some people are just plain stupid

I guess there's people out there who arn't interested or don't care about finding the people with the answers about this stuff. Any one of us here (if asked) could instantly lead that '58 Buick owner to at least a couple of people or businesses who would pay a decent amount for it - even assuming it didn't run.

Coincindentally, look what's for sale on CL in Albuquerque....
http://albuquerque.craigslist.org/cto/2584231294.html

Ad was posted 9/6


Nice Straight Buick recent pics
Rust free body taken to metal.Epoxy Primed
9 inch diff
trunk ares as new
firewall ect same

Needs floor pans
no engine -Trans in car yet
719-587-3872

 

Right, NY. The hand writing is on the wall. The politicians hide their little laws in bigger Bills that are passed and they get their way. The automobile as we know it is on its way out. I only wish that I was a rich man again. I'm telling you the truth when I say that I would build several huge pole buildings and buy as many beautiful old classic cars, from the 30's on up, as I could afford and bring them back to their original beauty and store them. I'm not kidding folks...our cars are disappearing at an alarming rate....much to the delight of the politicians. Take a look at that junk yard in this thread. That is just ONE of HUNDREDS just like it. Take a look at some of the older yards in the "Wagons in Vintage Street Scenes" thread sometime. Having lived through the era of the car and its transitions, I cannot TELL you how angry and sad I am with the segment of the human race that would delight themselves in the destruction of these historic and beautiful representatives of the building of America. And my anger is also directed at those owners of yards that would destroy these cars and ship them off for a few dollars in their pockets. In my book, they are scum.

 

Damn!!! I hate when I am misquoted.. Please read what I said again. Below is the appropriate sentance.

I never said that this or any other car in that pile will ever be parted out.

 

reBUTTal #2

regarding Junk's comment - I'd like to say that there is a "somewhat" comforting story behind why the car is in there stacked up but there's not. These guys are professional scrap shredders, and unfortunately how it saddens us old car guys, they look at that 58 Buick the same way as a crapola 96 Corolla. There are a few thousands of cars at that facility. I have more pix I took.

I didn't think I'd get ppl riled up as much as I did! I sure as hell ain't gonna show you guys any pix that show the many 70s-80s wagons in those stacks, you guys would shoot me....

 

Cars Become Scrap

Even three of our four kids look at cars as a way to get to work and to the mall! Every few years they trade for another look-alike piece of crap. When I die my junk will end up junked...or sold very cheaply so they can sell this place and get back to Illinois. Laws make it difficult for the old type scrap yards to remain in business. Those rare pieces of chrome mean nothing except a few dollars in scrap metal!---Who in their right mind would want a low cost 70's-80's station wagon when they can spend a fortune on a new SUV.

 

Junk's post claims that his friend is under the impression that these cars will go to a pic-a-part operation.

How did this misquote you?? Your friend said cars LIKE THIS. It's a natural presumption that if you refer to cars LIKE THIS that you are referring to these cars as well.

 

I don't know everything about it, but the dynamic of salvage auto parts sales is an interesting one. You could probably pull some fantastic mathematical formulas from it.

Late model parts are easy - parts are plentiful, easy to locate, within a short driving distance for most folks. I was looking for 2 left side doors on a '04 Caillac SRX the other day. Car's in kind of a remote town on the Oregon coast. Found the doors right here in Eugene for $750 a piece - same color even.

Starting around 10 years old or so, it gets a bit harder. Less of a particular car on the road, prices start going up (cars that are million-sellers like a Corolla for instance it takes a little longer....) One influencing factor as well is a particular car's market value. Auto salvage yards have to keep track of the 'market value' of the vehicle, and well as the 'new' cost of parts. Price a used part too high and an insurance company will just 'total' the car, or get a new or aftermarket part.

When you start getting to the 'collector car' parts stage, it's a whole different ball game. Here, the 'market value' of the vehicle is of little consequence, and of course there are no 'new' parts. Salvage yards biggest 'competitors' here are individuals who are selling whole parts cars, so a lot of them scour the market and buy them up themselves. Part condition is the biggest factor price-wise.

Good question as to why that '58 Buick ended up on the scrap metal pile. Being in New Mexico, there's a lot of old cars laying around like that. I suspect that if you examined the car up close, you would be able find out why it was scrapped instead of being parted-out. Sandblasted / dented trim? Not a popular body style (2-door post - doors wouldn't work on anything else)?

 

It might be your natural presumption, however, it wasn't my intention for there to be any presumption in my writing, natural or unnatural, by not being clear with the words that I choose. When I learned the English language, I was taught that you have to read and understand the written language and the spoken word, and not to make presumptions that are not supported by the words themselves. I have read your words, and have not made any presumptions about those words.

The rest of your words in post # 143246...

The cars that make it into the Pick a Part yards are not clamped and are not piled, nor are they taken from piles of cars. Also, my friend isn't "under the impression", he knows this as a fact, since he makes his living picking parts at these yards and selling them. Only after they have been picked for parts for approximately 30 days, are then then moved to a scrapping location to be disposed of. Not all automobile recycling owners are interested in quick destruction because of the high price of steel scrap. Some know the difference between the value of a 1958 Buick for parts, and the value of a 1990 Toyota for parts without regard to the base value of the scrap metal itself. They are in business to maximize profits and doing what is necessary to be financially successful, which precludes "clamping them" and putting them onto a pile to be shredded, compressed, or otherwise being prepared for shipment without regard to the intrinsic value of the removable parts.

 

On the contrary, fomo. No one blames you for the demise of these cars or for showing them. It is good information that SHOULD be passed on to us and other car guys. It shows us what's happening out there.

 

Your friend used THESE cars as his REFERENCE to cars that would pass to parts yards. No one made any reference to what YOU said.
I'm through with this side discussion....the actual discussion is too meaningful to me to waste time mincing words because you misunderstood my meaning.