History Long Live Junkyards...

Anyone remember Cousineau Auto Wreckers in antigo wi..? In the 60's & 70's my brother & I used to get parts there , then haul them home in the boat at the end of vacation. Pretty nice stuff , great prices , nice people ....

 

Cousineau still exists, they have like 5 locations and are a great source of stuff but mostly for late models, I bought a used battery for my '57 Chevy there really cheap. I think they are very much focused on late model/dismantling now though.

 

You don't want to stand still too long, if you know what I mean!

 

As a kid, was always fascinated with them. When I was 15, my brother and father started one in the Phoenix area. I was a sophomore in HS, would ride my bike to it after school as I learned to strip cars before I had my license.
Learned interchange, the Hollander books, etc. Learned to use a torch, etc. It was a great experience through high school but, went on to other things. That yard lasted about 10 years and he sold out.
Years later, by the early 1990s, I became so aware that these cool old 50s-70s cars would not be around forever- I decided to start my own yard in 1995. Did some studying about zoning, needed permits, etc and bought 5 acres near Phoenix, got my zoning and permits. Then, started buying Pontiacs ( am a Pontiac man ) in quan***y.
Knocked on doors, ads in paper, went to impound yards, etc, etc. All my spare income totally focused on buying old Pontiacs for several years. No trucks or wreckers, I used a tandom trailer and a Pontiac Safari. Did not even have a winch, I would use a manual come along. Some would tease me to buy a winch. My answer? " I could buy another car with the cost of that winch" true.
Soon had 50, then 100, then several hundred. I think I topped out around 500 around 2005.
By that time, I had grown very tired of the Phx weather and searched and bought another acreage in eastern Arizona. Then got zoning and permits for the 2nd acreage. So, since 2005, I have had 2 acreages with proper zoning and permits for unlimited storage/restoration of vehicles.
Have been slowly emptiing the original location near Maricopa and do not have much long term need for this 2nd property. I will be offering this first acreage near Maricopa ( s of Phx ) to another car person. Happily, the zoning and permits is fully transferable to the next guy. He will not have to apply for the same purpose.
If you ever wanted to have your own yard- do not consider it impossible. I am no better than any of you and I have done 2 of them!
Once you have acreage and proper zoning, the sky is the limit as to how many old cars you can save from the crusher and to hot rod or offer parts to others.
If anyone here has questions how to do it, I can answer. Love those old cars and they all need to be saved. Have you ever thought about starting your own yard? Think it is too late? Nope, it is never too late. You would be amazed at all the things that pop up.
have fun.

 

The Cosineau " boys" were in their teens-twenties when I was going there , nice to see they were successful , good people...probably their kids running the show now ...

 

wow that's cool! just like the good old days...be worth a road trip just for a look!

 

Yup that's exactly what I'm talking about...wish they had old '50's rotting car interior smell as an Air Freshener

 

That is great idea except here we are in compe***ion with the Asian buyers for any s**** of land around... even just for living and having a 1 car garage you gotta be a millionaire...one can dream though

 

Here’s my local auto parts recycling facility. Many parts for my 1949 F-1 and now a 57 Buick Special have come from this one.

 

awesome