Junkyard dreaming with a 1955 Chevrolet station wagon

Hoping to discover a mythical junkyard overflowing with hundreds 1950s and 1960s automobiles? Rumor had it that an old junkyard in north Alabama was full of tri-five Chevys - 1955, 1956, 1957 models. I knew the possibility existed, so it was worth investigating. My directions were sketchy but I found the dead end road that led to what I hoped was junkyard utopia. At the end of that road was a house. Just passed it, a closed gate. Behind the gate sat a 1948-ish Chevrolet truck, crafted into a home built wrecker. It was parked parallel to the gate, possibly to protect the bounty of old cars from being scavenged, I thought. I walked back to the house to knock on the door. As I stood there waiting for someone to answer, I looked across the road. There sat a 1955 Chevy station wagon covered by privet bushes. Virtually invisible to an untrained junkyard scavengers eye. This was confirmation that Tri-Five Chevrolets could be everywhere behind the gate. I waited and knocked again. No one answered the door at the house.


WHAT NEXT?
Finding out what was in my junkyard utopia had been delayed,
so I crossed the road and tip-toed around the '55 relic. I inched around the station wagon and spotted its original 235 cubic inch, inline six cylinder engine. The 1-barrel carburetor was in place but missing its air cleaner. For 54 years the Blue Flame engine has survived virtually unmolested. Judging by the depth the rocker panels have sunk into the earth, this old Chevy has been sitting in this spot for decades The blue paint remaining on the pitted, rusty shell looks original, as does what's left of the interior. The tailgate and rear bumper are missing along with the dash gauges. I’m guessing the 4-door station wagon was the signpost to locate the
junkyard at one time. With no one to answer my questions or let me in to roam the junkyard, my trip was done. I’ll definitely return.


SEE THEM BEFORE THEY DISAPPEAR
How long before all the 1960s and older vehicles disappear from junkyards? You can see the value of vintage parts rise with each passing year. Today’s rusty 1955 Chevrolet station wagon may get scrapped and recycled into a washing machine. Get out and save some cars and parts or at least take some photos to show your kids. These old cars are part of our country’s history. I plan to go back and find the junkyard owner and post more photos from his place soon. Unless it disappears.


Do you have photos of old cars in the weeds or junkyards? Send them to me at junkyardbull@gmail.com with your story and I will post them here.

1970 Chevelle SS barn find

I’m always on the lookout for cars parked in yards when I’m driving. I’m also willing to knock on the door of a house that has a yard full of cars and trucks in all sorts of disrepair. Junkyards or junk yards, I’m not picky. 


I spotted a house on a hillside littered with 70s and 80s relics among the weeds. I drove up to a home that looked like a place most people would be afraid to stop even if their car was out of gas. A gravel driveway zigged up the rough outcropping of land. When I pulled in I could no longer see the road or imagine anyone hearing me call for help, if need be. As I cautiously made my way toward the front door, I spotted the back of a 1970 Chevelle. The unmistakable 1-year only taillights flanked a legendary SS emblem on the rear bumper. Stripes ran the length of the short deck lid. A wooden door burst open on an out building away from the house. About a half dozen dogs howled loudly when the owner appeared from an out building.


The Chevelle was our first topic of conversation. The owner purchased the 1970 Super Sport Chevelle while in high school. Its original 396-cubic-inch engine and 4-speed were still in place. The price: $600. The year: 1976. Gas prices had put a huge dent in the values of muscle cars during the mid-1970s. That was bad news for people trying to unload muscle cars but good news for a kid wanting to burn rubber and bang gears. This blue Chevelle SS was driven hard and fast. A young driver at the wheel of one of Chevrolet’s most-fear street machines. Drivers of Hemi-powered Mopars and 454-cubic inch Chevys were ready to race when they saw this blue SS.


The owner was smart enough to hang on to the big block Chevy. He had plans to restore the car but an attempt at restoration was put on hold when the owner became a dad. He says he still has all the parts to put the Chevelle back together, including the disassembled front end. His storage situation, a makeshift garage under deck, is far from ideal and he plans to rectify it soon.
No, the car is not for sale. The Chevelle seems to be the crown jewel of his automotive collection which spans his yard. Getting behind the wheel of his restored high school hot rod is his goal. I hope he does.


I was lucky to find this hidden part of muscle car history. I promised not to divulge his name or location in return for permission to climb around his cars for some photos.


Do you know of a barn find? Did you buy a barn find? Share your photos with junkyardlife, send them to me at junkyardbull@gmail.com
Click read more for more 1970 Chevelle SS barn find photos.

1973 Ford Gran Torino Sport

The year was 1979 and high school student John Mascia was cruising the streets of Long Island, New York in his 1973 Gran Torino. Fast forward 27 years and Mascia, now living in Alabama, was longing for another 1973 Gran Torino. Not just any Gran Torino, one better than his first. It was Super Bowl Sunday in 2006 when Mascia's son spurred him to go take a look at a '73 Torino for sale in Florence, Alabama. "Uncanny, it was exactly the way I wanted my Torino to look,' said Mascia. "Everything was in great shape and original except for new paint. Even the 8-track tape player worked." Mascia beams as he talks about his bright red Gran Torino Sport. He keeps a case of 8-tracks in the trunk, it's also a time capsule for 1973 vintage Torino brochures and shop manuals.

PAPER TRAIL

Mascia's Gran Torino Sport was originally from Cleveland, Tennessee. He found an old oil change receipt buried in the car. A quick phone call was made and he found out that the car was involved in a divorce settlement. The wife won the car in the settlement and kept it in her basement until her ex-husband died. She then sold it to a buyer in Florence, AL which is where Mascia bought the car.

DETAILS

Mascia's 1973 Gran Torino Sport is equipped with a 351 Cleveland engine and Cruise-O-Matic three-speed automatic transmission. He meticulously keeps the engine bay and every inch of the Gran Torino Sport spotless. The interior vinyl seating surfaces look showroom fresh. Ford built 11 different Torino models in 1973. They ranged from 2-to-4-doors in SportsRoof, formal roof, pillared roof, hardtop, sedan and station wagons. So many possibilities but Mascia found the Torino he wanted. For this native New Yorker, it's almost like he's back in high school again.

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For more photos, click read more.

Not for Sale - 1970 Road Runner to ruin

'It's not for sale!'

The man peering from behind the slightly opened door through the metal screen said it as though he expected every person who rang his doorbell wanted his 1970 Plymouth Road Runner.

I don't want to buy it, I replied. 'Huh?' I don't want to buy it, I said a bit louder. The yipping dog behind the cracked door wouldn't allow a coherent conversation to take place. Several 'Huh's' and 'What's' passed between us. The door never opened more than 3 inches. The stranger who's yard I was in didn't want anything to do with me. The bright, early morning sunshine and eagerness in my voice had little effect on the Road Runner’s owner.

I made it clear to the man I only wanted a photo of his car. He nodded 'OK', and shut the door. I could hear him scolding his little house dog as I turned toward the car.

This was not the first house I have approached to inquire about a vehicle. I've bought seven of the 30+ automobiles I've owned during similar encounters. Sometimes, I have put myself in vulnerable situations, today was no different.

DOG NUMBER 2

The dog in the house was small. The dog in the yard, a medium-size wolfish-looking creature. He was tied near the door with 8-gauge electrical wire. The wire-haired beast was nice enough to let me near the door to knock. But the dog did not want me taking pictures of the Road Runner which sat on the left side of the house. A heavily-traveled dirt path reached the Plymouth which provided a shady spot within reach of his wire-collared restraint. I crept toward the front of the orange muscle car. His barking grew fierce after several hoarse yelps. I was encroaching on his territory. Luckily, his travel radius was limited to about 20-feet from his tie-down near the front door. The car sat 22-feet away. I only had the nerve to shoot 2 photos. Barking dogs, no matter how strong the electrical wire holding them back, intimidate me.

UNCONDITIONAL LOVE 

The Road Runner’s rusty roof and window channels, betrayed by a vinyl top, gave way to the elements. Despite its weathered condition, this car still gets your attention. Rare Vitamin C orange paint looks original. A vintage Beep-Beep Road Runner tag mounted on the front bumper no less than 30 years. A winged-spoiler, stripes and menacing grill make me want to ask, 'are you sure you wouldn't sell it?' The stranger, behind the barking door has made it clear he is keeping this car no matter how far it deteriorates. His memories of the car or his future plans for the car are worth more to him than money.

TWIN SEPARATED YEARS AGO

This orange 1970 Road Runner once had a Sublime green 1970 twin sitting behind it. The green one left the yard about 10 years ago. Someday, all these steel-bodied, chrome-bumpered cars will disappear. Only memories and family legends of America’s ‘real’ muscle cars rusting away in the weeds.

Do your part to document these old cars before they disappear. Send your photos of old cars to me at junkyardbull@gmail.com and I will post them.