Classic Car Junkyard In California - I think it's safe to say that California is probably the greatest city in the world. Not only does the mild climate help preserve cars that would otherwise be completely scrapped, but the number of vehicles traveling California's roads makes the supply of cars and parts extremely tight.
But with that said, going to your June-A-Party is definitely not what it used to be. These days, most public wrecking yards in California are filled with 90s Saturns, Cavaliers, and other fun cars. Yak! That's not to say you won't come across cool cars from time to time, but long gone are the days of going to a garage and showing rows of cool vintage machines and vintage parts.
Classic Car Junkyard In California
Or at least that's what I thought. It seems like yards full of authentic nostalgic items are still popping up in California—you just have to know where to find them. This past weekend I had the opportunity to visit one of the most amazing places in the state, and it's right in my own backyard.
Rare 1973 Citroën Sm Is Junkyard Treasure
I'm talking about Turner's Auto Wrecking located in the heart of the Central Valley just outside of Fresno. A 70-acre vehicle-filled facility that not only supplies local customers, but also global parts. And boy do they have some good stuff.
Unlike chain stores, you can't just show up at Turners, pay a few bucks, and wander the yard with your tools. It's supposed to be off limits to the public, so when my dad told me a group of his car club friends had been invited to check out the place, I couldn't resist my camera and the opportunity to tag along.
While the main reason to go to a junkyard is to find a place for your car, I also enjoy just walking around and looking at cool stuff, and that's exactly what I plan to do on this beautiful Saturday.
With acres and acres of cars to look at, there's no time to waste. So, let's go straight to the junkhunting…
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This is too much information for many posts, but I think I'll limit my search to two - one about American stuff and one about imported stuff.
Driving through the Turner is like going back to a time when America was dominated by big sedans
The variety here is amazing. GM, Ford and Chrysler are all good brands, but there are also many brands of cars that have become extinct in the past. And although there are exceptions, most of these vehicles were built in the 50s and early 70s.
And don't think for a minute that this place is the only junk car in history. There are many classic and classic cars in all sorts of bad and damaged condition, including this first generation Plymouth Barracuda. Before that there was 'Chuda'.
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Sticking with the Mopar theme for a moment, here's a quick look at the back of a 1966 Dodge Charger. For some reason, Turner has a great selection of these first timers, so if you have one and are looking for parts, you know who to call.
Although I've never seen one of the more expensive '68-'70 Chargers in the yard, I left this early '70s model with many of its best features. Despite the rust, it looks like it can be restored.
I also stumbled upon this Dodge Dart Sport that is not unlike my own Project Yankee. As you can see, there's not much left to take from this thing, but the body looks pretty good.
Coming to the Ford office, this '63 Continental is one of the mid-'60s Lincolns in the Turner yard. It's amazing how many people drive these American luxury cars, but I guess no one cared enough to save the air-breathing 'dinosaurs' in the 80s.
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The yard surprisingly also has a few hard-time Fords. There are plenty of Mustangs, of course, but I'm talking more unusual ones like this 351-powered '70 Torino GT.
Or this Grabber Blue Mercury Cyclone GT, another early '70s body style that should be familiar to car fans.
Needless to say, General Motors brands are also good, including Chevrolets, Buicks, Pontiacs, Oldsmobiles and all manner of Cadillacs. While many cars are cut down and hacked to a nearly bare chassis, others, like the '62 Chevy four-door, are completely finished.
The front-wheel drive Oldsmobile Toronado was a groundbreaking car when it was introduced in the mid-'60s, and Turner has one of the largest collections of early models I've ever seen. There were about a dozen of them.
Car Classic Stock Photos
And you can't talk about the Toronado without mentioning its Caddy front-wheel-drive counterpart, the Eldorado. As bad as it looks, it's a good idea for a big, punchy V8 powering the front wheels of a luxury coupe.
The yard has many vehicles of the same body type, although there are no particular handling cars. One corner was filled with GM F-Bodies, of which it was the first family Camaro alternative.
Second generation Camaros and Firebrids. Public scrap yards used to be full of these things, but not anymore.
While it's nice to see the classics scattered throughout the yard, what's interesting is Turner's array of oddball items, like this '41 GMC commercial truck.
Old Classic Car Junkyard Background Stock Photos
Or how about an old 1950 Cadillac that someone has converted into an RV? Those who want a Winnebago can have it.
One of the coolest things I own today is a 1958 Chrysler built as an airplane in the pre-bus days.
Big engines have come a long way, but how cool would it be to rev this thing up in a rat race car with Cummins power under the hood?
Another unusual thing is that this Kaiser Manhattan was installed entirely outside the yard. I think Keith would dig this.
Welcome To The Wasteland: The Great American Junkyard
If you own a Chevy Corvair and are looking for parts, Turner has you covered. There are many air-conditioned cars in the yard - coupes, sedans and wagons.
And speaking of station wagons, it's hard to remember how popular they are in America until you've been to a place like this. a cart
Today, it's all about SUVs and minivans, but for decades the amazing station wagon was the vehicle of choice for families. As a serious car enthusiast, it pains me to think about it.
Some cars, like this Oldsmobile, are carefully disassembled rather than being parts donors. Perhaps it has a car life?
California Concours D'lemons
However, the same cannot be said for Turner's other cars. As you wander through rows of old cars, you can't help but wonder about their backstories and how they went from walking dead to rotting corpses. I think timing is everything.
At the very least, we can take comfort in knowing that many of their parts have gone on to help others keep their cars alive. And seeing these American artists in a junkyard is much better than seeing them crushed into small blocks and sent to China.
Yes, America's Greatest Pub. There are fields in the engineering world that can be exciting and frustrating at the same time.
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