I was driving along just minding my own business and looking for BiTurbos, when I came across what appears to be a small business that caters to folks like us. A yard full of (mostly) Fords in various stages of disrepair. The best stuff is not in the the first few pictures. It appears that the yard full of derelicts is the company’s stock.
Here we have three ’55 Fords – two hardtops and a wagon. The El Camino has a missing grill which makes me just narrow it down to ’78 or later. I think the green truck is a ’64 Ford and the white one seems to be a ’68. The GM at the end looks to be an early ’80s Chevy or GMC pickup.
There are not a lot of Tin worms here in East Texas but the pictures prove that they do exist. This place is a few miles west of Huntsville, Tx. on Hwy 30.
It had been a while since I had seen so many (almost) complete dead Fords at one time.
I guess this building is the vault because it’s were they kept their jewels. I assume these are examples of the final result and probably they both started out in the yard. I think this black Ford is from 1966 and the Lark is a ’59 or ’60. The Lark could also be a later model; I know jpcavanaugh can tell us the exact year. I’m sure that Studebaker tried to use up their inventory of old parts before they quit.
It’s running across stuff like this that makes driving around fun. Even at $3.50/gallon.
Yep the black F-100 is a ’66, the “green” one (looks turquoise on my monitor but who can really say with paint that faded) is a ’65, the white F-100 is a ’67 from what I can see…the ’78 had square headlights.
78s came with either square or round headlights. Having said that, the white truck pictured above is definitely pre 1973.
Yeah, pre-73 Ford pickups had turn signals under the headlights.
They sell carports……the cars are there for decoration, like fake fruit at a furniture store. Ha.
LOL.
Very funny.
Carport sales is a very profitable little business, with very little cash outlay for the retailer. The site is the vendor for a company who puts those buildings up. You go in, make your order and place 10% down with the retailer. That is his profit. He then faxes the order for to the builder who will call you and set up the appointment for assembling the structure. At that point, you cut them a check for the remaining 90% of the bill.
Once you’ve signed on as a retailer, the company comes in and erects a basic structure on your property as a display. And if that size is the one covered under the $795 price, the half-sidewalls cost extra. Of course you can get anything from a basic carport roof on 6′ poles to 12′ high poles with four walls, garage door, and any number of bays. Years ago I ran the office of a local drop-in shed dealer who also carried these on the side. We sold quite a few. From the retailers point of view, the advantages are: a. Not having to put out money to carry inventory, and b. The manufacturer/installer sets prices, so you’re not competing with other retail outlets on who can come up with the lowest price.
Out here in Montpelier, VA the NAPA store on the main drag is the retailer, and has two large display structures – which are quite popular on Saturdays for yard sales.
The ElCamino seems like an early downsized one, 78-80, it looks like it has bucket seats too, the truck at the end is a 73-87 GMC/Chevy, probably 80’s vintage, but I cant tell.
Yup they sell carports but I guarantee you there is a lot of restoration going on. There was a 57 chevy back in the shadows of the trees that I tried unsuccessfully to get. All I could see in the picture was shadows.
I now have a reason to pass by this place on a regular basis. I am willing to bet that the junk in the field winds up restored and under the carports. The junk is what grabs your attention first. Then you notice the restored units under the carports.
I have always known that we had a lot of old cars here and other places in the south. Just never thought much about it. If this land was in the snow belt the cars would be piles of rust. I am really enjoying sharing this stuff.
The Lark is a 1960. The centered grille emblem is the key. The 59 had an off-center emblem, while the 61 raised the stainless fender trim up above the character line of the fender. Not a great fan of the color, but it is a Studebaker, so I’m in.
I like that 66 pickup, too. A great little treasure trove for folks like us.
As for the rest of them, I suppose it would be “Found Off Road Dead.”
Great name. Wish I had thought of that.
Im enjoying seeing them keep up the good work Lee nice Fords they look like 56 Customlines or derivitaves of them.
Ford 1 and 2 are 1955 Victoria Hardtops while Ford number 3 looks to be a ’55 Country Squire.
The Lark is a ’60 JP is spot on. The Lark emblem moved to the bottom center of the grille. Also, ’59’s had “Studebaker” script on the front fenders.
Sad, why bother with a carport if they are sitting on grass? Like the others, the tires will go flat and the dirt/grass/mud will rot out the sheet metal….even in Texas.
The idea is to sell them. Not to leave them till they rot away. Carports get signs. The cars are like catnip to a car junky. They will sell if everthing is as it should be.
Maybe the three ’55 Fords will be combined into one complete car?