Everyone loves the "My trip to the salvage yard" stories.

[WIDESIDE72]

As some of you may (or may not) know, on one of my trips to purchase 67-72 truck parts,(FRUITLESS),I purchased a 1962 Mercury Comet S-22 a while back. It needed a passenger front fender, grille, one headlight ring and the bumpers were bent. I ended up buying a grille from Memory Lane Dismantlers. AS far as the other parts, I called Mike at a place in Thrall, Texas named Kattner's Auto Service. Thrall is East of Austin, between Taylorand Rockdale. It is a one man operation. I forgot to ask him, but Mike said his dad started the business, so I assume Mike's last name is Kattner, but that it an assumption. I had been by the business located in Thrall, and stopped to look at things a few times, but had never bought anything or talked to Mike. A fellow at another yard mentioned that Mike had another yard out of town with HUNDREDS of old cars, so I called him.. He does not go out to the other yard but once a week when he pulls parts for customers. Believe it or not, he prefers that people come out and take a look and decide what parts they want. I pulled my parts myself (Mike has a generator on his pickup and I ran my sawzall to cut one bolt where the welded nut broke) and he gave me a great deal on the parts. I got the rear bumper (with a 73 license plate), the matching front license plate, two head light rings, two hubcaps, two headlights trim rings, one Comet fender emblem and the bumper to radiator support filler for $100. I could have bought a fender from him that had one crease for between $50- $75, but I would have had to cut down a Hackberry tree to get to it, and I had already bought one from Dakota Auto Salvage for $100. AS a side note, I wish I would not have gotten impatient and bought the out of state fender.It has two dents above the headlight (I was GUARANTEED that it was rust and dent free- should have insisted on pics). This was not the issue so much as the fact that freight was $100. In any case, have a look at a few pics. I took over 100 of general "CARS". There were only 4 or 5 67-72's. (TOO NEW!!!) They were GONE! (AS IN RUSTED OR WRECKED). He did have a good 67 or 68 front painted bumper still on a truck that had been burnt, but I was low on funds and the bolts were RUSTY from the fire, and a wrecked 70 or so cab that would have been for floor and radio area patch panels. It had pristine rockers but after the wreck, someone cut the passenger rear cab corner off. There was another, 68 or so the same way that had been wrecked HARD on the driver front. SOMEONE folded the steering wheel over in the wreck, but it had a good non hacked radio area. Although It turned out to be a disappointment as far as 67-72, or even earlier Chevy trucks (there were a few 55-59's (no big windows) that were rusted beyond repair, and a few pre 55's that I did not look over too well) it did turn out to be a treasure trove for parts for more obscure cars. There are no "MUSCLECARS" or dream cars like 55-57 Chevy 2 drs left, (there were a few 56-57 four door cars) if there ever were any, more of the everday cars. Mike did say that he would sell complete cars. I didn't ask how much, but I am sure it would be reasonable. He knows what he has, though so don't think you are going to get a steal, I figured I might offer him around $2k for a solid late 40's car to try and turn after I sell the Comet. There were a lot of late 40's and early 50's cars with no collision damage. (Rust is not as much of an issue in Central Texas, especially on the old 40's cars.Give Mike a call. He is a good ole boy who could use the business. If (when) I go back, I plan to take my generator and chain saw, as there are a lot of cars "IMPOUNDED" by trees. Also, don't bring your new truck out here,as it is in a cow pasture/ woods with ALOT of Mesquite trees that will ruin tires and scratch up a nice truck. I will post the 67- 72 truck pics first, and will come back from time to time to post random other pics. Give Mike a call. He is a good ole boy who I am sure could use the business. His # is 512-898-2320

[WIDESIDE72]

More pics

[umwtnt]

Sounds like a wonderful place to visit and shop. Thats my kind of place, good luck with the Comet.

[WIDESIDE72]

Where did my pics go?

[67chevemall]

Hey the emblems are hanging in there

[big_al_71]

I am one of those that likes looking at picts of old stuff...
thanks for sharing..

[Jtrux]

I've always wanted to stop there. I work for UP railroad and run through Thrall sometimes. I guess i'm not missing much in terms of our trucks go.

[LockDoc]

-
The no antenna cowl vent laying in the green cab is a desirable piece. If you go back out I would grab it.... Thanks for sharing.

LockDoc

[WIDESIDE72]

A few nore pics

[boogie67]

Wow I could of used them tail lights off the 59 for my el camino.It took me almost a year to find a pair and this was back in the 70's.Lot of cool pictures.

[dan42]

More pix! more pix!

[chevy29267truck]

WoW cool looking trucks i will call see whats for 1967 chevy truck stuffel

[Spray-Bomb]

Hmmm, sounds like a place I need to visit

[vectorit]

Is that a 61 Impala in the last picture? If so, do you have a better picture of it?

[WIDESIDE72]

More pics

[WIDESIDE72]

For Vectorit:

I actually looked this 61 over pretty well. IMO, it would be a parts car only. Rust has gone too far and too many parts missing. It was a 283 non SS car.

[67mater]

dig the tree between the bumper and car!

[ChevLoRay]

Actually, most every '61 Impala HT was a non-SS car. If you have seen one, consider yourself very lucky. The Comet S-22 was much more common, in the day. I had a '63 S-22, with a Dagenham 4-speed. The shifter on it was pure garbage. Anyway, bought it for $50, put a generator on it and sold it for $125. I felt good about it. Those were the days.....about 35 years ago.

[WIDESIDE72]

Originally Posted by ChevLoRay

Actually, most every '61 Impala HT was a non-SS car. If you have seen one, consider yourself very lucky. The Comet S-22 was much more common, in the day. I had a '63 S-22, with a Dagenham 4-speed. The shifter on it was pure garbage. Anyway, bought it for $50, put a generator on it and sold it for $125. I felt good about it. Those were the days.....about 35 years ago.

I am aware that most yrs there were fewer SS cars than regular style. I owned a 61 SS 283 car back in the 90's. No engine, but pretty clean. Paid $500, planned to find a 409, but they were to $$$. SOld the car for $1500. I have seen a few 61 SS's. There is a NICE black one here in Austin w/ a 409.

[passthebuck]

That 59 wagon makes me wanna drive to texas...

[newbraunie]

This goes on my list of places to visit in TX!!

[LuckyHenriksen]

Some hardcore patina

[WIDESIDE72]

Originally Posted by passthebuck

That 59 wagon makes me wanna drive to texas...

I have been thinking about the 59 wagon as well...

[passthebuck]

Originally Posted by WIDESIDE72

I have been thinking about the 59 wagon as well...

The best would be a 59 El Camino though. Soooo cool...

[big_al_71]

man I would love to walk in there and see those in person....