Ralf K has recently uploaded a bunch of photos he took at Desert Valley Autoparts in Casa Grande, Arizona. Of those, I was quite pleased to see some featuring junked finds from long-gone independents. The images are the usual top-notch quality that Ralf K has shared over the years, so as always, it’s a pleasure to share them. But also, these finds may be of help to whoever is out there looking for some 1955 Clipper headlight bezels.
Clearly, our opening image shows the Packard section. Years are on the bodies, and I believe they’re correct; from the 1955 Clipper in the foreground, to the 1955 model by its side and another 1956 Clipper on top; a 2-door hardtop of all things.
Let’s move on to the Studebaker section. It’s a really varied collection; in the foreground, one of the 1954-1956 coupes, on the left, I see the glitzy grille, which looks to belong to a sedan. Even a rare (I think 1956) rusty wagon is on the upper right, stationed over a white 1956-1957 President model.
Staying with the Studes, but moving on to the late 1950s and early 1960s section. The main subject in this shot is a 1963 Lark 4-door Cruiser, looking quite complete. I can’t pin down precisely the white 2-door behind it (on top), other than it being a Lark model. Notice the oddities too, like the 1963-1966 wagons visible on the bottom right.
And finally, the Hudson section with a 1948 4-door sedan from the “step-down” era in the forefront. A silhouette that I have always enjoyed.
Nice to see these hulks, whenever I’m working on oldies I’m constantly chasing after the correct hardware, these will have it in spades .
-Nate
They need way more room so they wouldn’t have to stack them. Parked together like sardines in a can, difficult to remove parts.
I like looking at these pictures but they make me a little sad. All these beautiful autos were once shiny and new.
I don’t see any ’53 Packards, only ’55s and ’56s. The one you see the rear of is a Patrician with the cathedral taillamps.
In the first Stude shot I see a ’56 at far left bottom, ’55 behind it, top car is a ’57.
Second Stude shot, red ’63 Lark Cruiser, white ’62 sedan behind it, ’61 on top (the chrome molding just behind the door would be lower on a ’59 or ’60), Other double-decked car behind it is a ’64-65 Lark (not ’66 which would have backup lights moved to make room for Refreshaire vents).
Thanks, the post is updated now.
Seems like there’s lots to learn about Desert Valley Autoparts. Apparently they for a while had a reality TV show, so there’s a bunch of YT videos about them. It looks like a big part of the intent of the business was to sell whole cars for restoration. That’s a neat concept, but it also sounds like they’ve managed to lose the titles to most of the cars they had (a fire), so they kind of down to selling parts, or trying to sell parts. Oy…..
These cars make for great artwork, but probably as Duane says, not so much anything else all stacked up like that.
Nice to see actual real pictures. The AI going around everywhere is getting ridiculous
As a jigsaw puzzle enthusiast, I would love to see these wonderful photos sold as jigsaw puzzles. Great subject matter, color and detail. They’d be great.