Pick a Part Days are numbered

[tdangle]

Just got back from the local Pick-a-Part. In the past there has always been a couple of our old trucks and early 70's full size cars. None this time. I'll admit it's been awhile, but either everyone is hanging on to these trucks now or their numbers are getting scarce.

[leddzepp]

Which one? Pyrite? Milliken? They have been scarce for a while now

[tdangle]

Milliken. I was there probably about 6 months ago and they had a couple of 67-72 trucks. Maybe I got lucky that time. Picked up a e-brake assembly for inside the cab. The spring on the latch had broke, so it wouldn't hold when you pushed the pedal down.

[midniteblues]

we were up at the big local yard last week none of these gen trucks there.
they did have a good supply of squares last time i was there but this time only a handfull.
since scrap prices are so low it pays too crush the heavy stuff like trucks.

im thinking the previous few years of high scrap prices really wiped these trucks out.
now it dont pay too run them across the scales you would be money ahead parting them.

[jerry moss]

used to be able to pull some good stuff at my area pick-n-pull yards but the last several trips were fruitless. also found out that a guy from modesto is a buddy of the stockton yard manager and he gets to go in the holding area and pull whatever he wants before the trucks are put out for the public. not fair to the rest of us but i'd do the same thing if given the chance i suppose. i just wish the guy from modesto was a ford guy instead of a 67-72 chevy guy.

[71swb4x4]

Your area may be different, but around here the Pick A Part places aren't for old car guys, they are for people trying to keep their modern (that's a subjective term) car on the road. It's always been a bonus to find an old car in there. 99% of the crowd is pulling parts off newer vehicles to use on their daily drivers. It's always fun to find another old car guy or gal there.

[special-K]

What used too get hauled to the Pick & Pulls in CA were trucks that are being fixed up now, or sold as is on Craigslist. Those of us in other parts of the country thought you guys were nuts, or taking a good thing for granted. Supply and prices depended on the area in the past. But now with internet it has all been homogenized. There are more nice high option trucks on the East Coast now than there were in the '70s. Trucks and parts cost the same in all parts of the country, also. Not long ago no one here wanted to pay an extra few thousand for a rust free western truck. They couldn't appreciate what it took for a guy to get one and bring it back here. Or appreciate what they would save in the body shop. Now they plunk down tens of thousands on Ebay and another $1,500 or so for transport. What wouldn't sell for $6-7k just a short time ago now goes for $15k and people say, "That's a great price!". I saw someone post that selling parts cheaper to do more volume is the way to go. Gotta have an unlimited supply and demand for that to work. The time is coming to where demand exceeds supply. I used to be the crazy guy who went all over the country for some old trucks. Now I see pristine examples all over, once they are pulled from their garages in neighborhoods where you can't open a hood without getting a letter from the committee. Times have changed

[RDrancher]

I think it happened when the term "barn find" went mainstream on the tube. (That's a tv, not youtube for you youngins.) Nowadays every heap sitting out back with only one salvageable part is advertised as a barn find and considered valuable.

[tommys72]

I ran across a 70 mustang the other day, nothing special...but it did have at least 3 inches of dust on it. Written on the window in the dust was "true barn find".

The pick and pulls in north carolina did a mass crush a few years ago when i was still there. Crushed probably 20 67-72s between 3 yards....was a sad day to watch them smashing them and loading them on a truck, probably to go to china

[Aruba1]

Seeing the title I thought there closing down or something, lol.

[Grumpy old man]

There are no 67-72's or any type classic car or truck in any yards around here , if one hits a pic n pull it's gone in hours ! I posted earlier about volume sales of truck parts but I'm talking NEW REPLACEMENT not factory or nos .these trucks are doing the same thing Camaros did 15years ago and prices will continue to rise until just like old camaro they'll be selling a shell for $7,500.00 .

I've been saying it for years ,

"Buy them while you still can the prices will only go up !"

[special-K]

Yeah, and I had to sell mine I had set for life. I said when that decision had to be made, "I'm good with just the two". Still am, but sure would like the option once I get out from under my divorce mess. I want older trucks and it's the same with them. Nothing is safe sitting around anymore. Heck, they aren't safe in barns now. And you get guys out there digging for them based on hear-say or any other tid bit of info. It's the gotta have it all and gotta have it now society we live in today. Can't let anything be.

[Aruba1]

The last two times I have been to the Birmingham location (a year ago and about 4 months ago) they had two 1967-1972 trucks. They were stripped but I was able to get a nice sunvisor out of one. It was a total score.

[leddzepp]

Here's one I came across a couple years ago. The doors were already gone, but I got the front clip :-).

[leddzepp]

Rust free, dent free, original paint

[firedemon]

not much here older than mid 80s they say no money in it because most people are daily driving 80s or newer . they have to hold onto older stuff too long to make any money taking up valueable space

[special-K]

Originally Posted by leddzepp

Here's one I came across a couple years ago. The doors were already gone, but I got the front clip :-).

A good example of a good truck junked. Looks like a good cab

Originally Posted by firedemon

not much here older than mid 80s they say no money in it because most people are daily driving 80s or newer . they have to hold onto older stuff too long to make any money taking up valueable space

Failed logic. Strip good parts and inventory them rather than leave a whole carcass for getting mashed into wasting the good parts. They say that when really they can't wait to get that easy scrap money. People are working more on '70s and older vehicles than daily driving '80s stuff in NY. Anyone driving an '80s vehicle isn't going to pay much for any parts where someone with a '70s or earlier is willing to pay just to get it. 80-90s cars are throw-aways these days, not worth a repair over a couple few hundred dollars

[71BUCKET]

Nothing around savannah GA either.

[12secondnova]

Definitely spoiled around here. Theres around 15 67-72s in the yard 5 minutes away from me and about a half hour away theres a yard with probably 20 trucks and probably 50 sets of doors, hoods, etc. lined up on their shelves. Only problem is they think its worth its wieght in gold...

[GR8-68]

I went to 109 u pull it the other week, the last time I went was probably in 2010, they had rows of old chevys from all the way back in the 50's on up, probably 40 of 67-72 models. When I went back the other week the had one, it was a 68 and pretty much stripped of anything good. All the other vintage trucks were gone There was a few mid 80's models but not even many of them. I am going back next Saturday to get the few items that was still good before it is crushed. So sad

[mike16]

I've been to bothe pick a parts in las vegas. north one had a 58 olds 2 door sedan and a 68 olds cutlass. the one in the south off of bolder hiway had a 68 impalla 2 door fast back, i bought the 12 bolt out of it for 85 bucks. it had a 72 4x4 another mid 70's 4x4 and a crewcab dually deisle dodge. lots of mid 70's trucks and vans.

the laws in LV are that if a vehicle is on the road and it is not currently taged, or even if its tagged and sits for more than three days on the sholderneits fair game for a towing company. they tow them, rack up the fee's and sell it off to recycler's. it sucks if it your car they tow but they get fresh meat fairly regularly.

you gotta be quick because there is som increadable stuff that shows up and gets picked over quickly. edelbrock intack, afb,headers and valve covers for asbc for 120 bucks. 69 to 72 3/4 ton hubcaps, sitting in the back of a van.... 5 bucks each. i did not even own a truck for them but got them anyway. bell housing, flywheel starter disc pressure plate, 3 speed tranny from a late 70's van...80 buck. everything is half price during holidays.
73 lincoln 9 inch, drum to drum 85 bucks. disc brakes from mc to hubs, from a 70 monte carlo. ditto a 12 bolt rear. amazing. i could not store half the stuff they had. You know how they make jack stands by welding rims together.... I seen eight lug rims from an early 60's pontiac.... welded up as jack stands. go figger

I have a 90 camry. when ever i need to do work on it i go to pick a part to dis assemble one of thiers befor i tear down my own. I upgrade with lexus stuff too. Its heaven all year round. just bring lots of fluids because damn it gets hot.

[ck5566]

Originally Posted by tdangle

Just got back from the local Pick-a-Part. In the past there has always been a couple of our old trucks and early 70's full size cars. None this time. I'll admit it's been awhile, but either everyone is hanging on to these trucks now or their numbers are getting scarce.

This is what happens when people dismantle cars & trucks & sell them off piece by piece. This is why our trucks that survived are going for what they are $$$$$$$$

[71BUCKET]

Drove 2hrs one way yesterday to look at 3 parts trucks complete. I could have all three for 1500$ Or grab what I needed for some cash.

I left with a radio delete and two black visor clips that the screws snapped off removing them. That should give you an idea how bad the trucks where.

[Grumpy old man]

Trucks I bought just a few years ago as parts donors are now tarped in a barn and I'm buying parts to rebuild them everyday , trucks I paid $500 for are now selling for 3-4 times that and if it has a real title and it's intact big money in just a short time .

[72_K10_Vegas]

Spell Check?