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National Buick Salvage Yard - Project Yard (Again!)


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Sorry to bore everyone with this subject again but that is what this forum is all about. If it is something not of interest it will be passed over and I get to 'vent' a little.

I sold all my non running Buicks including a 64 Wildcat convertible and my beloved 61 Electra bubbletop because of lack of time and money. I regret doing this, this coincided with money arguments with my spouse and I basically said ##@#!!@ it, it's not worth it and I preceded to sell everything including restoration stuff. However, I recovered long enough to purchase a running/driving 72 Centurion convertible. ("Why don't you just buy something that runs!" Ever heard THAT one) I also bought a 45 GMC pickup and a 50 GMC 5 window pickup non running with the theory that trucks are simpler and Chevrolet/GMC's are well supported parts wise. So far I am finally enjoying my restoration work and I hope to see results in about 2-3 years. I am flat out making time to do it and my 50 was delivered with a 2nd parts truck to salvage parts from.

The bottom line for me was the undaunting cost of a custom (meaning original but professionally embossed) vinyl interior for the Wildcat convertible costing about $3500 for that alone! Chrome is several thousands of dollars, engine rebuild kits, etc. The 61 Bubbletop did not need everything redone but still would have cost $20,000 in parts, etc.

So I think I made a good intermediary stepped decision to pull back and do the 2 trucks while enjoying my $2200 72 Centurion convertible.

*******************************************************

Now I decided to get on 'ebay' and browse. MISTAKE. In one day I saw a 73 Riviera GS with a Stage 1 motor and buckets/console for $1000, a 61 Electra 2 door hardtop for $499 opening bid with no takers, a 77 Century with T-Tops, a 63 Riviera, and then an ad on our website buy/sell for a 90's series threesome for only $6000. It's KILLING me. There is running/driving 73 Centurion convertible here in Iowa for $500 that I can't pull the trigger on.

I suppose when I go to get a car to restore in 3 years that something will be available but I feel like every year that goes by offers less opportunities. Think about the twenties - not many cars offered anymore. And the 30's are pretty scarce and pricey.

Is there anybody else out the who makes the middle income money I make that would be interested in creating some sort of national Buick salvage/project yard? I would be willing to put $$$$ where my mouth is on this. Think about it. If I put money into a "pool" that purchases cars for restoration or parts then I don't have to store them at my place. So, I am purchasing shares in a future car that has been preserved first of all, and a Buick second of all. How many times have you heard - and there posts under Buy/Sell now - "I wish I had room for one more project!" Me too. But I don't - and I can't justify piling up unrestored cars outside my garage either. But how about a national purchase club that buys project or parst car Buicks and stores them in a wide open space while you buy 'interest' in the collective. Then when the current project is done - or if you are in one now but see one on the available list that you want even more - you have a savings account to purchase! You then have your savings account reduced at the national salvage yard until you build it up again. You can decide on how much you want to put in (subject to a minimum, like a museum, there are bills) and 'buy' parts as needed.

This would allow as many desirable Buicks to be saved as possible while also retaing less desirable models for parts. This would help sustain the hobby for years to come. It would be centralized - I am not suggesting that other salvage yards are going to throw in the towel BUT a BCA member would have a better chance at securing a car or parts from a national member owned club.

Now is the part where I ask for members to shoot me down - or provide encourage ment. I'd love to own a Riviera from each of the 3 first styling changes (a 1963, a 1968 and a boattail) but I can't afford that right now. I'd love to own that 61 Bubbletop and get to it in about 5 years. I'd love to own the 77 Regal T-Top with buckets/console and a sweet running Buick 350 4 barrel. You get the picture - I CAN'T!!!

But, this is a crazy idea. I know personally I would be willing to put $100 per month into a collective. That's what I mean about putting my money where my mouth is. I would even be willing to locate a space - or at least hit the road and try to find a place. It would probably be out west somewhere. I would be willing to buy a truck and trailer and help haul projects/parts cars there. So since the BCA has roughly 10,000 members, certainly others might be interested.

Please address this issue and offer me or others suggestions/direction on how to proceed. As always, MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! I like where I am at right now. I am blessed and happy (except I really want that 73 GS Riviera) and hope everyone else is.

Directors - I would appreciate your comments and advice very much. Is this truly hairbrained or is it about time we seriously thought about this issue.

Thanks

Bryan Moran

BCA 28571

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Bryan,

I guess you have about 20 people who scanned your message and no response until this. But it is early, so who knows. What you say makes some sense, as the repository may result in certain savings to members. One thought I had would be that such a cooperative might sell parts to the open market while offering members a reduction. I wonder if this has worked for other makes.

I think you may have hit on something, but it seems to me there has to be a considerable incentive to members who invest money in shares. I am familiar with a ski resort coop that is quite successful, but they were dealing with a weathly owner of the site who was willing to wait for a cash flow rather then a cold hard "business decision". Maybe the Buick repository could acquire some existing site and those already in the business might consider a sale of their business that could be expanded.

This comes to another point - I think the number of salvage yeards are decreasing and those that are still in business are reducing inventory for the "smashers" and shipment to China, or elsewhere to recycle the steel. This was noted in other threads.

So it is something that might work, but certainly will require a sizable community and some time committment for those involved. I would be willing to participate in some further discussion as time allows and this forum thread develops. Good luck and hope we see some additional thoughts.

John

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Guest imported_65gs76limited

you have my attention. sounds like a good idea.i would think think somewhere along the line you would run into some kind of legal mum-bo-jumbo that would put an end to what sounds like a good idea. keep me posted,i'am willing to help any way i can.

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Thanks for the comments. After I posted, I considered the idea of selling parts to others that needed them. I agree this would be necessary and might promote getting a new member. I'm not too worried about the legal issues yet. I would need someone with legal abilities to assist in the charter but I am sure the BCA has a few lawyers in it.

Also, I know salvage yards are going by the wayside. In fact, this is another reason to start this idea smoldering because we don't consider the newer collectible Buicks as part of this plan but the older Buicks are not being collected and restored with teh same vigor of years ago. We would need to keep our eyes peeled for the last generation Rivieras, the Regals (to support 80's Grand Nationals) and other T-Type or collectible Buicks. Heck I even like the long running full size station wagons and last generation Roadmasters - all of which may be collectible in the next 20-30 years and are disappearing fast.

Bryan Moran

BCA 28571

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In thinking more of this, I am certain that there are a number of people who have restored cars and have lots of old parts left over. Now some people operate small businesses of selling used parts and reproduction items and we would not want to detract from these enterprises (but from time to time, they are their heirs, may try to dispose of a lot of "stuff").

For such an endeavor, no matter where it is located, you would need fulltime staff, and likely a sizable inside space (old industrial building [would it not be nice to be in Flint, if not for cold weather]). I do not see the BCA getting involved in this, because of the politics, but some sort of Buick Owners Parts Cooperative (likely mostly BCA members) that would set up and run the "business" aspect. I would think time and talent could be exchanged at some rate worth any cash input, or both. Work credits could be set at a fixed rate - such as Management, Legal, and the most important "grunt work" to handle the vehicles, parts, etc. While much might be full cars in various stages, others might just be truck loads of parts, to be cataloged, inventoried, in some sort of data base. In fact, maybe the individuals salvage yard owners, could participate in a data base, and this latter aspect could be considered for BCA sponsorship.

One word of caution - this could make things easier in some aspects, but one could loose the very nature of this hobby where the "discovery" of a certain part and "finding a bargin" is a reward of sorts, and will take away some of the necessary dialog between parties in buying, selling or trading parts, parts cars and entire restored or partially restored cars.

Yes, possibly a good idea, but it would be rather cumbersome to develop and operate. There are a lot of things to sort out. These are my thougts for the moment.

John

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First of all Bryan I have to tell you this has the makings of a really good idea. Timing for me right now is not too good as my father just passed away and I am now running a printing business. Before all this happened I was looking at boneyards just day dreaming, I can never have too many toys. My biggest fear was getting into another business that the good old government would ruin. Boneyards have to have soil testing and meet epa guidelines. This is as far as I got. Count me in!!!! Years from now I want to know I have done my best to preserve our hobby. What about shares in a not for profit organization. We may be able to enjoy some benifits being not for profit. I don't know all the logistics, I know how to operate a for profit organization. There are several things to work out. I have to run- great idea.

Bruce

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Wow, this is a good idea--I like it, but it will need a lot more support and more people behind it to get it moving. One of the first tasks will be to figure out the membership shares or perhaps the annual dues? It will need to be a dues-supported organization, because there will always be those who want a free ride for nothing. A second task will be to find a site to start receiving and storing the cars and parts. It will need to be in a dry climate, if it is to be outdoors, to prevent further rust and deterioration. If it were all indoors, climate and location would not matter much. In my 30 years in the hobby, I have seen more and more old time salvage yards go out of existence, and it is happening every week. A place to keep these cars/future projects is needed. Perhaps the BCA Foundation could be convinced to be the umbrella non-profit organization for this? The Foundation has not been able to get a museum up and running, and has very little funding, and now a self-appointed group of BCA members have gotten together to try to start their own museum foundation, which leaves the BCA Foundation kind of high and dry with the wind gone out of its sails. This salvage yard pool idea might be something to run with. A problem we had on the Foundation was the Board members are too scattered around the country to get together often enough to accomplish much. I can't speak for the entire Foundation Board, since I am only one member, and they are pretty much inactive now, but let's keep this idea alive and put down some more thoughts as to how it might work. The Foundation already has its 501-c-3 non-profit status in place, but some minor changes to the charter might be required. Maybe this is the way for it to get started with something????

Monthly dues of $100? That would add up to some serious money fast! But how many of us can do this, or want to do it until there is some management framework and policies to govern the use of the funds? I'm not trying to be pessimistic, but just want to lay out some tasks to think about. More thoughts???

For starters, I don't think any money should be spent to obtain parts and cars/projects. There are enough of these out there that can be had for the cost of removing them/saving them from being thrown out or crushed, etc. Funds would have to be spent for obtaining and maintaining the property on which the parts/cars would be kept; paying the taxes and upkeep, and perhaps someone to physically be there to keep the inventory list updated, answer inquiries, establish prices, etc. Gee, this is starting to get complicated already. There would have to be some sort of document drawn up to prevent the caretaker of the property from taking or keeping the parts and cars for his/her own use.

Pete Phillips, BCA #7338

McPherson KS.

pphillips922@earthlink.net

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It seems that one reason the older salvage yards, especially the ones that tended to specialize in certain makes of vehicles (i.e., the HUGE Mopar salvage yard in KS!), are decreasing due to a number of issues. One would be EPA rules for salvage yards (having to have concrete surfaces and such). Another would be "civilization" spreading out to their venues (which used to be out in the middle of "nowhere", in many cases), which would also relate to "eyesore" and "public nuisance" orientations of developers and "new neighbors". And, as in other business enterprises, when the owner passes away and the survivors (second or third generation) don't seem to have the same drive and passion for the business, things tend to close down later on, the inventory is liquidated and crushed, and so on. One thing that never happens, probably for economic reasons, is that salvage yards are always liquidated and crushed out instead of existing inventory being moved to a new location.

As Pete mentioned, the basic overhead issues would be significant. Just getting things up and running would be quite an undertaking, but could well be worth it for the contributiion that it would make to the Buick hobby. Still, funding is needed and profits would have to come from parts or vehicle sales--at some point in time. And what about garage liability and property loss insurance?

Depending on the orientation of how "archives" and "museum" are defined, it could still be within the mission statement of that organization. In some respects, I'd rather browse an older salvage yard, just to see what's there (remembering how things used to be and what CARS were back then!), even if an admission fee was charged, than look at modern art in a fancy museum for free (at least I understand what I'm looking at with cars!). Cheap entertainment, of sorts, that's also neat to do.

None of us are getting any younger and we all know that at some time, the "fleet" will need to be turned. Having a place to broker the sale of these cherished vehicles and valuable (in many cases) parts, or a place they could be donated from an estate situation, could well be a good thing. Much better than arbitrarily sending them to the crusher!

The other thing not mentioned would be the transportation of the vehicles/parts to the ultimate location of the facility.

A few things that might help the situation along, perhaps, would be that BCA members could volunteer their time and expertise at the facility. Younger Buick enthusiasts could also "intern" in the summer too. Several exciting possibilities for the support team/staffing of the facility! Several synergistic tie-ins that could be really neat to make happen too!

But the key thing would be where the facility is located and related costs to get it up and running, which can be substantial. Even if a suitable building could be found in "small town America", that used to house some manufacturing or larger car dealership, getting it "presentable and "useable" and in compliance with all building and fire codes could take quite a chunk of money. Not to mention that no civic entity might really "want" an indoor salvage yard in a part of town they might be trying to promote for redevelopment, where they'd just a soon bulldoze the whole block than see somebody make something of it.

It IS a dang nice pipe dream, but making it a reality would take a good deal of work and funding to just get the doors open--and then sustain operation for at least five years into the future. It WOULD make a good business case, but only to somebody that "understood" what was going on, somebody that knew the dynamics of the car hobby with respect to how vehicles are accumulated and then must be disposed of somehow, sometime, somewhwere. A dedicated clearinghouse/broker situation for cars, parts, memorabilia, etc. "For Buicks ONLY" would be a neat addition to this part of the hobby.

Just some thoughts,

NTX5467

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There are a lot of good thoughts here. I am in the middle of my work week and I'll sort them out this weekend. Keep the POSTS coming though. I could not have thought about all these issues myself.

New salvage yards need concrete underneath? All of them? oh man what's it coming to. I am a neat freak by nature and I can see receiving a Buick and draining all fluids and storing it as nice as possible. (Anyone ever been to Wheatbelt?)

Later

Bryan Moran

BCA 28571

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This is why it should not be called a salvage yard. Two words--business plan. There are lots of things to consider, getting it to fly and keeping it going is the goal. Insurance to cover people working on their own projects is cost prohibative. The large issue I see is a place to keep these vehicles and protecting them from theft and damage. I worked at a bone yard when I was a kid and I will never forget three guys trying to steal an engine and trying to get it over the fence. The dogs got to them so they dropped it and ran.

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Interesting idea, but I have my own collection of '56 Buick parts, '66 Wildcat parts, '68 GS parts, some '70 GS parts, and '73 GS parts, and a couple of things for an '86 GN. My brother has more '56 Buick parts, '64 Electra parts, '70 Wildcat parts, and we have run out of room, Chris has a 5 car garage in NY, and I have a 28x32 in MI, and a full basement of '56-86 Buick parts, plus literature, we occasionally do the swap at the BCA Nats, started in '88 at Flint, did Batavia in '89, Columbus in '90, Flint Regional in '93, BCA Nats in Buffalo in '00, may swap at the Nats in Batavia, in'05, too! If we could find someone to hoard the parts, that would be cool. I want to find a place to just put my Buicks I have that are outside, and that hasn't happened. So if anyone has someplace reasonable to store/save some buick stuff, that would be awesome! <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

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The concrete is supposed to "seal" the surface against "automotive bodily fluids" getting on the the ground, and then going to all of the places that environmentalists claim they go to damage what they claim they do. Many of these EPA-related issues have resulted in many operations ceasing to be "public" or even to exist anyway. The concrete does not have to be smooth and finished, just there. But it does make the operation more "all season" with no mud in the rainy seasons too. And you won't lose that special nut/bolt/clip in the weeds either. Weeds that snakes, ants, or mosquitoes might "hide" in. Plusses and minuses . . .

It would seem that potential locations could be in smaller towns that the Interstate highways "bypassed", where the new business district followed the Interstate corridor and left the more central business area of the town vacant. A town that used to be a regional commercial center, which would have had at least one larger dealership that was built in the '50s and is now vacant, for example. Enough "under cover" floor space to be a good shelter and to also allow "work" to be done. Some of those old dealerships are just plain NEAT places! The old embedded grease smell or something? Architecture out of real concrete too! Usually configued for larger vehicles (longer, lower, wider).

Did somebody mention the word "Hoard"?????

Enjoy!

NTX5467

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I would have hoped this would generate a bit more interest. Maybe many are reading and not commenting. So far, while some negative aspects, there is not a lot of comments about it being a foolish idea. Can someone suggest a possible site for the "Buick Collector's Cooperative"?

I would think we would need a list of possible locations that would make things more interesting. I would be hard to develop a demographic profile of BCA members with interst, vs. BCA members that would have no interest in this endeavor. Hence, I think consideration should be given to a geographic advantage, and then warmer, dryer climate - Oklahoma anyone? or some state nearby, with low expensive real estate.

Just me thoughts for the moment.

John

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A few thoughts . . . possibly a couple of these "facilities" instead of just one, in different geographical areas. It might be easier to find a couple of smaller venues than one large one, yet they'd all be under the same umbrella. This multiple location approach would increase initial investment requirements, but might also provide more opportunities for more BCA members to be involved, whick might help grow things a little faster.

Climate, per se, might not be such a big issue, as if the vehicles were housed in a building instead "in the open" (which can generate a whole 'nuther set of zoning and related issues regarding open air "storage" of vehicles! not just in the municipality level, but also at the county and state levels), then the climate's interface would be in heating bills in the winter.

To me, one of the reality issues of the automobile hobby is that accumulated vehicles and related items will, someday, have to be disposed of and find new homes. Whether this happens in earlier life or later life, it still will happen sooner or later. For a more senior enthusiast, it would be nice to have a place that the cherished (and very possibly RARE) items could be taken where people that knew what they were looking at could help with the "new home" operation (and care that they did find a good home instead of just finding somebody with money). Many possibilities that could be built upon, as things might progress, which would help the operation grow AND also help serve this section of the automotive hobby.

Maybe I'm just looking a little too far into the future, like where I might be in another 20 or 30 years from now with respect to my automotive hobby activities. I know that I'll end up there and that others either are already there or are young enough to not be worrying about it just yet.

Still, the key to this whole deal is the funding of the enterprise. But I suspect that if enough people buy into the possibility of this whole idea being something financially viable, it could be a better way to serve the Buick and automotive hobby than building a museum building somewhere and hoping enough people will come through the doors to keep it open.

Enjoy!

NTX5467

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Sorry to keep jumping in and out but I am crunched for time. Everyone agrees no matter what we do the big expense is where to house everything. Someone brought up dealerships that have closed, I think thats a good starting point. When we have car shows we promote the durability and quality of the Buick name. I wonder if we can market that to Buick and get them to "donate" a dealership that they can't use anyway--in different areas. The internet could be used to connect the various facilities for parts and or vehicles. I am thinking long term lease.

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I wonder just how many of the closed locations there are, and most are likely not owned by GM, but by others, locally. Perhaps we could find an old Olds dealer - those must be available. I just realized, I know of one old Chevy dealer's building these used only for service and has been empty quite some time. But I hear the owner seems to prefer it sit empty, and wait for top $. However, I am going to check it out. They just sold another location for big bucks as part of a new development, and that building will come dowm. Now, I think it has an old tower that they used for parts storage - one of the early versions of the carousel retrieval system some of you in industry may be familair. But I think the building is to come down soon, so I need to check on its condition, and I imagine a nightmare to remove, But what a cool idea. It would be a museum piece itself.

John

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Guest imported_Thriller

Here's a couple musings in no particular order:

Location - would be good to be near major transportation routes (i.e. north / south and east / west Interstates, perhaps a major airport) so that folks from outside the immediate location might be able to get to it. This may also help with shipping. Perhaps this facility (singular or plural in location) could be set up where there are active BCA chapters who could be involved...perhaps providing a meeting location, show location, restoration shop, as well as possibly a chapter project to remove parts and sell them for some profit to stay with the local chapter.

I had intended to make a list, but it seems I rolled a bunch of stuff up into one paragraph above. Can you envision a dealer building with display area and front display used for a show with the service area used for storage / parts removal / restoration work? Unfortunately, at least where I am, the majority of these are prime real estate, especially factoring in the storage for new vehicles that weren't necessarily on display. There was a dealership here that had a ramp up and vehicles on the roof...that was kind of neat.

Anyway, it seems I have graduated from musing to blathering, so I'll stop while I'm ahead.

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Very good points!

As far as the "prime real estate" issue goes, in many metro areas, the old dealerships were usually in the central business district (back when ALL of the important and prestigious places were "downtown") or nearby. In the bigger cities, many of these have been leveled for office buildings and such. Yet in the smaller towns and some metro areas, many are still there as the Interstates moved the commercial zones outward from downtown, resulting in new dealerships in the "more traveled" Interstate corridor. So a good number of those dealerships built in the '50s and '60s are now sitting vacant or have been recycled for other uses, just as old filling stations have been. What was once prime real estate is less of that now that the traffic patterns have changed, but they still are not going to be "cheap" unless they are sold at a tax auction or similar.

Other things to consider would be locations with the lowest commercial utility costs, insurance rates, accessibility to excellent burglar alarm networks and law enforcement facilities, and the possibility of needing a "dealer's license" (unless other arrangements can be made).

Using the facility as something of a center for local chapter/regional activites (meetings, shows, etc.) would be good. Excess shop or storage space could be rented to chapter members too. Of course, having reliable people involved would be a definite plus!

Enjoy!

NTX5467

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I believe that this idea is still viable but I am a bit discouraged in that I am not sure how to operate it as a not for profit. I know of only one company that runs a strictly Buick salvage yard and that's Wheatbelt Auto.

For nostalgic purposes, a defunct, abandoned dealership would be great but the overhead and operation would require it be run as a private enterprise. I am thinking that the location should be west - but not on the west coast. I have traveled, as many of us have - through the central plains states of Oklahomas, Kansas, Nesbraska and so on. certainly land is cheap here, it's flat and environmental restrictions are bound to be less then in the fisheye atmosphere in the east. It's overall much drier with no salting beloew Nebraska that I am aware of. It's flat and a town that is economically challenged would have no problem with a viable enterprise taking root in and near town - not to mention most of the major highways go through these states.

Keep the ideas coming. Eventually this post will fall by the wayside and then I'll print everything up and see where we can go with it.

Thanks for all the great ideas so far.

Bryan Moran

BCA 28571

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Also I wanted to mention that if I could find employment in a particular town that offered a good location, then this would allow me to get a not-for-profit operation rolling, even if it started slowly. I am employed as a mechanic and in customer service in the mortgage industry - as is my wife.

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  • 3 weeks later...

It seems time to bring this to the top for the new year. Note the recent posting, for the all Buick yard in Arizona that allbuick is planning to sell, under "Buy and Sell".

The posting was just at the turn of the year, so it must have been an interesting decision.

Anyway, is there anyone following this thread, that knows of this place, and the owner? Is this the opportunity for those that mentioned interest on this thread to perhaps see this as our opportunity. I hate to use the "put your money where your mouth is" expression, but this might be the chance!!

Any comment? I would think, with the holiday, it might take some time for all previous posters to see this and check out the post under "Buy and Sell".

John

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Guest sintid58

My dad and family are all certified Buick nuts. We have a family farm near Hudson South Dakota that although somewhat off the beaten path is not too far from 2 major interstate highways. South Dakota is not near any major population areas and there laws on parts yards for cars are quite lax. As far as I know the main rule in effect has to do with keeping the vehicles out of site. In the past 10 years I know of at least 5 companies that have started salvage yards and repairable businesses. We have a small farm near town that could easily be fenced and used as a storage place for parts cars but I am not sure of the logistics or what it would take to get my dad interested in doing this,or letting someone else do this. Hudson is in the very south east corner of South Dakota and 18 miles from I-29 and about 40 miles south of I-90. It is about 2 hours to Omaha Ne and I-80. Although out of range for some areas the lower cost of EPA and state rules could more than cover the cost of transportation. If there is enough interest I will get with my dad and see if he would be interested and then we could check on costs and liability issues with the state. When I say small farm that is 40 acres right on th edge of town. We also have some other property that is larger and not far from town as well that could work. I am almost sure there would be no regulations requiring concrete on the ground.

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I will be calling to check on the Arizona salvage yard. I think there is a write up on them in an old Salvage yard booK I have. As for the South Dakota location, there are more pluses then minuses. I have a friend from Murdo South Dakota and there is PLENTY of room there, that's for sure. The cost would be in getting cars to and fro. Gasoline prices not probably going down. Good place to start a salvage yard business and project car storage.

Thanks for bringing this subject back to the top. I haven't forgotten about it. I will update after I talk to Speedway.

Thanks

Bryan Moran

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Guest sintid58

I am in the transportation business. I have moved repairable cars in Vans and Refridgerated trailers as well as straight flatbcds. Probably wouldnt want to do that with number one or number two cars because there is no way to tie them down inside of most reefers or vans but if you let air out of the tires and use air ride equipement then it works quite well. It's been awhile but from Denver to home seems like $200 per car. Should be about the same from Chicago St Louis areas and slightly less from Kansas City. Depending on where you are coming from if you could put three cars together at a time to move from the same location you should be able to do it for around a dollar a mile back to this area in vans and reefers. Three cars at once is all you could move and the more places you have to stop and pickup freight the higher the cost. From southern CA to SD full load rate would be around 1600 and from Seattle to SD 1500- from NY around 1100 and so on. So 535. per car from southern CA to 375 from ny. It would probably be a lot cheaper to get full load rate and pay miles and add pick up pay for extra cars you pick up on the way. I guess where I am going with this is that the most expensive move back to SD would be around $600 per car. A lot of this could be worked out in more detail as time goes on. One thing about the area I live in is there is a lot of outbound freight and many companies are looking for freight to get trucks to this area to pick up meat. I can think of at least 10 companies within 50 miles of Hudson that would jump at any kind of freight that would get them to this area. You would loose much of that advantage in the Murdo area bccause coming from the east you would add 200 miles to the trip and from the west most of the trucks bringing in cars would have to drive the last 200 miles empty and they would want to get paid for that. That would be something to look at anywhere you did this. Arizona is a nice dry climate but often freight charges going into the area are fairly high because other than during produce season freight out of that area can be hard to get. This would go for areas like the northeast and Florida. Rates into NY and northeast and Florida generally run near $2.00 per mile. Rates into CA, AZ, OR, and WA are around 1.25 per mile, and when you go to either coast with everything, when you move freight from the other coast you have a lot more miles in it. In my area because of all the meat packing plants added to the normal amount of manufacturing we have much more outbound freight then many other areas. LTL shipments (less than full load) and UPS parts shipments on the otherhand are about the same from here as they are from other areas of the country so shipping parts out would be competitive. The one disadvantage would be shipping out one car at a time and I have no experience with that. I know that there are a lot of used cars brought in from Florida not a lot of the car arriers that bring them in leave with loads so that could be looked at. Just wanted to throw some figures at you and give you some insight.

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Guest imported_MrEarl

Speaking of farms, I figure one could get about 100-120 old Buicks in a broiler chicken house. There's usually about 3-4 of them in a row on most broiler farms.So there's the potential for about 400 old Buicks in out of the weather. Finding a broiler farmer that's willing dedicate his old houses to this is another story though. Just a thought.

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