Event Coverage Crusher Alert - Junkyard Tehachapi Ca.

Consider the value of the land plus the price of scrap as opposed to how long it would take to make the same amount selling off a fender here, a piece of trim there, etc. and I'd be scrapping all that too. Who wants to spend their lifetime schlepping parts to make a couple grand a month. This place is in the middle of nowhere, literally. The closest city is Bakersfield, which is the armpit of America. If it were a viable business venture, there'd be people lined up to purchase it. It's not, so we're stuck with the alternative. Sad, but true. How many of us have tried to sell take-off parts from our projects only to receive zero interest? Hate to throw away original control arms, etc, but after six months of tripping over them and nary a phone call, in the trash they go. I'm not in the business of storing things in case the next guy needs them. It pains me to admit that, but I don't want to live like a hoarder either and I'm not interested in making a career selling at every swap meet to make a couple hundred bucks. I'll save what I can, but when it becomes a burden, out it goes.

 

It's interesting to see how a thread about having the chance to save some parts from the crusher has turned into a discussion about economy and real estate industry. I thought this is a car site.

There is at least one good crusher:

 

It’s the HAMB

 

Offspring really don’t want to deal with their parents business in many many instances.
When the parents want to retire, pass away, generally the kids already have a career of some sort, if not, they’d have been working along side mom/dad and taken the business over.
My neighbor recently passed. He was a collector/hoarder, old school guy who worked with a few drag racers of Mopar vintage. He had sagging shelves of Hemi heads, had I don’t recall how many cars out back with Wedge engines, he had inventory that would make someone decent money if they took the time to do it.
The daughter who is the conservator of his was going to do just that, put her some in charge of selling piece by piece etc.
The place is located two parcels down from the main highway, she got an offer on the land, which also included 100% clean up. And I did say hoarder, not only did he hoard old Mopar stuff, but to get to an area in front of his house to knock on the door, was a path of old washers, dryers, stoves, and who knows what.
About 2 months ago, a backhoe showed up and was there for a few weeks, when the backhoe left there was a excavator, when it left a few days back, there was a big dumpster full of tires(who knows what else) and the house, garage , barn was gone. It’s now just a open 3 or 5 acre lot.
I was told (cannot confirm) she sold the place as it sat, no effort on anyones part for 1.2M. I couldn’t believe it, but I then was thinking about it, Ted told me 25/30 years ago when the country was on his ass to clean it up, he worked some magic somewhere and got out of being “agricultural zoned” to something like Commercial/Industrial zoned.
After the above long winded thumb calluses typing, would anyone take a quick high dollar payday, not alter your life one bit, or?

 

That is a bit harsh, Bakersfield is not the armpit of America-just California. But I still enjoy going there twice a year to the drag strip.

 

This is a meta-issue, that is pervasive across all aspects of our hobby.

We ignore it at our peril.

 

Money talks BS walks . It’s the instant gratification world we live in . Part of the family wants to part it out on a daily basis. The other part has to have cash in hand now . Story as old as time

 

Ditto, I thought Fresno was the armpit. lol

 

How many in the family to split the money. Day to day operations in a yard where many are already mostly stripped isn't going to bring in much to be split with many. I wonder how many of you have been to large older yards where it's mainly stripped hulks whose only real value is what the crusher will pay. That's why so many yards are now newer models and the guys laugh when you ask about something even from the 50's. The real income is from the average Joe or garage needing a part for a daily which might possibly be as old as 1990. If a yard tried to exist only on the sales of older parts like we might use they would go broke

 

They would have taken any offer for more than they got. If it had been to save the cars or whatever else the buyer wanted to do with it. It's in the same vein as complaining when the farmer sells to a developer and people bitch that it is going to destroy "their" view. Should have bought the farm and paid to maintain it, just the way they like it to look. I doubt anybody here was in a position to do anything about it, except commiserate. There is all sorts of funds out there to save all sorts of stuff, start a "Save the Cars". Mike

 

Could be. Not sure what the metrics are. Sure looks like it from the highway. Probably not a worse looking town if you just drive through on the 99. Armpit real estate prices are attractive to former bicep, deltoid and forearm residents. Back fence neighbor moved from SF, bought for $750k and is ecstatic. Has lived here for a year. Cousin sold in Danville for $950k and bought here for $350k. Uncle sold in Upland and lives here now. Here's the view from six minutes from the house.


The land adjacent to this golf course used to also be a golf course. It is no longer as the son of the founder wanted his cash and sold it for real estate development. Transaction was several years ago and it's still just sitting. Even in the armpit of CA the developers win. Doesn't matter what's in the way.

 

Isn't San Bernardino the "armpit" of America?

 

Here is the view from our house, bad photo, in the winter, but I think the message is clear!





View attachment 5658349 View attachment 5658351 View attachment 5658352 View attachment 5658349 View attachment 5658351 View attachment 5658352 View attachment 5658349 View attachment 5658351 View attachment 5658352 Bones

 

Nice place there Bones, I am jealous. I have a nice place in the country too, but sadly its too close to the north pole. Rather be an okie

 

Thanks! I have a lot of trees to hide my cars and other vehicles! Good fishing here too!




Bones

 

So, did anyone get any cars or parts?

 

No kidding, this is what I want to know.

In fact, this is all I want to know.

 

Every time I see the word or hear the name Tehachipi, I hear this song running thru my head.

If all this number crunching is making your brain hurt, take a few minutes to unwind with this.

 

Grew up in Modesto, so there could be a few cities that qualify for that title.

No, I think it's something else all together. LOL

 

I know John at Big M in Williams got 8 cars or so out of there. 50s Mopar fin cars. (His specialty)

 

You guys obviously have never been to Gary Indiana.

 

The Novas was a garage band from the Twin Cities. Minneapolis/St Paul Minnesota. The Crusher was a pro wrestler on local TV.

 

Believe me, compared to those mentioned, there are a lot of places that make them look good...