Pull-A-Part Time Machine 2003

Watch: Rare Killer Bee

Sting me! Chris Echols of Montgomery, Alabama was stung by a 1987 Nissan Be-1. Not a real bumblebee but a Be-1 model from Nissan’s “Pike Factory” designers. Echols and his wife are huge fans of Japanese Bubble Cars. So much so, that they own three different models. A Figaro, Pao, and the Be-1. In the late-1980s Japanese automakers were riding a wave booming business (the bubble, so to speak) and Nissan, led by industrial designer Naoki Sakai, unleashed throwback designs with a futuristic flair for simplicity. The goal for these new city cars was to blend fashion and design to compete with Honda. Owners lined up to grab one in Japan. For fans in the United States, a 25 year wait was in order. Echols scooped his 1987 Nissan Be-1 from a seller in Florida. Echols loves to drive his classic JDM. He wheeled it more than 100 miles to a cars and coffee in Leeds, Alabama. His Be-1 attracted a lot of attention from curious onlookers to hardcore JDM fans. Magic City Octane presented Echols with the “Pick of the Show” award as I was wrapping up my interview with him. Thanks for watching! Jody Potter — Junkyard Life: The Story Beneath the Rust

Watch: SAVE? 1955 Chevy Rusty Neptune Green

SAVE? A 1955 Chevy survivor grab our attention as we stumbled down a dead end street in Pleasant Grove, Alabama. A vacant house and unkempt yard gave us clues that the ’55 Chevy 210 2-door sedan had been parked for decades. We looked under the hood at the trim tag and learned that it was originally two-tone with Sea Mist Green / Neptune Green paint code. The original Chevy small block, a 265-cubic inch V8, debut in 1955. Many other firsts for Chevy in 1955, including the 12-volt electrical system, and a distributor that was stationed at the rear of the block by the firewall. Was this Tri-Five worth saving???? Jody Potter – Junkyard Life: The Story Beneath the Rust.

Do you have a car story? Near miss story?
Send us details and we’re on the way!  
Send emails to Jody Potter at junkyardbull@gmail.com

This 1955 Chevy 210 2-door sedan called to us from a dilapidated covered patio in Alabama. What was the story? We wanted to know. Watch the video for details. Worth saving? You decide!

Watch: How Did Crash Happen?

Oh no! Three sisters were getting off the school bus in Royalton, Wisconsin when a truck smashed into them. Driver never slowed down. The sisters dad, Shane Kreuscher, says Vera, 5, was thrown out of bus and rolled onto the pavement. Her older twin sisters, 13, Danee and Amya, were slammed around in the stairwell. 

“God was looking out”

“I don’t know how this dude is alive, he moved that bus about 30 feet. There was one other kid on the bus that was in the front seat and seems ok. The bus driver was ok and (truck) driver who was pinned in the truck didn’t seem to have a scratch on him. I was by the window and heard the crash. I saw the front of the bus way further than it normally stops and knew what happened. I rushed outside to this (crash scene). God was looking out for these kids for sure.” 

The youngest sister was thrown out of the bus and hit the pavement. Luckily she only suffered some scrapes, bumps and bruises All three sisters were checked and released at the emergency room. 

The driver of truck was not arrested but the accident is under investigation. The bus was stopped and the bus driver did have flashers on. 

Rescue?

Shane rushed to his daughter’s to check on their injuries. Miraculously, no one was seriously injured. A few scraps and bruises were the only visible injuries. Next, Shane attempted to reach truck’s driver. A window was broken to try and assist truck driver removal but was unable to get him out. A crow bar was used to pry the door open. The driver was unharmed. Not even a scratch.

The sisters and all involved will carry this ordeal with them for the rest of their lives. We can only speculate the cause but we can all learn from this.

Chevy Silverado driver was pulled from wreckage unharmed.

The truck was destroyed after running into school bus.

Speed limit on this road is 35 MPH.

In the video (above) it looks as though the truck never slowed.

The school bus is built to withstand crashes and protect the occupants. This damage is small compared to truck. Most importantly, the three sisters escaped without serious injury. The girls, twins, age 13, and five-year-old sister, were exiting the stopped bus.

Be Safe School Bus Tips

A short delay when you encounter a school bus is always worth your patience.

• If you see a School Bus, Pay Attention. 
• If School Bus lights are flashing Yellow, Slow Down. 
• If School Bus lights are flashing Red, Stop!
• Do not pass a stopped School Bus with Red Flashing lights and Stop Sign displayed.

Our future depends on driver safety. Seat Belts, albeit important, would not have helped in this situation for the three sisters exiting school bus. When students board and exit a school bus they have no protection.

Let’s Do Better. Drive safe!

Share this video. Spread the Message!

Jody Potter

— Junkyard Life: The Story Beneath the Rust

Do you have a car story? Near miss story?
Send us details and we’re on the way!  
Send emails to Jody Potter at junkyardbull@gmail.com

Chasing a 1956 Ford Victoria

Chasing Unicorns

I remember a time when vintage steel could be seen everywhere. Back in the 1970’s they were just old cars gathering rust in back yards. Parked for one reason or another and left to the elements. As the years passed by these cars met with different fates. Some were sold as derelicts to some young car enthusiast while others wasted away. Eventually there came a time when seeing a 1957 Chevy in a yard was like encountering a unicorn. Of course these days there are still plenty of old cars sitting in fields across the United States, however, a Toyota Camry doesn’t really grab my attention like an old Tri-Five Chevrolet.

Last week my friend Rock, from Shelby County, Alabama, heard about a 1956 Ford Victoria that was “supposedly” sitting in a yard near Schultz, Alabama. You won’t find Schultz on a map. Not unless the map you are looking at is at least 50 years old. Rock was born and raised in Schultz and hadn’t been there in over two decades. At 87 years old, Rock is getting up there in his years so I wasn’t really surprise to hear him say that. He rarely goes far from home these days. However, Rock was up for an adventure and when Sunday came around we headed out, looking for a unicorn.

We had very little information on the car or it’s actual location. This was a real Easter egg hunt. Being optimistic for Rock’s sake I put on a smile, but deep down inside I knew we would never find the car. We had no address, just a general location. We had no name, so there was no one to ask for, and we had no phone number, so calling ahead was out of the question. Just FYI, there is no cell service in Schultz, Alabama.

Road trip

The trip south from Birmingham was nice. Rock knew the area well. As we drove Rock would point things out along the way.

“There was a filling station over there”, however it was long gone by now.

“I worked back down that road over yonder”, pointing to a road that lead to a coal mine that has long been closed.

“There’s a small town up here called Six Mile,” followed up with, “I never understood why they called it Six Mile?”

FYI, there is nothing in Six Mile but a country store with a few tow trucks parked out front.

As we crossed a bridge nearing our destination Rock pointed out where he and his friends used to swim as boys so many decades ago.

No signs

There are no road signs for Schultz and Mapquest was of no use, so I relied on Rock to remember the way. One has to realize that so many things have changed over the decades. Prominent buildings used as reference are long gone with new ones in their place. Dirt roads have been either widened or they have been paved over. However, Rock didn’t miss a turn. It was like riding a horse back to the stable, you don’t have to lead a horse home, the horse knows the way. And Rock knew the way back to the town of his birth, even if the town is no longer there.


A spring feeds Schultz Creek, which in turn feeds into the Cahaba River. Finding a road by the same name we drove back down a one lane road passing the creek itself and later a small church and cemetery. However, we didn’t pass that 1956 Ford we were so desperately looking for. After driving another mile we turned around and started making our way back. Getting back to the main road we could see it. Sitting up and to the left, just behind an old farm house, there it was. A 1956 Ford Victoria. I was amazed. I couldn’t believe that we had actually found it.

Hunting for a 1956 Ford Victoria in rural Alabama in an area without cell service is not impossible. We located the car.

Anybody home?

With the first task completed, locating the car, we now had to check and see if anyone was home. The house looked abandoned. Of course, being the optimist, I knew no one would be around, thus making it a wasted trip. However, I was still really happy to have actually found the car. Unicorns do exist. Pulling in the drive I honked on the horn alerting anyone in the house or on the property that we were there. We both got out of the truck and as Rock was reaching into the bed of the truck for his walking cane, I walked up onto a wooden porch and knocked on the door. It was eerily quiet. “Oh well. I hope we brought something to write on.” I thought to myself as I walked back to the truck. I felt bad for Rock, to get so close and not be able to actually venture out onto private property to see it. It’s right there. Maybe 75 yards away. This moment was so bitter sweet. We found it but we couldn’t touch it.

Looking through broken passenger side window of a 1956 Ford Victoria.

Bygone Era

I was searching the cab of the truck for a pen and paper when an older gentleman appeared. He was younger then Rock, but not by much, and he too had a cane he used to lean on when walking. Rock introduced himself and asked if he knew a fellow by the name…well, you know where this is going. These two older men from a bygone era seemed to have so many friends and acquaintances in common you’d thought they grew up together. Now the car wasn’t for sale, which really didn’t make a difference, because Rock didn’t want another 1956 Ford. He already had one. Rock just wanted to see this old car in person and his new friend was more than willing to show him the car. As the two men made their way, both using their canes, they started talking about the people they knew and then about the car that was sitting before us. However as time progressed, things got real interesting. The two started talking about the cars they had as teenagers and the mischief they got into while driving those cars. Over the next two hours I heard stories of drag racing and running from the law. Then came the stories about moonshiners and the revenue men. We sometimes forget about the history these old backwoods communities have with alcohol and the law.

Rock, 87, stands beside his black 1956 Ford Victoria in Alabama.

For as long as I have known Rock, he has always had an old car in his garage. His latest gem is this 1956 Ford Crown Victoria with the much coveted 312 Y-block motor usually found in the Thunderbirds of the era. Being a Crown Victoria, it came from the factory with all the bells and whistles.



It was a Good Day

After some time and so many awesome stories we made our way back to the driveway where we exchanged numbers and bided our new friend farewell. As we were pulling out of the drive to head home I looked over at Rock, he was grinning ear to ear.

I was so happy he got to see that unicorn. I was so blessed to have been able to see it with him.

Scott Johnson, contributor
— Junkyard Life: The Story Beneath the Rust

A Ford 312 Y-block engine hides under Rock’s ’56 hood. Along with all the factory options, this Ford has a modern sound system that will blow you out of the car and if it doesn't, there is always the ice-cold Vintage Air that will freeze you out.

Read more of Scott’s work here:

• Craigslist 4-4-2 Project Car
  
• Barn Finds, Olds and Buick
  
  

Do you have a cool car story?
Send us details and we’re on the way!  
Send emails to Jody Potter at junkyardbull@gmail.com



 

How To Buy A Cheap SQUAREBODY

We know about snagging a deal on the hot GM Squarebody trucks, aka 1973 to 1987 model pickup trucks. We discovered the secret when a 1979 Chevrolet Bonanza short-wheelbase in black called our name among a lot full of wrecked cars.

Why do you want it?

A huge number of classic truck fans have gravitated towards 1973-1987 Chevrolet and GMC 1/2-ton pickups. The reason? 

They were cheap and could be made into good looking cruisers. Classic truck buyers realized that they were also good investments. They were easy to work on and a used parts and projects were plentiful. General Motors produced 10 million Chevy & GMC pickup trucks from 1973 until 1987, during the “squarebody” run. 

Another reason to go square? They were cheaper than their older, classic GM full-size pickup trucks. The older (1940s-1972) parts trucks and projects are hard to come by and they aren’t cheap.

Square is Cool

No longer the grandpa-mobile. Some wear patina like a badge of honor. Customizing is easier than ever before with a load of aftermarket parts available. Add wheels, paint or dig into the interior. Others get lifted or slammed down to the ground onto air bags. Plenty of room underwood to shove that LS engine you been hoarding. 

Watch video above for the secret! How cheap was that black 1977 Bonanza?

Jody Potter
— Junkyard Life: The Story Beneath the Rust

Stumbling across a forgotten Chevy or GMC pickup from the 1973-1987 era is still possible but the day of getting one for almost free are over.

Spending $50,000 or more on a new truck is normal. Putting that money into an older truck that you can work on with a few hand tools makes more sense to us.

Here’s a look at previous generations of GM Trucks –

• 1st Series: 1947-1955 Advance Design postwar truck
• 2nd Series Models: 1955-1959
• First Generation C/K Series: 1960-1966
• Second Generation C/K Series: 1967-1972
  
• Third Generation C/K Series: Rounded Line or “Squarebody”: 1973-1987*
  (*Note the Suburban, Blazer/Jimmy, and 1-ton trucks continued the “Squarebody” designs through 1991)
  
  

VIDEO: I SPY Junkyard Edition

“I SPY” a Junkyard Skeleton and a Hubcap Bus! Explore a long-closed junkyard and join in a game of “I Spy” with us. See that 1970 Chevelle? Or is is a Malibu? A million hub caps on a bus? Have you seen a 1959 Plymouth Suburban? We (Jody Potter and Ron Kidd) stumble through a maze of seldom-seen classics from the 1940s thru the 1970s and try to avoid snakes and skeletons. Watch and comment! We’ve got some unanswered questions and need your help.

Thanks for Watching!

Jody Potter

Junkyard Life: The Story Beneath the Rust

1951 Chevy Sedan Delivery

1964-1970 Dodge A100 van. What year? Comments welcome.

1965 Chevy Impala

1966 or 1967 Chevy II Super Sport

1970 Chevy Malibu wreck but with a 12-bolt rear.

Do you have a cool car story?
Send us details and we’re on the way!  
Send emails to Jody Potter at junkyardbull@gmail.com