Man that was a long trip to Melville today and back. Came home with some nice vent ed kick panels for my 85.
Went there to look at two econoline vans. The guy is selling them for $750 for both. He said they were 67 and 65. We found them to both be 61's and mercury ones. The one has severe frame damage. They need a lot of work. So we told him we get back to him. Next door was a scrap yard and the owners were in. They let us look arond and found another van . He was willing to sell for a couple hundred. Out of the three one would possibly have a chance to be fixed back on the road.
The scrapyard also had a really good 65 Mercury truck witha rust free cab and body He is willing to sell for $500.00 and it runs and drives. Has a 300 6 in it. Has an 8ft stepside box. Color is Pumpkin orange.
So if anyone wants to saveit. They were there cleaning the salvage up to close the business. Will be a few years yet. They have lots to go through there.

Well anyways on the way home saw a pink Merc econo van on a reserve. The guy won a contest for ugliest Res vehicle. He got $250.00 for being the ugliest vehicle. He now has to go to Quepple valley for the same contest for ugly vehicle there.
The crazy thing is that van was in better shape than the other 3 we had seen. He seemed to be willing to sell the van to my friend. But not just yet.
I had a great day doing this road trip. Man that country down that way is loaded with vintage veihcles.
That scrap yard also had a 66 Grand Parisienne 2dr ht complete and saveable for restoration. He had several ford trucks in disrepair. One even had the toolbox on the side panel on a 70's truck. Hard to find those factory tool boxes.
Coming home saw a mid 70's Shortbox sitting behind Quiton Hotel Front damaged. Maybe the guy will sell.
I wish I had more time. It would of been nice to hit some back roads, not just along the highway.
Even saw a 68 XL 2dr ht. Sadly it had burned in a fire. The front clip survived. But the body area was all toast.

 

65 Mercury rust free cab running is damn temprting....

 

Sounds like you had a great trip there Glen.
Seems it`s always the case where some more time on a trip like this would really be nice. Now you have a better idea of where to look the next time.

 

Mid 70's shortbox, sounds interesting! I wouldnt mind getting one, could get a cab and front end anywhere for em, as long as the frame and box were in good shape!

 

Yeah the box on the stepside short had some rust, but what sand blasting would not fix. The cab and front clip were toast.
The place with the 65 is just called Melville scrap yard. No signs out front. But right along the highway coming from the west. Hard to miss. The one with all the junk metal stuf in it. No fence around the place so you can walk right into the place.

 

Frames are a dime a dozen and pretty much indestructible, it`s the sheet metal that takes a big hit from the rust.

 

Shortbox frames are hard to come by for those years. If you know where to find them for a dime a dozen, buy em up and make some cash, cause guys do look for them!

 

My bad, I missed the short box part........
I suppose though if push comes to shove then a regular length frame could be cut down.

 

Yeah pretty much the hardest part to find is the box, in good shape. The frame, as you mentioned, can be shortened, but some guys dont like that, and would prefer to have it factory.

Glen, where was the place with the shortbox? I wouldnt mind calling and inquiring, as long as that wouldnt be stepping on your toes!

 

got any more details on that merc? 3 on the tree?
i am fairly interested..

 

I will get back to you guys on the 65. Corey the guy I went with has the guys phone number.
I'm considering going back to pick up the 66 Pontiac Grande Parisienne 2dr ht to bring home clean and resell. With the GT grill still in it sure looked nice and there are guys willing to buy that car.

 

That sounds like a good trip. I saw that wrecker in Melville last fall when I was combining shopping but never went to check it out.

 

The place with the GMC Shorty was on a farm just west of town. Like maybe 5 miles. Either way if your driving on the Highway . You cannot miss it. You can see it from the highway. No trees or other stuff in the way. We never stopped. It has a 62 Chev grill and I can see the driverside ump of the dash from the road telling me it is a GMC. Chev trucks had smooth dash with no hump over the speedometer. The doors and cab of the truck are 64-66 Chev and GMC trucks. The 60 to 63 have the knee banging door frame.
If the farmer is willing to let go cheap it could be worth a haul back and sell for a profit. I seen lots of guys looking for those old 60's shorty's.

 

Yeah a guy could make a nice profit bringing that stuff up here and reselling it!

 

I just sold the 327 motor from my dads Chevy grain truck for 300 he paid 25 for the truck.