I have a job that takes me out to all parts of S/E Michigan. I’d always be on the prowl for a “kill”. I’ve bought dozens of cars from behind garages, barns, city streets, etc. I’d drag them home, cut them up or get them running and sell them. This has all been in the past 25 years. Every year, there are few “kills” than the prior year. These cars sitting around have just about dried up. I may only come across 1 or 2 a year anymore. It’s sad…kind of like the end of an era.
It helps that I have a wife that is quick to say those three words we all love to hear when you want to buy a car. No…not those words…i’m talking about, “I don’t care”.
I’ve noticed that Bill.
I had a shortnosed Bronco (80?) model and never see those things around, though mine was an unmitigated pile I hope the next owner buried in a mudhole somewhere and forgot.
perhaps that was a common sentiment.
I still like prowling around for old cars too.
I occasionally find a space age car or truck sitting unloved, or a motorcycle.
It is getting thinner and thinner though. But now I’m getting to the age where the cars of my youth, IROC Z and square lamp Mustang GT, are becoming collectible, so I guess I should be looking for those? I just can’t bear to spend my time chasing fox chassis cars or Camaros.
The fox and later chassis Cougars are starting to interest me a bit as are the Oz imported Mercury convertible Capri.
That’s so not funny I have to laugh. The story behind the phrase…I have employed several nephews that were of the belief that they could do everything better after a few bong hits. It turns out they’re even more “challenged” when baked. After wrecking cars, destroying lawn tractors, spilling gallons of paint on the carpet, etc. etc. etc. they would always say the same thing… SORRY UNCLE RAY.
I still pray that one day they’ll have my back when I need it the most.
BTW, Brian, seen any cool '73-'79 trucks lately? Did you get pics?
I see a ton of these old trucks , I just sold my 82 f-250
put wat too much money in it
what i have been seeing lately is a resurgance of the god aweful duster/aspen/scamp
the seem to have been given new live blood via grey primer and auto zone hub caps
and yes i did have a duster WAY back in the late 80’s
and i can remember putting too much money in that pile of a car
holy crap the brakes sucked and handled like a tug boat
hope this is not a new trend
I think the high prices paid for scrap have done away with many “diamonds in the rough”.
A small junkyard close by but out in the sticks have some very nice pickings. The 80’s and 90’s Buicks and LTD’s get crushed on a monthly schedule but he saves the “classics” in an attempt to sell the car whole. On the yard now is a 69 Mk. III, 65 Comet 2dr, 61 Catalina 2dr, 71 Charger, 65 Satellite, couple of the small 2 seat Mercedes. Always several 67-90’s Ford pickups to pick over.
Also amazed at the amount of nice looking later model Aerostar and Windstar vans that end up there (crusher candy).
Yyou are right on Art.
In my area all the yards cleaned out anything 1995 and older when the price of scap went up
I drive mid 80’s cars and older and i have to get many parts from out of state.
Finding Cougar barns finds/parts cars etc has always been difficult in my area. Mainly because I’m only an hour away from John Baumann (John’s Classic Cougars) and he usually gets the majority of them. On the flip side he has bought a lot of Cougars and sold them in this area. He told me once if he could get every one he has sold a Cougar to attend a car show at the same time we would have over 200 Cougar attending in this area. Most of the owners just don’t get them out. A guy about three miles down the road from me had a 60x100 barn with about five Cougars and a lot of parts. The rest were mostly mustang parts. John and his brother bought that stash about two years ago. He had one 68 Cougar that is fixable that he kept along with one Cougar parts car.
It turns out they’re even more “challenged” when baked. After wrecking cars, destroying lawn tractors, spilling gallons of paint on the carpet, etc. etc. etc. they would always say the same thing… SORRY UNCLE RAY.