Field of Dreams 1959 Corvette

Where dreams are made. Dan Stachowiak of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina found his field of dreams Corvette in a field. A friend-of-a-friend told him there was an old Vette from the 1950s stashed in a field in North Carolina. 

“And it hasn’t moved since 1987?

It sounded like a wild goose chase but Stachowiak made the trip across the state line and found his dream car buried in dirt all the way up to the axles. He spent a few hours in the brutal heat digging out a piece of Corvette history. This C1 (first gen 1953-1962) has great patina and an even greater story, which makes Stachowiak's Corvette priceless. 

The fiberglass body of the 1959 Corvette shows no signs of ever being wrecked.

What is it?

A 1959 Chevrolet Corvette. One-of-9,760 built. It wears the original Snowcrest White paint and Frost Blue dash. It was parked in a field by the long-time owner in 1987. That owner bought it when new or nearly new, according to the family that sold it to Stachowiak. He says he got a fair price for the as-found condition Corvette. 

Last registered in 1987. It has been sitting longer than it was actively driven. The odometer shows 15,510 miles. Stachowiak thinks it rolled over at least once. A few modifications were done during its almost 30 years on the road.

The weathered Frost Blue dash reveals 15,510 on the odometer. 

Don't ask

Stachowiak has been offer stupid money as the car sits. The current condition is ripe for a full restoration to many would-be buyers but Stachowiak is ecstatic to have found his holy grail patina project. With the exterior of the car in this weathered condition, he will not be afraid to drive it anywhere once he gets it moving. 

"It will never be for sale,” says Stachowiak. “You don't see these cars driven down the road. This baby is gonna cruise the streets of Myrtle Beach just like you see it!”

Eagle-eyed Corvette fans are sure to spot some oddities. Such as the red hardtop. 

Plans

A complete drivetrain and chassis is waiting for pickup in Mississippi.
“I located a 1958 Vette chassis that was being replaced by a complete Art Morrison setup,” Stachowiak said. “They unbolted the body and rolled the running and driving ’58 chassis and drivetrain out from under it. I should have my ’59 on the road in a few weeks.”

He plans to store the original ’59’s solid but crusty chassis and drivetrain. If the restoration bug bites, Stachowiak will have all the numbers matching parts.

Parts that were removed before the Corvette was put out to pasture.

Other goodies included

The previous owner drove the 1959 Corvette for many years. During which, a few appearance modifications were added along the way. A louvered hood from a 1958 model was installed and has caused a few double takes from Corvette enthusiasts. Specks of blue paint peek out from the white in places around the louvers. That is a clue that the hood came off of a blue ’58 Vette. Also, this Convertible was ordered without a hardtop but a removable hardtop from a red Corvette was added and likely saved the interior from decades of abuse from the elements. A set of vintage 1960s Torque Thrust wheels ramp up the hot rod look. 

When you stand back, it's easy to notice that this all-American Corvette is covered in shades of red, white, and blue.

A 1959 Corvette parked in a field for 34 years? Yes!

Changes

The only things Stachowiak wants to change are the black seats and door panels. They are not the blue color that he believes they should be. He plans to find some original blue seats with a similar patina that matches the overall condition of the interior.

“It would look odd to have a rough exterior and completely new interior,” said Stachowiak. “I’m heading to Carlisle to find some seats soon.”   

Vintage Torque Thrust wheel inside the 1959 Vette.

Black seats will be replaced with some vintage (weathered) blue seats.

Anti-theft measures

Before he rolled the Corvette into the field the previous owner stashed away some items that were often stolen from Corvettes. He removed the hood and trunk emblems, side flags, and pulled out the original Wonderbar radio for safe keeping. Even greater precautions were taken to preserve an even bigger item. The engine was relocated into a 1967 Chevy truck on the property. The truck engine was put into the Corvette.

You might think that maybe the truck needed a power plant? That's not what Stachowiak believes. The story he was told confirmed the engine swap was done to save the Vette’s 283-V8 engine from theft. The truck and original Corvette engine were also part of the deal.

Corvette 283-V8 was installed under hood of 1967 Chevy truck.

Corvette’s engine bay now has the engine from the 1967 Chevy truck.

Why did it get parked? 

The previous owner loved it and drove it nearly 30 years. He parked it in field behind his house with the intention to someday restore it back to its original glory. But, life got in the way. Many years passed. Five years ago the owner died. 

“A few more years out there and it would have been lost forever,” Stachowiak said. “I was fortunate to be able to buy it and save it.”

Keep dreaming!

The next field of dreams may have your dream car in it. Keep hunting, keep digging, and never stop dreaming!

Jody Potter
– Junkyard Life

Patina in spades on this Corvette.

Capturing time or the transition as something ages is what makes cars with patina a draw at car shows. Each blemish tells a story. This entire car wears the story of its life. Cared for, then held onto as best the owner could. Their choice may not have been what you would have liked but it preserved a 62-year-old Corvette in a way that makes the car appear more attainable to a larger audience.

Field find gold mine in my opinion.

A non-restored version of this car will pull more eyeballs and have a larger crowd at the local car show than a Bloomington Gold certified version.

Louvered hood from a 1958 Corvette was installed on this 1959 model.

No sweeter sight than a "just rescued" hot rod Corvette.

The new owner was worried that he would damage the Vette when he dug it out. Somehow the squared tires rolled and the brakes were not locked up.

Only one piece of trim was missing. Bottom of the driver's side cove.

So many curves. A work of art from any angle.

January 1987 sticker in window from last time the 1959 Vette was on the road.

The road is long. With many a winding turn.
Here's to new life for this old Vette!

More Corvette stories on Junkyard Life:

• 1968 Big Block Barn Find Part 1
  
  
• Rescue of a Legend Part 2
  
  
• 1974 Corvette Family Car
  
  
• Mystery Custom Corvette
  
  
• Oak Tree and an L-82
  
  
• 1984 Corvette: Intelligent design or bugly?
  
  

Do you have a classic car in the yard, or a great story?
Send us details and we’re on the way!
Send emails to Jody Potter at junkyardbull@gmail.com 
or Ron Kidd at Kidd403@bellsouth.net.

LRP custom Shag Wagon put out at the junkyard - 1976 Dodge Tradesman 200 van

 

Rolling with the purple shag. This throwback from the 1970s shag wagons glory days, a 1976 Dodge Tradesman 200, landed at the local pull-your-own parts yard in Birmingham, Alabama this week. The "LRP" lettering under the door is a hint that this was no ordinary home-built heavyweight. This van was originally built by Leisure & Recreational Products, a professional conversion van company in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Back in the day they churned out Ford, Chevy/GMC, and Dodge rigs with bubble windows, hand-airbrushed art, and miles of pin striping. Let's take a look inside a ’70s "survivor" of sorts.

Inside, purple shag carpet is found throughout. Swivel seats are stationed up front and a mirrored ceiling lined with fur once reflected all the activities in the rear of the heavily customized van.

For some reason, Sinatra singing "If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere" come to mind. This was luxury and a place to relax 45 years ago.

This swivel driver's seat shows its mileage. This bad boy still has plenty of originality and signs of wear. This van must have been driven long after the 1970s were only a memory. 

Why is it in the junkyard?
The road to ruin may have been mechanical difficulty. A clue is the disassembled 318-cu. inch V8 engine under the hood. The engine cover can be seen, covered in purple shag carpet, laying askew behind the passenger seat. For those unfamiliar with the short nose vans, working on your van's mechanicals could get messy. Once you ruin the interior, the whole value thing slides downhill fast.
  But maybe it was as simple as A/C problems? Try keeping your hottie or significant other cool in Alabama with high heat and ridiculous humidity in a slab-sided sweat box. 

Bad things happen to good vans
Worse things can happen to a vehicle but becoming a punchline can spell doom for once-desired vehicles. What is once deemed "cool" is soon to be outdated for the next "cool" thing. When all the embarrassed van drivers dumped their now "uncool" rides, they trickled down to the young, poor, or desperate in need of cheap transportation. A lucky few held onto their custom vans, maintaining and leaving period correct. What you see here will soon be recycled at the pick-a-part.
  Something tells me this van was loved for a long time. But, I doubt many parts get pulled and re-used. Who needs some purple shag? The number of 1970s van-era survivors is shrinking daily.

Graphics on the ’76 Dodge van were airbrushed at the LRP shop during customization. Note the 1977-1979 Ford Thunderbird wheels all around.

Bubble windows were a signature of 1970s custom van craze. Tinted and still cool.

Flip side of bubble window: open up and you see the glorious purple shag.

A slotted mag is hanging on the rear of the van. 

Under the door you can find the "LRP" decal. The company who customized this van was operated by Lee Bender in Wisconsin. The LRP name still holds some weight in the dedicated Vannin' community because of the quality and craftsmanship LRP put into each van they built. The fact that Leisure & Recreational Products fully customized ’76 Dodge refugee from the 1970s made it this far in almost complete condition is a testament to their work.

Farewell funky van!


Jody Potter
– Junkyard Life 


Do you have a classic car in the yard, or a great story?
Send us details and we’re on the way!
Send emails to Jody Potter at junkyardbull@gmail.com 

or Ron Kidd at Kidd403@bellsouth.net.

ANOTHER JUNKYARD LIFE VAN STORY

Loaded 1976 Chevy Monte Carlo at the scrap yard

 

Scrap that! I guess we do live in an era where someone’s trash is someone else’s treasure. Look what we found unceremoniously discarded at the side door to a scrap yard. A 1976 Monte Carlo Landau!

The first look I took just made me shake my head. How could someone NOT want this? How could it have been saved this entire time and only now finding its way out of hiding and into a crusher? This place does not even entertain selling parts. It literally means a few dollars to them. 

When Jody said that this car has his name on it, I thought he was speaking metaphorically.

Now my second look yielded more head shaking. I didn’t realize it at the time, but upon closer inspection this baby was loaded! You just had to look a little closer. The full Monte, If you will.*

Original window sticker was in the car!

Someone may have left the original window sticker in the car and possibly a Junkyard Life Monte Carlo Nerd could have come along and retrieved the document for a story he planned to write. This is all just speculation at this point. Who said anything about a window sticker?

Knights of the vinyl top table in the order of Landau.

If there was a window sticker, it may have alerted (alarmed?) the Monte Carlo Nerd to other hidden and not so hidden treasures. Desired options fill up this disco era Colonnade. This silver Monte with a vinyl top was some looker in its day. Someone beat us to the small block 400 engine that Chevrolet left under the hood. Yes, it was indeed a small block 400 power plant. Two options above the base motor. Shame.

Window Sticker, Where Art Thou?
Looky there! The original paperwork just sitting on the bench seat. Who could resist?

Cruise control under the hood still intact.

More options
That wasn’t all. It wasn’t cheap. If we did have that window sticker, it potentially could have told us about all of these options: 

• 400 4 barrel ($73)
• Power bench seat ($124)
• Power windows ($99)
• Power locks ($62), 
• Tilt wheel ($52)
• Cruise control ($73)
• 15” wheels and not hub caps (actually standard on the Monte according to the window sticker we don’t have)
• Rear window defroster ($77)
• Cloth interior (free with this package)
• Illuminated sunvisor with vanity mirrors ($23)
• Extra lighting group for the trunk, glove compartment ($31)
• Landua roof package (no charge in this case)
• Air conditioning ($471)
• Intermittent windshield wiper ($28) 
• Color key seat belts ($17)
• And for a substantial amount in 1976 American dollars… an 8-track stereo ($324)!

You got all this and more for a mere $6,985! At least that is our guess. We would confirm if we had that confounded window sticker. We can only guess that it was borrowed by an inspiring automotive journalist for the integrity of the article he was going to write. Sounds like a nice guy. 

See 8-track stereo?

Mandatory poke of slot on 8-track stereo is the official tape deck test.

Four Squares a Day…
This car was a nice package all wrapped up in luxury, comfort and performance. Would we have liked it then? 

1976 was a great year. The Monte Carlo was still big.** Chevrolet celebrated America’s independence with a new beginning for the classy Monte Carlo, the entry level Malibu and the racy Laguna. Maybe not so much a beginning as a new front… the square stacked headlights. 

Is there a sadder sight than a Monte Carlo parked on the hood of a 1982 Camaro?

Hey, four eyes!
The headlights were met with mixed reviews from many different perspectives of the new automobile buyers. They ran the entire gamut from “Yay!” safety via improved visibility to “we hate the new stacked headlights.” Junkyard Life is guilty to some degree. What can we say? We love Colonnades but prefer the round eye headlight era.  

What doesn’t this have? Sunroof, tachometer and bucket seats are all we can think of.
What would you have ordered?

Stop the madness
So someone’s trash may be someone else’s treasure. I wish our treasure would stop showing up at scrap yards. There are so many other avenues that do not lead to the foreboding scales. Then people like us would not cringe as we pass by. That is indeed the Junkyard Life.

Ron Kidd
– Junkyard Life

Editor’s Notes:
* We allow Ron only one “Full Monte” joke in his Monte Carlo articles. Why do we do this to ourselves and our readers?

** Ron tried to use another “Full Monte” joke here. Like I said, he is limited to one.

Optional 15-inch Monte Carlo wheels.

We believe the name Monte Carlo is responsible for a few children named Monte.

Bumpers that only people who lived through the 1970s understand.

Cruise control on the stalk.

Last look. The next day the car vanished from in front of the scrap yard. We suspect the giant shredder ate its way through the Monte Carlo, options and all, in seconds.

Do you have a classic car in the yard, or a great story? Send us details and we’re on the way!  Send emails to Jody Potter at junkyardbull@gmail.com 
or Ron Kidd at Kidd403@bellsouth.net.

Atomic Blast 10: Rat Rod inferno of good times

 

Junkyard Life had a Blast… An Atomic Blast. The annual Rat Rod celebration in Gulfport, Mississippi is very aptly named The Atomic Blast. This is one of the only West Coast flavored Rat Rod Runs on this side of Nevada. We are now believers in The Atomic Blast. We've always loved the original recyclers (hot rodders) but now we have an all new appreciation for driving junk. These apocalyptic cars captivated our hearts for two days. Simple, not simple, fast, brutal, fun loving, flat, satin, fire! I need a thesaurus to find more words to describe this fun event.

We had heard of the Atomic Blast, but had never attended. Once our friend Stefanie Lea from Road Rage Garage heard we had never been, she made a request (an order?) for us to attend. Stefanie has found a way to submerse herself in what she loves — flat finished patina preserved tire smoking hot rods and the great people that come along with them.

The weather forecast would have scared the slick hot rods away. Not the Rat Rods. Keep in mind, some of these are driven and they don’t necessarily handle well in the rain. Some of them don’t actually have a water tight roof. Yet, these tire smokers did come from near and far.    

The Rat Rods burn rubber until they got no more to burn.

Smoking Isn’t good for You? Yes, It Is!

These rat rod guys are not afraid to light em’ up. This is practically an event that advocates smoking…tires that is. They like crawfish too, but let’s get back to the smoking. Junkyard Life brother Jay explained to us newbies why it is called “The Atomic Blast.”  He explained it to us, but yet…unpack all of your adjectives and you still feel the best words really are “Atomic Blast.”

Stefanie Lea says "Light'em up!"

Stefanie Lea: The Goddess of the Burning Radials 

Coordinator and hostess Stefanie Lea waits until near dark. Then she places two Rat Rods that are actually flame throwers on the track behind the burnout box (another aptly named area). She then places as many fearless homegrown Rats in the burnout box that dare rise to her calling.

When the sun begins to lower itself in the horizon behind the Gulfport Dragway, Stefanie raises her arms like a symphony conductor and line locks engage. RPMs go up and she gives the go ahead to start incinerating tires. Wait. There is more.

Once the cars begin to disappear engulfed in the tire smoke–another cue from Stefanie awakens the now invisible flame throwers to shoot fire from the center of the smoke...thus, The Atomic Blast!

This looks like the aftermath of an atomic blast. Well, not a real one, just the smoke and fire from dozens of big block rat rods, some with built-in flame throwers. It is a sight to behold! 

Watch this! The sight, the smell we love (Hey, note to self: million dollar scented candle idea) and the sound. Oh my. The sound. The sounds we love from a variety of Detroit power plants. Roaring together in automotive symphonic harmony. You can feel the heat and the patriotism. Many rods are adorned in American flags and like the song says, when the smoke clears, the flags are one of the first things you see. You, my friend, have been Atomic Blasted. There is no coming back from that.

Dennis Landry wheels his RATical rat rod down a beach road in Gulfport, Mississippi

Cruising 

This sub culture of the car genre is so much fun. The Atomic Blast offers so many activities and is so inclusive. If you feel you just can’t see everything…fear not. Stefanie has included what she calls “Roll Call” where every car cruises, i.e., “rolls” in front of the bleachers to give everyone a good look and often a little rubber is left behind.

Grumpy's 1941 Dodge WF-31 with a Detroit Diesel 92TA engine and flame throwers that shoot enormous amounts of fire high into the air.

More Cruising Add Water and Music

The Atomic Blasters also do a beach cruise along the beautiful coast of Gulfport and Biloxi. Nothing is more rock and roll than that. Except maybe the musical guest. The Martini Shakers treated us to some awesome throw back rock-a-billy.  A great band and really nice people. It is so nice to see and meet people that love where they are and what they do. These guys rock.

There was even a kid’s motor bike cruise that also drew a lot of attention. What can you do if you are a young car guy or girl that can’t yet have four wheels? You make do with two wheels and look like a tiny Fonz. "Ayyy!"

Crawfish eating contest is part of the kick-off festivities.

Cruising, Crabs, Crawfish, Rats – oh my!

To kick our weekend off, we caught the cruise to The Cajun Crawfish Hut in Long Beach, Mississippi. Just a stone's throw from Gulfport down Beach Boulevard on Highway 90. Here, they fed us spectacular food, rocked us with the Martini Shakers and schooled us in crawfish consumption. The now famous Atomic Blast Crawfish Eating Contest was soon underway. MC’ed by the infamous original rat rodder Dennis Landry, aka Crab or Crab Who? This event was great messy fun! The winning consumer of the Cajun crustaceans was a 27-year-old Army paratrooper named Shane Jackson. Shane is no stranger to Atomic Blast awards. It seems the first rat rod he built kicked the bucket on the first time out, which granted him the dreaded “Damn My Luck” award. 

We spotted more than 200 Rat Rods and other cool cruisers in the pit area and campgrounds at Gulfport Dragway during the Atomic Blast 10.

We Want More!

Do you like traditional home grown hot rod fun? Do Rat Rods fill your hot rod heart? Then you need to do this. Do you want to see a 425 Olds duke it out with a 390 Ford? Grudge races, swap meet, food, music and tire smoking traditions? The Atomic Blast is for you. This annual Rat Rod Run is held every April at the Gulf Port Dragway. Let us not let the West Coast have all the fun. Thank you, Road Rage Garage for including us in the party. Check those calendars and we will see you there! We were told they also have a Halloween event in October for those of us who will have a hard time waiting. Keep a rat look at the calendar and never miss The Blast again.

                 

Ron Kidd

— Junkyard Life 

HOW TO BURN RUBBER
Step 1: Apply throttle

Step 2: Hold down the gas pedal

Step 3: Never let up

WINNER OF $1000 BURNOUT CONTEST
Shane Sink, Jackson, Mississippi

Shane Sink's winning combo burned the tires right off the rim.

CRAB WHO?
Dennis Landry, Larose, Louisiana
Landry, known as the godfather of this event with his big-cubed Rat Rods and willingness to keep the rubber burning and the party going was also the Master of Ceremonies at the Atomic Blast. You could spot him easily in his orange shirt and white overalls.

Dennis Landry gets ready to fire up his Rat Rod for a beach cruise.

And away he goes!

Burnout box was always filled with mayhem. Two rat rods take a spin for the crowd.

Do you have a great story? Send us details and we’re on the way!  
Send emails to Jody Potter at junkyardbull@gmail.com 
or Ron Kidd at Kidd403@bellsouth.net.