Old Car City USA Tour, Part 1: Museum or junkyard? (video)

Tour Old Car City USA in White, Georgia and you may wonder if it is a junkyard at all. Touted as "The World’s Largest Junkyard," this gear head destination is located 50 miles north of Atlanta.
  The Junkyard Life crew, consisting of, Jody Potter, Ron Kidd and Anthony Powell, found ourselves, in a rush to witness the spectacle first-hand. With only 2 hours until closing time, we forked over the entry fee and set out on a mad dash to see if this was the world’s largest junkyard or an outdoor museum of American automotive history. 
  The three-legged dog, known as Junkyard Life, toured Dean Lewis' legendary 35-acre, wooded playground of rusty relics in 2012. We found muscle cars, hot rods and classic cars along the 6-mile trail. Also, signs, bicycles, piles of parts and hubcaps could be found everywhere.

Question?

  A big question loomed. Is anything for sale? 

  “Everything is for sale,” said owner, Dean Lewis.
  We quickly realized that his prices would be hefty. Breaking up a part of Dean’s automotive collection meant spending several thousand dollars. $3,000-$5,000 seemed to be the normal price for Old Car City’s junkyard jewels.

  A tough sell when your looking at what appear to be parts cars, at best. Viewing miles of rarely seen American iron in massive waves was satisfying. I only wished we had more time to linger. Several complete, restorable cars were also for sale near the front office. Those prices were higher, as you would imagine. 

  I can’t blame him. One man’s junk is Dean’s treasure.

  Watch the video, above, and help us look for the diamonds in the rough before they get any rougher.
  

Also, stay tuned for more photos, video from Old Car City U.S.A.

Jody Potter

— Junkyard Life

Send photos, junkyard tips and stories to Junkyard Life

Email junkyardbull@gmail.com

A giant billboard pitches Old Car City U.S.A. to passing motorists.

Anthony Powell, Ron Kidd, and Jody Potter take in the sights at Old Car City U.S.A. in White, Georgia.

Details:

Old Car City U.S.A.:

Address:
3098 Highway 411 Northeast
White, GA 30184

1955, 1956 Pontiac Safari two-door wagons lure junkyard nomads into the woods

Dibs on the ’55 Safari! Do you remember when you learned the definition of “dibs”? I always understood this to be a gentleman’s agreement that future possession was being claimed. Do you remember when you learned that not everyone knows what calling "dibs” means? I do. It happened when I discovered, and exclaimed, “DIBS!!!” on two, Pontiac Safari wagons. 
  Actually, I only claimed “dibs” on one. The blue and white, 1955, two-tone, beauty (above, left). I even agreed to let someone else assume ownership of the hollow-eyed, 1957 Safari sitting right beside it. 
   Junkyard Life brother, Bill Jones, knew an older fellow who, somehow, had two, special, two-door, Pontiac wagons parked on his property. Jones knew of my wagon addiction and led me on a Safari scavenger hunt.

Almost twin, 2-door, Pontiac Safari wagons make for an irresistible “junkyard find” in the woods. The blue and white 1955 model, left, and 1956, right, were produced in fewer numbers than the Chevrolet Nomad.

Safari So Good
  When I laid eyeballs on two of the flashiest wagons that Pontiac ever built, I nearly jumped out of my skin. Both 2-door, hard top wagons were original, even wearing all the stainless trim and hubcaps. Although, one was a bitten a bit worse by the rust bug. 
  I decided I had to have the blue and white ’55! Negotiating a deal for the Safari was all but done and I had several things on my side. Let us review them:

1. I knew Bill Jones who knew the Safari owner.
2. The owner really liked Bill Jones.
3. The owner said things like, “I want it to go to someone like you who will fix it and appreciate it.”
4. The owner accepted my offer. (good money, too!)

What happened?
  The owner decided, for unexpected, sentimental reasons, that he wasn’t ready to sell. Yet.
   Thus, my declaration of dibs was really where I went wrong. Because, obviously, the owner didn’t understand the concept of “dibs.” He sold the wagons to someone clearing land behind his property. 
  I still remember the heartbreaking call from Jones. It ended with me still trying to reason this out. 
  “But, I had dibs.”

The 1955, 1956 Pontiac Safari shared the same roof, windshield, windows, doors, tailgate, and seats as the Chevy Nomad.

Seen any 1955-56 Pontiac Safaris?
  I wish I had more pictures. Really, I didn’t realize I had the ones I’m sharing here. Maybe I was trying to forget the whole thing. It was no big deal. It was just a station wagon, right? A soccer mom, grocery hauling, vacation machine, right?
  No, No, No. You couldn’t be more wrong. But thanks for humoring me.
This was a special wagon. This was a two-door wagon. Wow! The Pontiac Safari shared the roof and glass with the Chevrolet Nomad Wagon. It appears the same, but the Pontiac has seven more inches of wheel base. Chevrolet had some major success making their Nomad the most expensive model on the line, other than the Corvette. That being said, Pontiac’s wagon was even more expensive, but was being outsold, left and right, by the Nomad. 
  Fast forward to now, and it is easy to reason why there are even fewer Pontiac Safaris, than Nomads on the planet. How many have you seen? This one should have been mine. Rats.  

This 1955 Pontiac Safari was one-of-3,760 built. All were two door wagons. Check out the wide white walls and original hub caps.

Better than a Nomad
  1955 was the year Pontiac introduced their 287 cubic inch-V8 to the masses. They referred to it as a “Strato-Streak V8”. I trusted that the engine was still in the blue and white ’55 Safari, but if it was or wasn’t, I had plans. I would have dropped in a Pontiac 400 engine with an overdrive trans. I also would have shed the white walls and opted for a red line tire or even a black wall BFG. Factory colors and interior would have been fine. Although, I would have splurged for aftermarket air conditioning. 

The rusty, 1956 Pontiac Safari was one-of-4,042 built. This was the final year that two-door wagons wore the exclusive “Safari” name. All wagons, including the four-door models, received the Safari name in 1957.

Shoulda, coulda, woulda
  I know not of the current whereabouts of this fab, fifties, wagon, but if I see it, perhaps, I can just explain to the current owner that I had the original “dibs,” and he would understand. He would probably apologize profusely and insist that I immediately take ownership of the 1955 Safari. 
  I’m a reasonable guy. I would accept his apology and ride off into the sunset in the Pontiac that should have been.

Ron Kidd
– Junkyard Life

1955 Pontiac Safari ad highlights the forward slant of the roof line of the 2-door wagon and decorative flash of the tailgate trim. I almost had one!

Know a junkyard that we need to visit? Got a car story?  

Send emails to Jody at junkyardbull@gmail.com or Ron at Kidd403@bellsouth.net.

Barn Find: 1970 Boss 302 Mustang in Sweden

Boss 302 barn find. Sweden’s Thomas Rosenborg, whose automotive exploits have been documented on Junkyard Life previously (1971 Pontiac Trans Am, 1972 Pontiac Trans Am), shared evidence of more vintage, American, muscle cars in his homeland. This 1970 Boss 302 Mustang, equipped with a 4-speed, was recently found and purchased by a fellow, Swedish gearhead.

1970 Boss 302 Mustang hits the highway, albeit on a trailer, after lengthy hibernation.

Fastback fun
  This Competition Yellow 1970 Boss 302 Mustang arrived in Sweden during the 1970s and had been in storage since the mid-1980s.
  The Boss appears mostly complete. Rear window louvers, or Sport Slats, are still in place, but both, front and rear, bumpers are missing. Even without the optional Shaker Hood Scoop, this fastback Ford commands attention. 
  Designer Larry Shinoda’s flashy, reflective stripes, "Boss" name, and functional styling cues were the perfect compliment to the high-winding, 290-hp 302-V8 engine.
  Great design never goes out of style. I hope this classic returns to the street soon.

Jody Potter
— Junkyard Life

Ford built just over 7,000 Boss 302 Mustangs in 1970.

Know of a car or a junkyard I need to visit or want to send me photos and info about a barn find, car or junkyard?  

Send emails to junkyardbull@gmail.com.

1963 Chevy C10 Panel Truck a time capsule for family-owned florist

  Simpson’s Florist in Decatur, Alabama is now the official florist for Junkyard Life! Why do we need a florist, doing what we do? Well, for one thing, we stay in trouble, a lot – and what gets a guy out of trouble? 
  Flowers! 
  We also encourage others to rescue and obtain vintage, motorized toys. So, we may have a hand at causing strife in a household, whose matriarch was unaware such a purchase has been made. Flowers. Ron and Jody’s Junkyard Life relationship advice for the lovelorn and car-adorn? Forgiveness is easier than permission, and what is a segue to forgiveness? Flowers. (Editor’s note: This is the first time on Junkyard Life that love advice has ever been offered) So, check out this find!

   We found this 1963 Chevrolet Panel Truck with Simpson’s Florist logos on the side, and then realized we were behind Simpson’s Florist and we were looking at living history. This truck was AWESOME! We knew there was a great story to be told. We were right!
   Simpson’s Florist opened in Decatur, Alabama in 1957. Things were in full swing by the early 1960s and therefore a trip to the local Chevrolet dealer was in order. Hick’s Chevrolet was also in Decatur, Alabama. Back then, area businesses were loyal to one another. Mr. Simpson walked into Hick’s Chevrolet and ordered up a work truck. He probably knew Mr. Hicks!

Flower Power. This Chevy work horse needed an engine as reliable as the straight 6, but powerful enough to move a vehicle stuffed with flowers. That doesn’t sound heavy, but it is! Also, it needed to be powerful enough to not strain the motor with factory air conditioning blowing cold to keep the flowers fresh in Alabama summers. Mr. Simpson chose a 283-V8. The proven, mouse motor had been around a little while by then. Actually, the 283 made its debut the same year Simpson Florist opened their doors… 1957. How cool! 

   Mr. Simpson could have saved more of that flower money on the standard three-speed, manual transmission. That sounds like a good idea, but remember that a few people were subject to drive this truck anytime. Not everyone can operate a “three-on-the-tree,” so he opted for the easy to drive Power Glide. Mrs. Simpson did not drive. Perhaps, Mr. Simpson may have been thinking the automatic would not be so scary for her if she ever did attempt to conquer the roads of North Alabama. We here at Junkyard Life could not resist driving a truck like that. She resisted.

   Now that he had the motivation for Simpson’s new delivery vehicle down, now for the details. The new truck was going to be a blank pallet for the Simpson’s business lettering. The truck was adorned in paint code 502 Sea Mist Jade. Perfect. If you factor in the chrome bumper package at extra cost, this truck is starting to get pricey. 1963 was also the first year amber parking lenses were included. Prior to 1963, they were clear. Now about that big order you placed… no problem.

Notice how perfect the grill is and that perfect chrome bumper. This truck really is perfect just like it is-paint patina and all. Perfect.

Family ties 
  Do you know what the best part is? Despite not having children, the Simpson's managed to keep this business in the same family for three generations. They turned the business over to their favorite niece and nephew, The Bentley's, in 1980. Like we said about area business loyalty, they kept the Simpson’s Florist name and enjoyed the same success. Then in, 2008 turned the place over to their son David and his wife, Kristen. 
  David said, “Okay, we have a deal, but the truck comes with it.” 
  We at Junkyard Life would have done it just for that part! And the extra, way cool, fluorescent sign in the front. David plans to resurrect the truck and run for the roses once again. If you ever order flowers and two strange looking guys in Junkyard Life t-shirts show up in that mega-cool 1963 Chevrolet, don’t panic. We somehow talked David Bentley into letting us do some rose running of our own. Thanks, David!
 
Ron Kidd
— Junkyard Life

Freeze your Daisies off with under dash air. A necessity for flower delivery during Alabama summers.

Say it with flowers, but then see the great design of this truck. We love the lines of the 1963 model. We also love the rear double door. Perfect.

Dog dish hub caps cover the wheels on the ’63 Chevy flower truck.

Seamist Jade paint covers the all-original 1963 Chevy Panel truck.

Pun times with the 1963 Chevy panel truck

• “Run for the roses as fast as you can” – Dan Fogelburg
• “No daffodil-ing around, we got flowers to deliver” – Ron Kidd 
• “Chrysanthe-Mums the word on how great we would be as delivery guys” – Jody Potter
• “Let those Junk Yard Life guys drive after all those bad puns? Don’t hold your baby’s breath, guys” – David Bentley

Know a junkyard that we need to visit? Got a car story?  

Send emails to Ron at Kidd403@bellsouth.net or Jody at junkyardbull@gmail.com.

Cars in Yards: 1987 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe; looks faster than a Mustang

Brawny T-Bird. So I find a car on my grandmother’s street. Big deal. A Thunderbird? Big deal. It is not a mid-fifties model. It’s a 1987 model and the paint doesn’t even look good. 
  I pass by and there it is again. Is that a weird hood? And the stance, I admit, looks a little sinister. ‘Sinister,’ a word often used by us, automotive writers, to describe menacing looking cars, such as the famed Buick Grand National of the same era. Their recipe for success? A smaller C.I.D engine and a big turbo. What, besides the era and styling, makes these two cars even comparable? I’m a Buick guy and I’m finding lots in common, actually.
 

This 1987 Thunderbird does it all for you – except
the shifting. That's up to you. Why? Because of the very cool Turbo Coupe
way of shifting gears — with a factory five-speed!

Stopping by
  This time, as I drive by, I toss a glance in the T-Bird’s direction. I see a gentleman in the yard. 
  “Why am I stopping?,” I ask myself. 
  I don’t want a Thunderbird. (Do I?) Maybe I do? 
  I think about this blue Bird a lot more than I admit to my Pontiac friends. I stop and explain to the owner that my grandmother lives a block over, that way, and I pass by and see his car, a lot. 
  I inquired. I did. The owner told me I could look at it. I found the special hood, the fat tires and now a manual transmission shifter is looking back at me. A 5-speed? A Turbo Coupe! I told you this car was suspicious. Just as I suspected.

Not what you think of when we say Bird? I found this 1987 Turbo coupe in my
travels and I can't stop thinking about it!

Turbo 2.3
  So we chat a bit. I thank the owner for letting me look at the T-Bird. The fellow does plant the idea that he would sell it. No room at the inn. I surmise that the Thunderbird may have been relegated to a yard spot upon the arrival of a newer car. 
  Now the thinking begins. So, I read up. I find that this is an unusual car that hasn’t seemed to hit the collector circles yet. Barret Jackson, keep your hands off our Turbo Coupes, so we can still buy them at a decent price. 
  I learn that Ford started putting the stout, 2.3 liter, 4 cylinder turbo Thunderbirds together since 1983. That doesn’t sound so scary. Well, by 1988, they cranked the boost at the factory to 17 lbs! Well, no wonder they ran well. I learned that Traction-Lok rear axles were found under them as well as other world class, handling components. 
  Then, I remember the chatter from that era. People claiming that the Turbo Coupe ran side by side with the 5.0 Mustang of the era. Furthermore, it was all that the pony cars could do to outrun the Turbo Coupes. Impressive to say the least.

Under the hood we find an intercooled 2.3 Turbo motor. The same power plant can be found between the fenders of the famous fox-body Mustang – The SVO. The original 2.3-liter intercooled and turbocharged four-cylinder engine pumped out 190hp with the full complement of 240-lbs.ft.

Time to tangle with a T-Bird turbo?
  So what about now? In a world of Coyote motors and LS everything, could the Turbo Coupe hold its own on the street? Probably not. Although, you do have a new generation of turbo technology and a couple of decades of trial and error by guys with greasy knuckles. Someone knows what works. 
  I’d start with a bigger turbo and more intercooler. And maybe more fuel pressure? Now I am having a moment where I realize I do want this car. It is different, yet subtle, in a world where it shouldn’t have existed. 
  Some cool department at Ford didn’t want the Mustangs to have all the fun. Ford did put that Turbo four-banger in a Mustang — the SVO. That is one collectible and fast Ford. I bet it was the same guys who put a stout-but-small motor in the Taurus of all things and deemed it an SHO. Hats off guys. Great job.
  So now what? A blue 1987 Thunderbird is looking at me. What if it follows me home? I’m drowning in our shoebox, hot rod project. I don’t need another car, do I? Well? Do I?

Ron Kidd
— Junkyard Life

Turbo Coupe emblems assure me this is not like most Thunderbirds.
Note: Body molding color should be black, but the owner had a hard time keeping them black, so he had them painted over in body color.

Ron’s Unlikely Turbo Buick and Turbo Coupe common ground: 

1. Both built on the mid-size sedan platforms.
2. Neither offered in four-door model.
3. Usually the most expensive Regal or Thunderbird on the lot, due to options aplenty.
4. Both used smaller engines than we would have thought and sweet turbos.
5. Marketed to the same demographic. Not cheap or plentiful and priced accordingly. 
6. Both look sinister. I said it. Sinister.
7. Also, managed to look subtle and unobtrusive to the layman’s eye. I know we can spot one with one eye tied behind our back, but ask your mother or your math teacher and they will not have a clue.
8. Neither had a V-8, but still managed to demand high insurance premiums. Junkyard Life note: we know the Regal and the Thunderbird were offered with V-8’s, Mr. Technical. But we are only referring to the Turbo Coupes and the Turbo Regals.

 I was offered a chance to drive the car. I declined. The innocent owner was unaware that Ron Kidd and Turbos cannot be trusted in the same car. This refurbished turbo, intended for a bigger truck, is not just whistling "Dixie." This has major boost!

Power everything. Power seats, sentinel light dimmer, extra stereo (aftermarket head unit), power door locks, dual power mirrors, power windows. 

Ford built 128,533 Turbo Coupes between 1983 and 1988. The final TC production year, 1988, saw 35,271 hustle off dealer’s lot.

Know a junkyard that we need to visit? Got a car story?  

Send emails to Ron at Kidd403@bellsouth.net or Jody at junkyardbull@gmail.com.

First Car: 1979 Hurst/Olds W30 an unlikely candidate for first car, but it was free

No such thing as a free 1979 Hurst/Olds W30? Think again. 13-year-old Jimmy Peterson, of Scandia, Minnesota, landed the tri-fecta of first-car perfection. No. 1, it's a collector car, No. 2, it has the Junkyard Life seal of approval, and last but not least. It was FREE. The terms of the deal were simple. Haul the gold and white W30 H/O away and the car was his. Jimmy’s dad quickly handled the hauling. This one-of-2,499, Hurst/Olds, of 1979 vintage, landed in the Peterson’s stable of cars and made Jimmy a junkyard legend. 

The 1979 Hurst/Olds was available in Gold/White or Gold/Black paint combos. Original H/O-specific items are as rare as finding one of these in a junkyard. Not happening these days.

Hot Rod Bloodline
  Any 13-year-old kid would score major, cool points just by owning a car. This kid is way cooler. Jimmy follows his family’s tradition of wrenching on cars. His dad owns the 1970 Dodge Dart Swinger that Jimmy’s grandpa raced in the stock classes back in the early 1970s. 
  “I’m told grandpa was a legend at the track,” said Jimmy. “My family is definitely into old cars.” 

Gutted 1979 Hurst/Olds needs some light freshening. Junkyard-style “bucket” seat is a ride everyone needs to experience – once.

Future plans
  Jimmy will be ‘too cool for school’ as he joins an elite club of H/O owners. Jimmy plans to put the H/O back on the road and even hit the race track one day.
  “This bad boy isn’t hitting the crusher,” said Jimmy. “I’m gonna fix it up and hot dog the 350 Rocket engine and 350 turbo tranny.” 
  Body work and paint are on the ‘to-do’ list. Dual exhaust, headers and more gear in the rear end are also in the plans. Some non-original parts will be used on the interior because reproduction items are few and far between. Parts from a donor, 1972 Cutlass may find a home on Jimmy’s H/O.

Congrats, and thank you for saving a valuable car. Good luck with the project H/O!

Jody Potter
— Junkyard Life

Know of a car or a junkyard I need to visit or want to send me photos and info about a barn find, car or junkyard?  

Send emails to junkyardbull@gmail.com.

 

Hurst/Olds were known for the Dual/Gate shifter. Also known as a “His and Hers” or “Street/Strip” patterns. Right side was for racing, left, for cruising.

Damage to the roof, from previous owner’s collision with a deck. The energy of a 13-yr-old with big dreams will help this H/O get back on the road.

Complete dash and gauges framed by sporty 1979 H/O steering wheel.

1979 Hurst/Olds were available with Hurst or Fisher T-tops. 537 built with Fisher T-tops. 

Odometer shows 56,000 miles on this 1979 Hurst/Olds. Jimmy believes it is not 156k.

Some H/Os were equipped with an AM-FM/8-track/CB radio. I’ve seen this radio before and do not believe it is original to the car.

Original 1979 H/O bucket seats. I’ve driven cars with worse seats than this.

14x6, original 1979 Hurst/Olds wheels.

This 1979 H/O W30 car was left for dead, but somehow it is destined for rebirth in the hands of a determined, 13-yr-old, gearhead.

Olds Rocket 350 engine is ready for some attention under the gold hood of this ’79 H/O.

Know of a car or a junkyard I need to visit or want to send me photos and info about a barn find, car or junkyard?  

Send emails to junkyardbull@gmail.com.