13 degrees is cold for a Vancouver Island dweller! Hope your remembered your mittens. Safe travels home, looking forward to an inventory of your treasure hunt.

 

I hope I don't disappoint anyone but I actually didn't buy anything for the F3. I was kinda hoping that I would see a Ford Script flatbed there but there did not appear to be any.

I did however get a pair of running boards for my wife's 40 Plymouth. These are hard to find. I will tell that story when I get home.....and yes I have video.

I do have a lot of pictures to address the requests that I got from you guys before I left, but in all fairness Josh was correct when he said a couple of days isn't long enough.

Plus every time I saw one of these it was like a squirrel just ran in ront of a bloodhound. I will be home in a couple of days and get these pictures posted.

 

Safe travels, we'll be waiting for those pictures.

 

First of all, the best of the New Year to all you good folks out there. This road trip thing has been kind of fun when you guys respond with questions and enthusiasm. We are in Tacoma Washington now, in a motel. I wanted to make a dash for home yesterday, but my copilot wanted to slow down and stretch out the trip as much as possible. I lost the coin toss somewhere north of Kelso on Interstate 5.

Let's get started.

As soon as we pulled off the road in front of the yard we knew we were in for an experience. There was stuff everywhere and it was hard to tell where the door to the office was located. Instinctively we headed for the woodpile. It was cold and crisp and late in the afternoon, the shadows were long.



We found a door with "No Alcohol or Tobacco" hand scribbled in black paint. It looked like these words were written 20 or 30 years ago. The door opened stiffly with it binding on the frame. It was warm inside.

A small blonde girl with large beautiful eyes sat on top of the counter just inside the door. She was probably somewhere between 3 and 4 years old. Her bright smile was covered in chocolate. Her mother was a few feet away glancing at the her computer, us, and the little one on the counter in rapid succession.

Larry, the owner, was located at his perch on the opposite side of the door. It looked as though he has sat at this location for decades. I guessed him to be in his early 70's. He greeted us with a smile when I introduced ourselves and where we were from. He has seen the likes of us with the illness before. He shares our disease. He knows why we are here.

His lair is complicated. He is surrounded by musty old books and magazines, some probably older than my 67 years, and an arsenal of handy office tools, most likely for straightening out a bent piece of molding or removing a shard of metal from someone's knee.



Now before we get started on the Ford Truck stuff, let me confess here for a minute by wanting to be a hero to my wife and her brother who are restoring their late grandmother's '40 Plymouth. They both used this car as their first driver to get their butts to school. The upholstry and paint is finished on this car but one of the last missing links are the running boards. They are the first thing to rust out and are as rare as a hooker's smile.

"What brings you down here?" asked Larry.
"I came to look at your early Ford trucks," I boasted, " but what I really need is a pair of '40 Plymouth 4 door running boards."

I think Larry and I bonded at this exact point in time. You see Larry just happened to have his old '40 Plymouth in the yard. He later told me that he had been keeping it at his house until recently. His brother and him used to go pheasant hunting in it. They would drive around the countryside with a shotgun propped out of the window.....looking for supper. One day they got distracted chasing a pheasant and his brother drove off the road and hit a fence....damaging the right front fender AND the right running board. It was Larry's job later to "unbend" and fix the running board.

He agreed to sell us the pair for $500. He would have his yard guy take them off the following morning. The price was steep, but what the hell. Where else are ya going to find these. Attached is a video of getting the Plymouth donor off the ground.

Ford truck stuff is coming, and I will take you on a photo tour of the 120 acre yard ....I promise. Stay tuned.

 

A closet Dashiell Hammett in our midst perhaps.... I like your style .. pray continue in your odyssey...

 

I live just up the road in Mountain Home and never knew of that place, although I've been here less than a year. Thanks for the info, I'll have to check it out now.

 

Been following your trip Canadian Guy. It's been a joy. I have a few comments.
- Have you ever thought about writing a book? Your description of the Shop is detailed so well I thought I was there.
- Being a Firefighter and seeing that guy crawl under the car without any cribbing just made me squirm!!!!!
- I sure hope you get the same border control guy. I would just love to see his reaction to the items you scored!

Have a safe, rest of journey home! Dave

 

Thanks Dave. You are right, I took down that video that made you squirm. I am home now so I will get my pictures in order and get to work.

 

You live in a delightful area Bartman. Make sure you allow ample time when you are in Wendell. Well worth the short drive that you will have.

 

Canadian Guy, I wish I would've seen your thread earlier, my wife and I could've met you and your wife for lunch or dinner, or even had you over to our place in Mountain Home. Maybe next time. At least I learned of the great parts yard down the road from us.

 

^ I am sure I will be back that way. I will send you a massage when I do.

Happy New Year. Cheers Tim

 

Sounds good Tim. Happy New Year to you as well.

 

It sounds like a great trip.
Your storytelling is fantastic! I'm on the edge of my seat wanting more.

Safe travels and post more pictures soon.

 

Overview

The 120 acre yard is separated into two distinct categories by a barbed wire fence. The larger area to the north is for donors, and the smaller southern section is for projects. (project cars are sold whole and will not be parted out)There are approximately 10,000 cars on the property in various states of dismantlement. The majority of these cars appear to be pre 1970.

Here is the first glimpse of some parts as you enter the northern parts section.



Here is a sample of a project vehicle.



This is an example of a donor that I was keen on.

 

I think once the temp makes it above 50°F, I'll have to take a drive over there to have a look around. Why 50°? I think that's what it will take for me to get my wife to walk around there with me, and she has the check book. :-)