I encountered a very similar situation
recently when a local yard was closing. They had a crusher onsite willing to pay
$170 per ton ($8.50 per hundredweight). With most of the cars that interested
me, they had a starting bid price of $400 by the crusher.In all
honesty, none of these were 'highly desirable' models. Most were base model
four doors, rusted up to the windows, locked motors and wheels, heavily
pitted chrome, missing emblems and other small goodies, and some have also been
through multiple floods over the years.
I calculated the time, labor, general
expense (gas for my truck and trailer) to haul one of these carcasses out of the
mud plus the counter offer from the crusher, something for the owner's time to
deal with me, and finally my own storage availability. The price was suddenly
far more than what I was willing to pay for a not so needed parts car. Of course
it is sad to see any car go to such a dreadful demise but it also makes me
wonder what a good parts car should be worth?
There have been many heated debates on
this list over the years about inflated values of various cars/parts for sale.
Also many times there has been brutal responses to what others have considered
'restorable'. I remember a time during the 80's/90's when the EPA was the sworn
enemy of car clubs, now it seems that scrap price is the villain. I commend
anyone that invests the time, money, and storage to saving this part of our
American heritage.
Don Roberts
Kansas City, KS
1958 Imperial x4
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, June 03, 2007 12:34
PM
Subject: [FWDLK] Pilson's Garage
Hello Listmates-
Just a note to let those of you who have visited Pilson's Garage in
Stuart, Virginia know that they have crushed all of their vast inventory of
cars .
These vehicles ranged in age from the 40's to the mid 60's. There were
well over a thousand scattered throughout the hills of the large yard. many,
many finned Mopars of every description as well as those from an earlier age.
Probably the largest collection of flathead Ford products as well.
The owner said the price of scrap had briefly gone to 7.50 per
hundredweight and that translated into around a quarter of a million
dollars-far more than he would realize on occasional parts sales.
Touring Pilson's vast collection was an experience in itself. The yard
was so large and heavily wooded one could get lost easily on the many trails.
It was mind boggling to walk in absolute silence down a trail and come face to
face with "300's" crowded fin to fin- rusting away silently. Or to see a large
oak tree sprouting from the engine compartment between the hemi and the fender
well. These cars had been there a long time, many were driven in and just
pushed down the hills until they fetched up against another car or a
tree---
It is a sad passing for those of us who need parts at affordable prices,
and are willing to remove them ourselves. This happening has been all to
common lately here in N.C. as well as elsewhere. Many of us with limited means
will cease to belong to the hobby, being unable to afford the very
high prices of replacement parts on the present market., both used and
reproduced.
Ted
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