So, Oldsguy and I visited a few Dallas, TX junkyards on Saturday morning. I was looking for parts for my truck. Of course, we always had our eyes open for Oldsmobiles. Unfortunately, our hobby is a dieing breed. Here is 1 of 2 Oldsmobiles we saw at 2 different junkyards:



It's a late model Alero. I tried to get a better pic but the sun was low since it was early and it blinded my camera. We also saw an 84 G-body Cutlass without the grille but it wasn't for parts. I didn't take a pic.

Check out what we found!



We also saw a sign promising Oldsmobiles ahead but all we found were a bunch of Ford SUVs.



This was the first time we had gone to the junkyard in about 18 or 19 years. It was definitely a fun day and we got a good haul of parts for my truck. Too bad we didn't see many Oldsmobiles.

 

Times they be a changing! I remember seeing rows of 1960's and 70's vintage cars in the local bone yards, but now its few and far between. I recently spotted a 1972 Cutlass at a local yard. They wanted to sell it whole and said they had a standing offer of $1,000. Windshield missing, floorboards full of leaves, interior rotten, hood missing, no carb. and I'm sure the engine is full of water. It has some good parts but not savable in my opinion.

There are some yards on the West Coast with old iron in them. But many of those yards are selling on ebay, asking and getting high prices for their parts. But I'm glad you and your Dad had a fun outing and found some treasure for your truck. I haven't done that in a long time either.

John

 

I haven't been to a salvage yard in quite a few years since I stopped rebuilding salvage vehicles for resale, mainly G & W Body vehicles as well as a few Trofeos... Maybe this spring I will check out one of my old locations just to see how much it has changed over the years...

 

I recall seeing mid 70s and up GM cars in the salvage yard years ago. It seemed that the Quadrajet carburetor was always missing.

The oldest vehicle we saw on Saturday was a 61/62 Ford truck. Really, all that remained was the cab, the driver's fender and the frame. We also saw a 68 Chevy Impala sedan that wasn't for parts. It was parked next to the Cutlass at the front of the yard.

 

Ahh, going to the yard for a day. For me, that is equivalent to a childhood day at Disneyland!

Randy C.

 

Nearly every thing late model that goes through the auctions is bought by LKQ for salvage parts sale. The older stuff is usually bought by the crushers for the metal. Not a lot of the older stuff is bought by yards that sell parts.

 

From about 1987 to 1990 or so, I was fortunate enough to actually own a salvage yard in Albuquerque, NM. I used to make a semi annual journey from WI to NM to haul parts (and cars) back from there. One of the yard owners at one point suggested that instead of just buying parts, I should buy the whole place as he was interested in selling. We were able to put together a deal and I lived a geraheads dream for almost 4 years. Even late into the 80's and early 90's there were salvage yards all over NM just full of 50's to 70' cars. Most have been completely crushed out now but it was a blast while it lasted.

 

I have only been to a couple of the Abq yards, they seem to all be late model stuff now days and the ones I went to looking for '67 olds parts didn't really want to help. At that time I was traveling out to Clovis or work almost every week and there is a nice yard there with quite a few older vehicles. Bought a 455 and TH400 together for $200. I don't go there for work anymore but I think I need to make a parts list and go for the day one of these weekends...

 

The next time you are I the "Metrolex" for salvage experiences, give me a ring and I'll steer you into a more fruitful direction. The reality is that things are not the same as they once were... But then again, those of us that are more determined and locally connected are generally more successful. My weekend ventures are much more entertaining than the photos you have posted.. Let me help you maximize your time investment..

 

I'm always willing to try new salvage yards.

We saw 5 or 6 Ford trucks that had the IDI diesel. I thought it was a fruitful day. I spent $60 and got 8 injectors, a passenger's seat reclining mechanism, upper and lower grille trim and some tailgate letters. That's pretty good considering it costs $25 each for the grille trim from China!

 

Yeah, I surely miss those times. Like you, I would rather do that than almost anything else.

 

We saw walls and walls of crushed vehicles at both the yards we were at. They were fifteen feet high and ran along the back of the properties. What a shame.

 

Did you make an offer on the sign? That's pretty cool

 

That's a good idea, we should have done that.

 

I used to haunt a local Pull-A-Part and what is now an LKQ yard when I was driving old beaters (mid-'90s G and H bodies) a few years ago. I don't think I've been to either of them in more than a year and the last couple of times I went, I left empty-handed. It was definitely as much recreation as anything else, sort of the thrill of the hunt. Pull-A-Part always had better stuff but was further away. I also had better luck at what is now the LKQ yard before it went corporate. These days, the selection is lower and the prices are higher. It's rare to see anything at either yard older than about 1990 anymore.