Newport in the woods ...

[Snotty]

Oh, a '65. Still love those today! It's a shame, but scrapping ends up beign teh ultimate end. here was a yard in Fresno named Romo's; Early American Specialist with at least 6 '69-'71 C bodies in it. Went there one day and was greeted by a huge sign: CLOSED - DO NOT ASK. I learned that everything in it was scrapped. I still ache....

 

[65sporty]

As Steph said, it belongs to John Fowlie (Big M). You can check out his build thread here:
Viewing a thread - The Resurrection of 'Rusty' [the '59 Sport Fury]

I viewed his thread about the restoration, he took a hard top body and made it into the convertible , and another frame and transferred all the special convert parts onto it. He replaced a crap load of metal. I would call it a re-body though. Most people would not have undertaken such a project because of what little of the original car was there to start with. Got to admire his drive and dedication to get done.

 

[cantflip]

Here is another Newport convertible in the same wrecking yard (Gates, in Vermont). These were taken three years ago. I recently heard that the yard is actively trying to get rid of its stock of old cars and is going to scrap what isn't sold. It may have already happened.

That is always a tragedy. We few fans always feel these losses... even if the cars are just part of the parts supply now. The EPA is and has been making it a losing battle to keep old cars lying around. Add in state and local pressures and Code Enforcement can pretty much ruin your day in too much of the country.

I often have my P/U in the back yard for convenience working around the house, and its really quite ugly. If I ever got into a battle with Code Enforcement, they could come take soil samples and really F-up my world. A prior owner used to keep boats back there, and the neighborhood was apparently a dairy at one time before it was developed in the 70's. Too many possibilities for them to find something, I always just play it nice when I deal with them.

 

[cantflip]

I viewed his thread about the restoration, he took a hard top body and made it into the convertible , and another frame and transferred all the special convert parts onto it. He replaced a crap load of metal. I would call it a re-body though. Most people would not have undertaken such a project because of what little of the original car was there to start with. Got to admire his drive and dedication to get done.

I have no moral dilemma with a rebody as long as it doesn't get flipped as original. But it is illegal to swap VINs so the owner/builder needs to be very careful how he gets it approved and better have titles for both cars used.

This title stuff is very state specific. So even if he gets it legal where he is, the next owner may still have troubles. I would keep all documentation on this one that may help get past legal hurdles in the future.

That said. WOW, he did an awesome job. I really liked his home grown rust removal tank...

 

[tallhair]

As Steph said, it belongs to John Fowlie (Big M). You can check out his build thread here:
Viewing a thread - The Resurrection of 'Rusty' [the '59 Sport Fury]

that's going to give me several hours of viewing pleasure ... thanks !

 

[tallhair]

Not arguing... but I would suspect it would be in worse shape sitting in there that long. Another 5 years you'll have to buy the tree growing out of it too.

KC's point was if it had been sold to someone else it probably wouldn't even exist today for a tree to be growing out of it in the future

 

[cantflip]

KC's point was if it had been sold to someone else it probably wouldn't even exist today for a tree to be growing out of it in the future

I picked that up in his reply. Sorry KC, I could have responded... I got distracted, and I am fine with being addressed or quoted in almost any context. I cant imagine any of us really like seeing them like that, but it's better than not seeing them.

 

[Boomer]

I spent a lot of time yanking parts out of Gates' yard in Hardwick, VT. Everything from transmissions and starters for our family '68 Coronet 440 4 dr to MGB lenses and dashboard and fender skirts for a '66 Jag MK II. They always had a HUGE selection of good stuff. If you think the cars sitting there are a waste, you should've seen the '55-'57 chevys, 60s Chevelles and other desirable-today cars Jim and the sons/brothers made into stock cars back in the day to race at Thunder Road and Catamount Speedway (now an industrial park). I took a big dice-shaped shifting knob out of one of the Chevy hulks decades ago when I was a kid.

Looks like the trees have overtaken the yard. Last time I was there they had acres and acres open with cars back into the 30s-40s along with everything else like big finned Caddys. And they were crushing like crazy back then. I remember back in '85 pulling seat belts out of a red MGB GT wreck while they were picking up cars for the crusher 3-4 cars down the aisle. Left a nice crescent wrench behind in my haste.

One of the interesting vehicles they had was an old WWII White halftrack, sans armor plate. It disappeared, someone told me it got saved. I also recall a scrap mobile home full of Korean and Viet Nam-era radio equipment, and walking by an old Ford Bronco someone had drug in full of scrap. Sitting in the back was a nice old Atwater Kent radio speaker which they sold to me for $5.

No idea who's running the yard now, but they were always good folks to deal with back in the day. Not cheap, but fair. Need to stop in the next time I'm home.

 

[SuddenlyIts1960!]

Be thankful someone was "too stubborn to sell" all those years ago as at least it's there to be seen today in any condition.

A 1961 car could have been junkyard bound as early as late 60's. These cars were not desirable at all in the 70's / 80's. If it had sold during that time, it would have probably went for less than a hundred bucks to a teenager that would have wrecked/destoyed it within months. I am guilty of being one of them. I was still buying them in that price range in the early 90's and was mocked for wasting my money on ugly Chryslers with fins.

It's easy to have rose colored glassed about the past. The truth is Forwardlook cars have value today because they were not desirable for so long and so few survived.

Hard to believe anyone would ever mock someone for "wasting money" on these beautiful cars. Especially when you stop to think what kind of crap was being driven in the late 80's and 90's. I too was into these back then and nobody appreciated them. When I bought my first 1960 Plymouth I heard comments like that too but just let them bounce right off my fins.
I don't have rose colored glasses,but because I an taken by Exners Forward Look designs it is hard for me to understand why people ever did trade these cars in for later finless models,and how Chevys and Fords of similar vintage always seemed to get the lions share of attention lavished upon them.
In my opinion these cars best represent the spirit and of the era.

 

[cantflip]

Hard to believe anyone would ever mock someone for "wasting money" on these beautiful cars. Especially when you stop to think what kind of crap was being driven in the late 80's and 90's. I too was into these back then and nobody appreciated them. When I bought my first 1960 Plymouth I heard comments like that too but just let them bounce right off my fins.
I don't have rose colored glasses,but because I an taken by Exners Forward Look designs it is hard for me to understand why people ever did trade these cars in for later finless models,and how Chevys and Fords of similar vintage always seemed to get the lions share of attention lavished upon them.
In my opinion these cars best represent the spirit and of the era.

Met a young lady in 86, she lost interest as soon as she saw the 74 Imp I drove... it was rough. But way more class and character than the new mid 80s exp 2 seat escort turdwagon she drove... I have found over the years the car introduction tells right away if there is any hope.

 

[KcImperial]

Met a young lady in 86, she lost interest as soon as she saw the 74 Imp I drove... it was rough. But way more class and character than the new mid 80s exp 2 seat escort turdwagon she drove... I have found over the years the car introduction tells right away if there is any hope.

You know, to put that into current times it would be like a woman today refusing to date a guy with a 2004 Lexus because her KIA is a 2015
Back in '92, I was picking up a girl for a date. She refused to come out of her "trailer home" because she didn't want to be seen any where near my "ugly" 1967 Newport. I called her about a week later and told her I got another car. After she got excited, I told her it was another 1967 Newport and hung up on her.

 

[cantflip]

You know, to put that into current times it would be like a woman today refusing to date a guy with a 2004 Lexus because her KIA is a 2015
Back in '92, I was picking up a girl for a date. She refused to come out of her "trailer home" because she didn't want to be seen any where near my "ugly" 1967 Newport. I called her about a week later and told her I got another car. After she got excited, I told her it was another 1967 Newport and hung up on her.

I think my best, worst date story has to be this really cute little thing who worked at a convenience store that I would drive miles out of my way to flirt with... over dinner she started telling me how unhappy she was with the crooks at the chevy dealer... her recent geo purchase had engine failure at 30k miles and they were refusing warranty... I couldn't understand why and was trying to think of ways I could be a hero when she let slip "All because I didn't change the oil" "wait a minute, how often did you change the oil" "Never, they never told me I had to." "I don't think we are going to see things alike, let me take you home."

 

[tallhair]

I think my best, worst date story has to be this really cute little thing who worked at a convenience store that I would drive miles out of my way to flirt with... over dinner she started telling me how unhappy she was with the crooks at the chevy dealer... her recent geo purchase had engine failure at 30k miles and they were refusing warranty... I couldn't understand why and was trying to think of ways I could be a hero when she let slip "All because I didn't change the oil" "wait a minute, how often did you change the oil" "Never, they never told me I had to." "I don't think we are going to see things alike, let me take you home."

Was she hot?

 

[cantflip]

Was she hot?

Yep... but convinced... I couldn't get past stupid...

 

[tallhair]

Yep... but convinced... I couldn't get past stupid...

I can understand not being able to get past stupid for sure .. but what you said doesn't really make her stupid just like many females who know nothing about things mechanical i.e. if they are not educated that is different. You don't know what you don't know. If she was actually stupid vs uneducated, which is different I'd have stopped it dead too as soon as I realized that which would have been PDQ and I did many times .. you know .. afterward nudge nudge, wink wink.

 

[cantflip]

I can understand not being able to get past stupid for sure .. but what you said doesn't really make her stupid just like many females who know nothing about things mechanical i.e. if they are not educated that is different. You don't know what you don't know. If she was actually stupid vs uneducated, which is different I'd have stopped it dead too as soon as I realized that which would have been PDQ and I did many times .. you know .. afterward nudge nudge, wink wink.

Am aware... and not trying to claim I possess some higher morality... alcohol helps... I just couldn't continue without telling her that was stupid... which I eventually did... she was very convinced all responsibility belonged to the salesman... Its a car dumbass, if you're going to bother to own one, figure out how to take care of it. Don't ignore the dealer phone calls for service visits and decline the pay work on warranty visits. I'm sure it came with a book explaining the maintenance of the thing...

I suppose if the tv failed because she left it in the rain, I would have been less keyed in on the lunacy...

 

[tallhair]

she was very convinced all responsibility belonged to the salesman.

OK stupid checks out

 

[Snotty]

I worked at Sears while going to College. A man brought back his dryer saying it didn't work and wouldn't dry his clothes. He said it did at first but then stopped; it still ran but would not dry. He wanted his money back or a new dryer. Since he brought it in I took a look. I opened the door, looked around, then attempted to remove the lent filter. I had to fight it out because it was so plugged with lent! I said "Sir, this is the problem. There's nothing worn with your machine." Next thing you know the guy is storming downstairs to scream at the Store Manager because this dumb-*** salesman was trying to tell him it was his fault the dryer would not dry his clothes.

He and the Manager came back up. I pointed out the problem; Manager ordered me to return the guy's money.

I never understood that until I learned that dryers did not always have lent filters. Apparently, this guy had never owned one.

But it was still my fault! Sheesh!

 

[Fury440]

I've bought Sears Craftsman tools for years because of their no questions asked policy when replacing broken tools. Years ago I was trading in a bunch of screw drivers and a few worn sockets and the salesman chucked them in his "broken tool" box under the counter. I spotted a huge 3/4" drive ratchet that was literally twisted and sheared in half. When I asked what happened, he said probably a big Johnson bar and a 10' length of pipe. When asked why he honored the guaranty, he said the guy buys $10K worth of tools a year and he breaks a few, good for business.
As a result over the years I've bought a crap load of tools, appliances and such from Sears.
Unfortunately most of the tools they now sell are Chinese junk.

 

[cantflip]

OK stupid checks out

I felt kinda bad later... I didn't mean to hurt her feelings... some people change the subject when they get upset... neither of us apparently had that ability. I'm sure she has been making men miserable ever since.

I've bought Sears Craftsman tools for years because of their no questions asked policy when replacing broken tools. Years ago I was trading in a bunch of screw drivers and a few worn sockets and the salesman chucked them in his "broken tool" box under the counter. I spotted a huge 3/4" drive ratchet that was literally twisted and sheared in half. When I asked what happened, he said probably a big Johnson bar and a 10' length of pipe. When asked why he honored the guaranty, he said the guy buys $10K worth of tools a year and he breaks a few, good for business.
As a result over the years I've bought a crap load of tools, appliances and such from Sears.
Unfortunately most of the tools they now sell are Chinese junk.

Over the last few decades (my career), if you walked into a sears with broken tools while wearing a work uniform, there was maybe a 50/50 chance you would be told "they are not for professional use" and be denied. I have seen it in 2 states and maybe 5-6 different stores... sears deserved to become kmart after killing their own brand values (kenmore, craftsman...)

During my whole 10 months on a snapon truck. I made my schedule so I could sit in the truck outside of the sears auto shop (1 customer... and he didn't buy much) for lunch hour 12-1pm one day a week. I had a number of guys doing construction or home users who liked finding me there right after the sears guy pissed them off. They kept asking me to move farther from the store, but the little following continued to grow... I thought it was neat.