Back in the early '80s when I was in the Corps we did some cold weather training at an Army base in Wisconsin. Outside the base there was this salvage yard that had a wrecked (orange?) duece coupe on display at the entrance. This yard was a gold mine of vintage tin. The owner was a nice guy and let us tour the yard and drool. Does anyone know the name of the salvage yard?
Were you at Fort McCoy, near Sparta/LaCrosse? Camp Douglas is also in that general area. If that's where you were let me know & I can check with an ***ociate that works at McCoy, & see if he knows of the yard you mention.
If it was FT, McCoy, the salvage yard was likely Chase. C. L. Chase I believe. He doesn't have much for really early stuff, mostly 50s, 60s and 70s. But about 160 acres of them. Pack a lunch...The place is near the town of Camp Douglas and about 15 miles or so from Ft. McCoy.
Chase is the place. Home of the Golden Hook, alleged to be (but isn't) the largest tow truck around. He charges like it is!
actually the C.L. Chase 300 ton unit IS the largest cradle boom wrecker in the continentall US. unless someone has built another one larger in the past three years or so. . . i've seen that thing cradle, lift and swing an entire 80,000# tractor trailer and not even grunt.
I know Carl, (C.L. Chase) He has one of the greatest yards you will ever see. There is NOT a 32 anywere in his yard. I have been everywhere and asked. If you want anything out of there be prepaired to pay big bucks. His cars are all complete because he doesnt like dealing with people. He tows cars, when the cars are in his yard he doesnt do anything with them. He isnt in it to be a salvage yard. PM me if you ever head that way.
I've bought just a few small parts from him. He's always been nice, knows where stuff is. He has no problem asking a lot for his stuff. He will deal a bit, but don't try to low ball him. Expect that if he has what you need, he knows there aren't many left so what are you going to do? He will let you walk the yard. All day long if you want (it will take you all day to see it all). He was the one who advised me to bring a lunch next time. Be nice, respectful, close any hoods or doors you open. If you want something cheap, go somewhere else. The yard is not his main income, he told me he will die with all those cars still in the yard. Meaning: no chance he will crush.
I was there in the mid 90's and came across a guy sleeping in one of the vans back in the woods. I was telling him about it and when he went and checked it out it was a homeless guy he knew, but he had no idea the guy was living in the yard.
ive been to McCoy about 30 times and NEVER heard of this.. DAMN IT. now Im going to make a special trip up there... Crossing my fingers my mom gets transfered there next month for 6 weeks now.!!! She is a military contractor for those who wonder, im the soldier.
When you ask the guy about the price of an item he'll tell you to make an offer. When you do he'll tell you "They don't make them any more" and then triple or quadruple your offer. He'll also tell you he can get four times that for s****. I bought a couple of parts from him, bent up stainless strips for a '48-50 Ford truck for $50, I needed a few unbent ones to complete a couple of sets I had, and I got a vintage Sun tach for $25.
Thanks to All! That's the place. His business card had a picture of the biggest tow truck I'd ever seen. At the time I was visiting his yard he was waiting on someone to fly in and purchase a cherry '50s Eldorado with factory dual quads. He wanted an aerial photo of his property and he asked me and friend to take a picture of his yard the next time we flew over it in the helicopter. My friend snapped a few shots but I can't recall if the pictures made to Chase. I was gonna buy a '34/35 Chevy 3W body from him and transport it home in the helicopter but I couldn't con the motor-t guys in to taking a 48 Cube out there and helping me load it. Is that coupe still on display? Chase said he'd never sell it. Yule16met, my plan is to have some friends check the place out for me when they in the area during Holiday Leave.
I have bought stuff from Chases auto salvage and i will say he is high. It is a big place and worth the walk through.
I have not been there in years and yes it is a gold mine (at least chase thinks so) His brother owns a yard a few miles from Tomah and is much easier to deal with. I was only intrested in corvairs at the time so I dont remember what all he has.
I used to live about 5 miles from there. Sometimes you'll get a price sometimes you'll sit there and talk for an hour and get no where. I was gonna buy a set of 57 Mercury tail lights until i finally got the price. $100, but that was each. For a set of lenses that were broke and pitted pot metal. Complete cars and trucks, lots of 60's stuff. Been there many, many times, there is a reason why its all still there...... Most of it has pretty much rotted into the ground now, but I guess there is still a few things in there. Carls a nice enough guy, just not very interested in selling anything out of the yard.
Ive been to his bros place too. He just kept asking me why I want to fix up this old junk. Had to laugh, I thought it was kind of an odd way of attracting business.
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