...or, "I went and visited a 600+ car junk yard today with two Pinto wagons".
Our story begins this past Tuesday when an acquaintance tips me off on a Craigslist ad I had missed, where a guy was parting out Pintos. The location? An isolated plot of land 85 miles Northwest of Dallas; basically, a guy, his home, and many acres of land right beside the highway where he had collected cars for many years.
On Tuesday, I make a phone call. MISSION: Get there as soon as possible. Having a '76 wagon in need of various parts, I am enthralled that he has a '76 wagon also, as well as a '74 wagon. I am intrigued, though I am warned "the front ends on both wagons are pulled off (meaning, sheet metal is there, but there is no suspension). No problem.
I set an "appointment" for late in the week. Wednesday arrives with a cold front - and MUCH rain. I am hoping Friday fares well. Thursday arrives with cloudy skies, coller - but no rain. The weather bodes well. I warn the boss I will be "out tomorrow", and tell him where I am going. A puzzled look ensues on his face - a big smile graces mine.
Friday arrives. I wake late, enjoying knowing it is my day. The skies began to break, I grab lots of tools, and head North. Ah...the sun is shining, skies are blue all around. The handy Ford Expedition thermometer shows it to be 67 degrees - what is better? Fall in Texas is a DELIGHT!!
I head to roads unknown, but sense the thrill of the destination. I have no idea what awaits - but I know it will be fun. I am told by the owner that the lot of cars is "right off the exit", I see my exit sign as it is approaching 12 PM, sun high but temperature and breeze pleasant..... and there it is - a long, tedious swath of rusted and color bleached metal sitting behind a farm style home. Ah, the joy!!
I phone the owner. He has left for town but is only 15 minutes away. I patiently wait across the street in a vacant lot that faces a closed diner. Within a short time I am greeted by a man driving a 1960 Ford pickup truck - amazing. We turn off into his drive, dogs gathering with friendly barks as the Expedition lazily floats on the soft, dry, convoluted path leading to the pasture of metal hulks.
I cannot process it all, my mind awash in expectation, and a different car at every turn, even prior to the treasure! A '59 Buick station wagon sits behind the shop; A 60's Chevelle is beneath a lean-to. As we turn into the field, he leads me off in a row towards the Pintos, with every sort of car looking on in forlorn fashion.
I am greeted by a group of once majestic Lincolns; a lonely handful of Ford Falcons; a 1971 Mustang elevated and cut to pieces; Cadillacs, proud but worn. The list goes on and on - a shameless Corvair; several 4 door Mavericks, a 1948 Chevrolet, proud and lean; old panel trucks, ambulances, 50's MG's; a Peugeot "404"...my Lord, what does he NOT have? Plymouth Sattelites, a "Christine" 4 door, Plymouth Dusters, Ramblers, INCREDIBLE.
And there, in the midst of it all, high in weeds, the wagons, no less worse for wear than all their neighbors. Weather does funny things to cars, no matter where you are from; in Texas, the enemy is HEAT. The '76 sports a light blue, heavily faded coat of paint. The rear door is dented and locked, but the doors open. Inside, the drivers seat is graced with the air cleaner cap; the dash cap is heavily cracked, the carpet is faded, the seats are torn and dry. Little is salvageable, though I am particularly interested in the reasoning behind the 1979/1980 style speedometer cluster in the dash (see photo)! The steering wheel is majorly cracked as well, the rear interior panels are crumbling and faded, and the parking brake housing is falling apart. The radio is long gone, and the console has been cut (Arghhh!)
The motor is left to the elements, with the hood having been sold off some time ago. The battery tray is partially rusted away, keeping me from taking interest. There is no roof rack, no side moldings, and no wheel moldings, as this is a basic, no-frills model. The antenna is busted off, the doors have rust in them, and Bruno (well, I am guessing) the junkyard dog is there to keep me company as I sadly peruse the remains of the vehicle. Further inspection reveals a buck tag (indicating manufacture in Canada), and a DSO of St. Louis (NOT a Texas car!!), and a heavily damaged passenger fender.
From this car I pull the driver's fender, and the grille, which, while having one busted tang (don't they ALL)? is still useable. I am reminded of the earlier conversation with the owner who tells me how the hood went to California, the windshield trim went somewhere else, and the head of the '74 another location still. While I leave the car worse than I found it, having lost some of its face, I remember that the parts go for a good cause, and all seems well again.
The 1974 beside it is about the same - torn headliner, head removed from the engine, bad sheet metal, missing roof rack (man, I really wanted that), bent bumpers, and the ever-so-common cast of time and weather worn elements that makes me HAPPY that I found an all original, running wagon to START with! Sometimes humility is precious....
The work is finished, I load my truck, and go find the owner, and hand him the agreed amount. As the afternoon wanes on with a bright sky, we tour the yard with my camera in hand, talking about the history of many vehicles, and the future of cars in general. He is admittedly surprised as I was that Pintos have taken on a level of interest like never before, and tells me of his own 1980 orange hatch that he let go of, and still regrets.
We talk for quite a while, conversation interspersed with occasional cell phone calls that he receives regarding parts interests. It is approaching 3 PM as I kindly leave the lot, and head back home. Greetings aside, I feel refreshed and excited, knowing I have work to do....
...and knowing I will visit again.
Chris
Have you ever heard of fm600 wrecking? I'm cutting my own parts supply, but what the hick....It's about 10 miles north of Abilene and has (at last visit) 15 pintos on the place. It's huge and they only crush a car when it has nothing else to give. On my last visit, they had 2 wagons, and one of them did have the rack. Good hunting, but be quick, as I might need some more parts for my wagon :devil:
Ps..they are open from 8 to 1 on saturdays if you have nothing to do for the weekend, and 8 to 3 on weekdays.
pop please tell me you can do me a Big favor, on the rear hatch of the Pinto wagon i need the Handle, Mine doesnt have one. and it did at one time. I will trade you the Moldings(all for the rear lights and the handle if he doesnt charge you too much for them) I need the Handle most and the lights i have my old room mate over tightened the screws so it pushed them through the plastic edging. Im hoping those ones are better. =) let me know
I loved reading through your story. Your anticipation vibe is the same that I get every time I get to the yard that I regularly visit. I get real excited when wandering the bone yard and awaiting the presence of a Pinto. :)
It sounds like you had a great day and have found yourself a new wrecker friend! :D
Quote from: PintoDriver on October 17, 2008, 10:44:23 PM
Have you ever heard of fm600 wrecking? I'm cutting my own parts supply, but what the hick....It's about 10 miles north of Abilene and has (at last visit) 15 pintos on the place. It's huge and they only crush a car when it has nothing else to give. On my last visit, they had 2 wagons, and one of them did have the rack. Good hunting, but be quick, as I might need some more parts for my wagon :devil:
Ps..they are open from 8 to 1 on saturdays if you have nothing to do for the weekend, and 8 to 3 on weekdays.
Hey Pintodriver!!
I appreciate the lead, but of course Abilene is a "trip" for me, the odds of getting out there are less than my 85 mile excursion. Nonetheless, I just might have to set a day aside soon and take a look. Hey, if you want to meet up and check things out that would be cool! And, don't worry, there's plenty for everyone... ;D. Thanks!!
Chris
Quote from: 75bobcatv6 on October 18, 2008, 12:15:13 AM
pop please tell me you can do me a Big favor, on the rear hatch of the Pinto wagon i need the Handle, Mine doesnt have one. and it did at one time. I will trade you the Moldings(all for the rear lights and the handle if he doesnt charge you too much for them) I need the Handle most and the lights i have my old room mate over tightened the screws so it pushed them through the plastic edging. Im hoping those ones are better. =) let me know
Hey, I would be happy to help. You are telling me you need both the handle (the little chrome piece above the lock, yes?) and the tail light housings? I remeber seeing an extra set of tail light housings in one of the cars, and they looked pretty good. The housings that were on one of the cars (can't remember '74 or '76) were pretty ratty - had those "corrosion" bumps. Please verify your needs.
And, do me a favor again if you would - I know you sent me a message with pics of stuff, and for some reason it got deleted. I want to take a look at stuff again.and confirm what you have is the right stuff.
Let's deal.
Chris
Quote from: dave1987 on October 18, 2008, 02:31:42 AM
I loved reading through your story. Your anticipation vibe is the same that I get every time I get to the yard that I regularly visit. I get real excited when wandering the bone yard and awaiting the presence of a Pinto. :)
It sounds like you had a great day and have found yourself a new wrecker friend! :D
Thanks Dave!! You know, I realized it was gonna be wordy but it was such a beautiful day, and it all just came out in a way that I had to tell it in whole.
That's what this is all about! I appreciate you telling me you enjoyed it.
Chris
good weather and acres of "forgotten" cars! poetry that used to be in motion. Love the story! good find!
Chuck
Chris, they have a website: http://www.fm600wrecking.com/ (http://www.fm600wrecking.com/) so you can call and see if they have what you need before you make the trip. They will even pull the parts and hold them for you until you get there. Some good ole boys out there.
I'd like to drive to the big city and meet one day, but I have to finish my pickup, and then my pinto, and then there's work, car shows, and my boat and a BIG TEXAS BASS! As soon as I finish my pinto, I'll have to drive some place just to have the fun of doing it. But right now my plate is full. Hopefully soon.
Dan
Chris are you going there again. Youre 2nd picture what is white car to rt.. of brown wagon. Fred :)
Fred, I can't see much in the pic, but it looks like a '78 El Camino to me.
Thanks molding around back looked like my 79 Ranchero. 78-79 also ltd 2 need front turn signal lens. Fred :)
Quote from: Fred Morgan on October 18, 2008, 03:14:49 PM
Thanks molding around back looked like my 79 Ranchero. 78-79 also ltd 2 need front turn signal lens. Fred :)
Fred:
Write me at my email, and tell me exactly what you need. and for what cars. I'll see what I can do. Yes, I plan to go there again.
Chris
Quote from: popbumper on October 18, 2008, 01:12:56 PM
Hey, I would be happy to help. You are telling me you need both the handle (the little chrome piece above the lock, yes?) and the tail light housings? I remeber seeing an extra set of tail light housings in one of the cars, and they looked pretty good. The housings that were on one of the cars (can't remember '74 or '76) were pretty ratty - had those "corrosion" bumps. Please verify your needs.
And, do me a favor again if you would - I know you sent me a message with pics of stuff, and for some reason it got deleted. I want to take a look at stuff again.and confirm what you have is the right stuff.
Let's deal.
Chris
Yes i am looking for the part above the lock and the Complete Taillights. And i can send them again in a min. so you have it. if it is what you need I will get them off and to you ASAP. Thank you for replying and it was a nice Story =) let me know that you got the Email ok?
Some sorry looking turn signal lens. :'( Fred :)