1958-72 View  //  April 2008

Junky Chevys

 

When items are discarded and sent to the junkyard they are generally considered worthless, but with cars there may be some resalable parts. If you have ever spent time in a junkyard, you know that life for a Chevy there is rather bleak.
Occasionally someone may come along and pick off a part, but for the most part they just sit around and rust in peace.
In this month’s View, I contend that there is no such thing as a worthless, junk Chevy. Many old Chevys may find their way to the local junkyard, but in the hands of the right person these "junk" cars can turn into treasure troves. If you've ever restored an old Chevy, I'm sure you have a "secret junkyard" featuring old Chevys where you go to scavenge parts. However, if you're starting on your first Chevy restoration, then locating a junkyard with at least one or more of your year and model Chevy should be one of your first goals.
Let me explain why I feel there is so much value in these junkyard Chevys. Too often a person will start the restoration of an old Chevy thinking that every part needed for that restoration has been reproduced. However, there are some years and models where very few parts have been reproduced. If you're restoring a 4- door or a station wagon, having a good parts car nearby is a must. A word of advice…if you are lucky enough to locate a good parts car and you have the space to store it, purchase the entire car on your first trip to the junkyard! I can hear some of you out there asking, “Why in the world would I want to buy the entire car?” There are many reasons, but here are just two examples: First, on your second or third trip to the junkyard, the yard owner will realize that he has a repeat customer and the prices may go up on needed parts. Second, it's strange how the passing of time will cause us to forget things – you might be putting something back together on your car and it doesn’t seem to fit. A quick trip to your "junk" Chevy will show you exactly how it goes back together. Or maybe you remember how it goes back together, but when it comes time you can only find 10 of the 12 bolts needed. These are a couple of occasions when having that "junk" Chevy nearby is a sanity-saver.
Now suppose the restoration and repair of your Chevy is nearing completion; what about the "junk" Chevy sitting behind the barn? Has it reached the point that it's worthless? If there is nothing other than a pile of rust, the answer is yes! However, you still have some options. You could keep the car around for any needed repairs down the road, or if you're sure you'll never need another part, you could always sell the carcass back to the yard where you purchased it.
As I said, I feel a Chevy has to go a long way before it reaches the point of being worthless. If you can find a "junk" Chevy to aid in your restoration, buy it. You'll never be sorry you did!