prix SJ recycled at scrap yard instead of junkyard

2011-12-19T21:20:00.004-06:00

Being a car guy at times can be painful. You see things you don’t want to see. Or you find things you are looking for but under the wrong circumstances. Such as this trailer in Birmingham, Alabama loaded with crushed cars and mangled parts. This gruesome sight made me stop in my tracks when I saw a rare Grand Prix flattened under a stack of cars. What's worse than a crushed Pontiac Grand Prix SJ? A crushed, green SJ with Rally II wheels! Kill me.

One trailer load of parts that have been scrapped.

In this batch of soon to be Pepsi cans, is a cavalcade of treasure. Included in this one load were, but not limited to:

An early sixties Chevrolet pickup that was still wearing its dog dish hub caps. There were actually two of those, one was on another trailer full of newer vehicles that we probably won’t miss, like Ford Festivas and such.
An early seventies Pinto wagon.
A mid seventies Buick Century. I know, although not super collectible now, I guarantee someone is looking for this.
Two 1963 or 1964 Chevrolets. One of them was a Biscayne with original emblems.
A Pontiac that I could only identify by its 15-inch Pontiac Rally II wheels. It was mostly intact with trim rings and Pontiac arrowhead centerpieces.
A mid-seventies Pontiac Grand Prix SJ
Late 1970s Ford Granada - often sought out for their brakes and front end parts for early Mustang and Falcon owners.

Sure, there's some ugly in that stack of cars.

Ford Granada on top, wanted by Mustang and Falcon owners.

Unrecognizable Pontiac with good 15-inch Rally II wheels.

Parts prices continue to climb
In my opinion the Pontiac Grand Prix SJ was the worst crime of the entire scene. I'm one of the few people I know that love those Colonnade-style Grand Prixs of the '73-'77 body style now, but I crystal ball that these cars will be valuable. They are already hard to find and I want one bad.

To make matters worse, this was the top of the line SJ model that was packed out with options such as a 455-V8, bucket seats and console. Often equipped with power everything and a lot of classy touches that made this car more exclusive and very expensive compared to other entry level models. The SJ designation was inspired by Duesenberg and Stutz, if that tells you anything. To top that all off, if it wasn't heinous enough for me, this SJ example was in green. Ah, green. My color choice, second only to the beautiful Aztec Bronze.

See the C10 truck? A Chevy Biscayne and Impala in there also.

Stop the classic carnage

We cannot allow these kind of shenanigans to continue. This must be stopped. There needs to be some way to allow enthusiasts the opportunity to find a home for collectible scrap victims such as this. At least let us remove everything we can off of one car to save another. Kind of like organ donors do for humans. We can start by not letting even one get to be a potential scale victim.
Save what you can and encourage others to restore and not crush. We have all seen those 'someday' cars that sit outside and ruin while waiting for their return to the road. I look at this scene and I see lots of opportunity that someone will not have in favor of aluminum siding.

— Ron Kidd, The Earth Roaming Car Guy at junkyardlife.com

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Look what I found: 1963 Pontiac Catalina

2011-12-11T19:52:00.001-06:00

A 1963 Pontiac Catalina followed me home. This time I may have gone a bit overboard when checking out a cool car to write about. Junkyardlife guys love finding a cool car, photographing it, dreaming a lot and then writing the whole thing down. How much further did I go with this Catalina? It is now in my driveway.

The story unfolded innocently enough. I went to a house where I heard someone had some Oldsmobile parts for sale. I was looking for an A/C bracket for my 1979 Trans Am and I came back with this big, crusty Pontiac. Yep. It’s mine. That’s the good news. The bad news is also that it’s mine. It needs essentially everything.

Dig what they gave you to hold on to when that GM Posi-traction rear end started side-stepping? In this case it was used to guide grandma to the fabric store.

’63 Catalina lures new owner
The Poncho has its original 389 4-barrel, Slim Jim transmission ~~Power Glide~~ combination. Its got bench seats with the way cool Pontiac emblem stitched right on them from the factory. That’s one thing I always thought was super cool about these cars. Four Pontiac Motor Division hub caps brighten up the rolling stock rims and the heater proudly declares Pontiac right across the dial. I have never seen that before and it very well may have contributed to the spontaneous “I’ll take it!” I somehow managed to tell the lady owner. My drooling completely negated any negotiating skills I may have ever had.

This big Cat was only a little more than basic transportation of its day. Not a lot of options here, which seems to be pretty collectible these days. This one has an add-on air conditioner from Sears that is mounted under the dash. That was not as uncommon as it seems. I understand Sears was a very reputable automobile air conditioning name at the time. Laugh, if you want.

The ’63 was full of trim and emblems such as this Catalina fender emblem. If only Pontiac were still around to give us a full-size, rear-wheel drive Catalina today. You could always bolt some of these emblems onto your 2009 G8.

Imagine this cool bench with a long Hurst bent up and around. The seats are not bad. Plus, I love the Pontiac emblem stitched in the seats.

Too many projects, what was I thinking?

If I were to keep the Pontiac (which I cannot due to many other projects), I would have to hang onto the bench seat and find one of those base model shifters that curve around the sofa-like seat for my 4-speed! If I could not find a 421-cubic inch engine, I would build a 455 and spray it very Pontiac blue, then disguise it as a 421. I would give Edelbrock a call and score a factory-looking aluminum intake to perch two Carters on top. I would go back with the factory green on the exterior and (you know me!), leave the hub caps for that ‘Earth Roaming Car Guy’ sleeper appeal.

Aftermarket wheels? Sure, after you kill me!

Swiss Cheese please
Here’s a bit of cool Pontiac trivia. Did you know Pontiac built 14 Catalinas strictly for the NHRA’s Super Stock drag races with aluminum bumpers, fenders and hood along with approximately 120 holes drilled into the frame to lighten the load even more? They were nicknamed “Swiss cheese” Pontiacs. In 1963 these modified, full-size Pontiacs did quite well at the track. 12-seconds and change on the 1/4-mile at 120 mph. Your average Joe may not have been able to stroll into a Pontiac dealership and order a Swiss cheese car, but he could check off a mean street car with 421 cubic inches of Pontiac fury with two four-barrel carbs and a mean four-speed.

Here’s the crazy Pontiac heater I was so crazy about. The irony of calling a heater “cool.”

What now?
Sometimes a great project car can take years to find. Sometimes they just appear before you.
I’m about to walk out and see if I can figure out what I’m going to do with this thing. I may not be able to keep it, but I assure you it will not go to a car crusher. Save as many as you can, and as always… Happy Hunting!

— Ron Kidd, The Earth Roaming Car Guy at junkyardlife.com

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Barn find: 1974 Dodge Charger project car

2011-12-05T09:41:00.001-06:00

Driving a classic car leads to more old cars. Ham Lake, Minnesota’s Joe Marano experienced the powerful ability an American muscle car has to ignite a conversation. Marano was minding his own business, walking to his red 1968 Chevy Nova SS in the church parking lot, when a stranger started a conversation about his own old car. “I was jokingly asked if I wanted a Dodge Charger?,” said Marano. “He said it had been parked in his garage since 1990 and that I could have it for what he paid for it, $500.”

Marano soon had the 1974 Dodge Charger washed and running.

“I said yes!”

Marano didn’t hesitate to say yes. He followed the man home after church and found a bronze 1974 Dodge Charger covered in dust and buried under boxes and a mattress packed in a tight, one-car garage. “After I got the Charger home I had it running in 10 minutes,” said Marano. After rebuilding the brake lines and topping off the transmission fluid, Marano was driving the ’74 B-body around his neighborhood.

The 1974 Charger's interior is original and in good shape.

Pay it forward

Marano, who already has a handful of project cars, no longer owns the Charger. Being a ‘car guy,’ Marano wanted to see the Charger land in good hands. “A fellow muscle car buddy owns it now and is going to build it for one of his boys,” said Marano. “I'm kind of partial to father-son projects since I built my ’68 Nova with my dad.”

Rust as taken up residence in the ’74 Charger's rockers and quarter panel.

More to come

Don’t worry, you will see more barn finds and projects from Joe Marano. He has another Charger, a 1969 model, and runs across quite a few classic cars while running his junk car business called Junkers Towed by Joe.

– Jody Potter, junkyardlife.com

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1974 was the last year for the third generation Chargers.

How many garages look like this?

This 1974 Dodge Charger has reflective side stripes.

Interior of a 318-V8 column shifted 1974 Dodge Charger.

This ’74 Charger spent 20 years in this garage in Minnesota.

Know of a junkyard I need to visit or want to send me photos and info about a junkyard? Send emails to junkyardbull@gmail.com.

Junkyard tour: Classic cars at Junkyard USA in French Lake, Minnesota

2011-11-24T23:10:00.001-06:00

Chasing classic cars in junkyards. Junkyardlife's new best friend in Minnesota is 21-year-old Joe Marano of Ham Lake. Marano recently turned his hobby into a full-time business he calls Junkers Towed by Joe. He hauls junk cars, sells parts, cars and is accumulating a fleet of desirable restoration projects along the way. Marano provided photos from a trip to Junkyard USA, a giant 100-acre yard specializing in older vehicles.

1958 Chevy Impala at French Lake Auto Parts.

French Lake Auto Parts
Located in Minnesota 60 miles West of Minneapolis/St. Paul, ‘JunkTown USA’ is a monolith of car recycling in the Midwestern United States. Family-owned since 1956, these owners know better than to crush the old stuff. They have a section of 1970s and older vehicles waiting for eager parts pullers. You may want to take extra cash if you go. “They want a lot for their part,” said Marano. “But they have a lot of good stuff.” Vintage Mopars, Chevys and Fords are spread out in rows and stacks behind the main building past the school buses.

DETAILS
What - French Lake Auto Parts
Where - Located 60 miles West of Minneapolis/St. Paul in French Lake, Minnesota.
3531 County Road 3 NW, Annandale, MN 55302
Hours - Tues-Fri 8-5 p.m., Sat 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Website: FrenchLakeAutoParts.com

100s of cars from the 1950s-1970s are stashed at French Lake.

Most junkyards scrapped older models during lean economic times.

1969 Dodge Super Bee in the French Lake junkyard.

1968 Dodge Monaco 500 at FLAP’s junkyard.

This junked 1964 Chevy Impala looks almost ready for the cruise-in.

1962 Chevy Impala at the junkyard in Minnesota.

Do you see Mopars at French Lake?

If you get lost in FLAP’s junkyard look for landmarks such as the 1971 Chevy El Camino in the sky.

Searching for just one part? It may take you more than a day to see all of French Lake’s junkyard.

1968-74 Chevy Nova in a field at French Lake Auto Parts.

Like most yards you have to get the parts you want ASAP.

1968-72 Chevelle parts are plentiful at French Lake.

Is that a Firebird behind the Chevelle?

More to come from Minnesota
I will have more cool cars from Joe Marano soon. This enterprising gear head, car crafter has a barn find 1969 Dodge Charger and built a super slick 1968 Nova. Marano is chasing his dream, combining a business with his passion for old cars. If you need his services at Junkers Towed by Joe, you can reach him at mnmusclecarguy@hotmail.com.

– Jody Potter, junkyardlife.com

Know of a junkyard I need to visit or want to send me photos and info about a junkyard? Send emails to junkyardbull@gmail.com.