How or why: Salvage yard finds

[68 IRON]

Has anyone ever found a truck in a salvage yard so nice that you wondered this? I just came across one....and it just doesn't make sense. Sure there are variable you might not think of, but, somehow it still leaves you shaking your head.

Not a very good pic, but both doors opened and closed like new.


The outside rockers are naturally crushed with the "wheel stands" they set the truck on, but no rust, absolutely none. I got most of the parts....but what happened? Why or how did it end up here?

[helldiablo]

i wonder this same question every time i go to the junkyard.. some ive seen are in better shape than what im driving..

[Classic Heartbeat]

That pick-a-part tries to sell whole vehicles if they think they can make more money. I wonder if they tried to sell that one first and couldn't get their asking price.... WES

[webfoot]

I had a talk with a local "junk yard dawg" about a nice (non-chevy) pickup. Truck was straight, no rust, and complete. Apparently it was abandoned by the PO and Oregon would only give him a salvage title, which meant it could not be registered again. The conversation was a few years ago so I may be forgetting something.

[68 IRON]

Wes, you're right, they do that often but never saw this one for sale. They told me it had just come in (my luck I guess).

Webfoot, as far as registering....some of the PO's info (registration and such) was still in the glove box or floating around the cab. I ripped up the paperwork so it doesn't remain "handy". It just seems like it was a darn quick trip to dismantling. Maybe someone offered up enough for the engine, trans and rear axle....only thing I can figure. If anyone else has pics of there finds, lets see them. -John

[stich626]

to 95% of the driving j.q. public it's just another old truck...
why is this so hard to understand..
I pass by ford trucks in yards and don't even look.. I'm sure there is the same to be said for the ford guy running down to a yard..
to my wife if I die, they (my cars) are just old rusty things..
now if it was a 68 mustang. she'd care.. but otherwise . she like 95% of the people in this world it's just an old truck

[Classic Bowties]

Originally Posted by 68 IRON

If anyone else has pics of there finds, lets see them. -John

Below is a link w/pics to a similar one that was junked after a camaro dude ripped out the big block and sent her off for the crusher. Mel

Link for salvage 68 396 truck: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=354383

[dajn]

Prices being high does not hurt. I scraped a complete 73 three quarter ton chevy because of the money. I got $470 for it. Completely rusted out with a blown 350. But I admit there were many useful parts on it but what I envisioned for the thing was just not going to happen anytime soon. You have to be realistic about these things.
Posted via Mobile Device

[68gmsee]

Many years ago (20 or so) I saw a pristine short bed truck in a junkyard. Can't remember what year it was but it also was black, had tilt steering, a/c, very little rust, the seat and interior was in good shape and from what I saw it was all original. Even the chrome was in great condition. I wondered what idiot would take a truck like this to a junkyard, but there it was.

I went inside and asked the counter person what he would take for the steering column complete thinking that he was going to laugh at me and I was surprised when he said he'd take $50 for it. I thought I hit the jackpot but when I walked back to start taking it off, another guy saw me and stopped me saying that the whole truck had been sold and they just hadn't had time to put a sign on it.

Ruined the rest of the day for me...

[special-K]

Like so many misguided people,the person who junked it only saw value in shortbeds and big blocks (or maybe only care about cars). They probably got the truck cheap enough off an older original owner,raped the big block and took the truck in for scrap value. What a fine truck that was! I've seen stuff in junk yards all my life that I wondered how or why it could end up there.

[Andy4639]

Don't forget trucks that have been stolen also make there way to these places as well after some parts striped here and there so you can't peice it back together.

[leddzepp]

I see trucks like that all the time here at the pick n pulls. I am glad people junk nice trucks...makes it a worthwhile trip for me.

[LockDoc]

-
Here is the story on mine.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=478066

To lazy to re-post it...

LockDoc

[68 IRON]

LocDoc, I don't know how I missed that story! Great find, they are still out there. As far as my find and taking parts, I hope for this all the time. And when I'm happy to get them I step back and take a break to think. I guess its luck....they didn't want it and here I am just the opposite. Yep as you said they are out there and they will keep showin' up. Again nice find...love those 68's!

[BMERDOC]

Originally Posted by LockDoc

-
Here is the story on mine.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=478066

To lazy to re-post it...

LockDoc

Thats right!! Forgot about it!! What has happened so far?

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by BMERDOC

Thats right!! Forgot about it!! What has happened so far?

Not too much. I got it running and the 327 purrs like a kitten. I think I will go ahead and re-build the brakes but that is probably all I will do to it this fall. Too many other projects.

LockDoc

[BMERDOC]

Glad to see you didn't part it out and instead got it running. One more survivor for someone in the future to enjoy!

[stsalvage]

Trust me out here in Riverside calif when the houses where going for 5 million dollars for a Sh-t box of a house.Metal too was going insane at almost 500.00 a tonI saw more car's and truck enter the scrap yards from the salvation army and all these None profit places that just make you cry.I was calling any one that would listen to me even guys in AZ and NM to come4 sit out front of the scrap yards and wait for the hot rods to come in.I was lucky to find this headed to the scrap yard 6 years ago and the other one 9 years ago and at the time there where not hot sellers

[factorystock]

That black truck was carefully ordered with specific extra cost $$$ options by the original owner for use as a nice recreational vehicle (camper). This is why so many custom campers are great values today. Many people shy away from 3/4 tons thinking they are work trucks, without even thinking of looking at their spids first.

[pritch]

I never saw a fast back California Special before. That's pretty cool. And is that Nova a '68? I had a '68 Nova in high school, but it was a 4 door. You can tell by the tail lights, they are sorta like our trucks, in that the back up light is separate from the tail light. Kinda.

As far as the original post, a while back I was at the pick & pull and they had a '67 Sportvan that had not been touched. I'm sure they drove it to where it was. I shoulda bought the whole thing, but I just had money enough for the almost perfect bucket seats, and a couple odds and ends that just looked cool.

[Pont406]

I see at all the time but this '67? was very clean and no rust.