Hello all, I am in search of some "secret" junkyards located in the Phoenix, AZ area! I would really like to find an old beat up '54 chevy for really cheap! I think the junkyard might be my best place! So if any of you have any leads, or ideas for me...let me have it! This is my first project car...so I want to start from the frame up! I appreciate anyone's advice...good or bad!
The yards in Phoenix think they literally have gold in them. I know of two - Hidden Valley and Desert Valley. I can't remember which one I e-mailed - see, I bought a '60 Chrysler New Yorker wagon for $50 a while back. Rare as all hell and cool looking with the big fins in the back. But it's rotty. So I heard a rumor that one of these yards has one that's pretty well stripped - no glass, no front clip, no engine, no interior, just a shell with the front subframe on it. In other words perfect for me to use to build one of the two out of. So I wrote and described the car and asked if it existed and what it would cost. Now the books say a parts car like this is worth maybe $600, and as scrap metal it's worth maybe $100 depending on the day. From the sound of it they'd already sold just about every sellable part on the damn car. So the e-mail comes back - $4000 for that car, or any other. I was like what?!? I wrote and asked if they were sure they had the right car and explained what it's worth in the real world. They wrote back and basically didn't care, it was still $4000. So I wrote back, I asked them what they were smoking and explained that I'd sooner fabricate a part from scratch than ever buy it from these****holes. That pissed them off a little.. Since then I have a line on a '64 wagon a lot closer, the ad is kind of old but it would work for what I need if they still have it - for $400, no motor or trans but enough other parts on it to sell off and at least break even. A cheap '54 Chevy should not be that hard to find. Between my buddy and I we even came up with a couple convertibles, one for $300, one for $75. But this is New York - the two solid ones I came up with need about 40 trees cut down to get them out. But if nothing is advertised locally for sale I'd either look for an old yard still run by the old guy who started it, or see what I could find parked behind houses on back roads and knock on the door "would you be interested in getting rid of that old car out back?" kind of thing.
That was a very well informed reply! That was the kind I was looking for! I had not even thought to walk around looking in people's back yards, or keep my eye out for ones parked on the street or yards! I will try calling those 2 places, and see what they have in stock! I'll let you know what I find out! If people still have ideas, I am always open to them! It seems everyone posts new pics like every minute...so I have to be quick to keep this one on top! Thanks again!
Just remember if you look like that - don't tresspass, if you see even a bit of something, find out who owns it and ask first. You may not hurt anything walking 50 yards off the road to see if that flash of chrome is a Chevy or an upside down VW beetle, but it turns people off if you just walk in without asking. Your best bet might be to go to some car shows with flea markets and just talk to people. Look for guys with boards or photos and a batch of cars in their back yard. If they don't have one already, they might know someone who knows someone... and there you go. For that $4000 that one of those two yards is liable to want for a '54 Chevy 4dr sedan with no front clip, not only could you get your choice of a '53 or '54 2dr ht from me, you could pay to have it shipped to you from here in NY and still be $500 ahead, if not more. Or you could have one that runs and drives already. I would think you could get a decent 2dr sedan that doesn't run but is buildable for less than $1000 without much trouble, if you look long enough. Maybe for as little as $100, for that matter, just have to be in the right place at the right time.
I know a secret junk yard!!!! Its not close to Arizona though...try Sturgis South Dakota!! This biker has a field filled with old Chevy's. If you need more info let me know.
Well I would love some more information! If you could get me an e-mail address, or website, or even a telephone number...I could find out if he has what I am looking for! I hope you catch this reply back! It seems that posts move quickly down the list here!
Not in AZ..but kinda close. in alamogordo NM there is a place called North 54 Auto Salvage. this guy has nuthin' but old cars. recently we scored my friend a set of cherry buick finned drums for $100 pair. supposedly there is another yard that i'm going to visit sometime soon that is supposed to be better! _T
I used to work at All Bikes in Rye about an hour north of Phoenix, 10 minutes south of Payson... It's obviously mostly motorcycles, but he had a seperate lot FILLED with cars, and he has quite a few at the main yard as well. Ron is a tricky son of a****** to deal with, and if he knows you really want something, he'll help you out. Hence why I worked there.... But dont trespass... he's got yard dogs... and during lunch breaks we'd play catch with a brick, so they dont***** around.
HAHA...I actually have droven by that place! When I use to live in New Mexico and came down here to Phoenix to visit! I remember seeing all those motorcycles. But it's been a few years since I have been by there, so I didn't know he had cars to! Maybe when I take a trip back up there sometime, I will pop my head in! Thanks for the information guys...it is really helping me out!
You should be able to find something in Phoenix or Tucson. Start spreading the word and you will be suprised at what you will find. You already started by posting on this site! I've been told there is also a swap meet at Glendale College March 19th And 20th. That would be a good place to look. Don't forget to check the newspaper. You will most likely get the best deal by networking and finding something not advertised. good luck!!!
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