Antique Car Salvage Yard Closing in Central Massachusetts

[stock_steve]

Some friends of mine visited on 1/20, and it sounds like there was a lot of cool old stuff to look at. I'll attach a sample photo from their visit. Sounds like some of 'em are heading back up there this coming Saturday too. Dress Warm!

[Pontiac59]

If anyone wants to pop off a '49-52 Chevy Fleetline or comparable Pontiac vent window, I'd buy it, I need a driver's side. Has to be the fastback. You have to be able to open the door to get it off, it's kind of a pain.

I know a guy who needs a good roof for a '57-'59 Dodge wagon - Plymouth works too -

[Bostonian1976]

thanks for posting all of this...it's all very helpful and informative! I'm in Boston and have two old Rovers...did you see any old Land Rovers in the yard by chance? Maybe a '67 or '68 fastback Barracuda? Have all the cars been moved into a pile at this point, or are there still plenty to see if you walk around? Thanks!

[Stanagon]

I was at Curboy's last Sat. 2/3/07. They are definitely still in business and will continue so for at least a month, according to a staff member (one of the brothers). The word has gotten out and they are getting lots of requests for stuff and people coming out to salvage parts and cars. It's definitely worth the trip! I'm going back again, hopefully this Friday to spend a whole day there.

There weren't too many piles and still tons of cars up on the old airstrip and scattered throughout the woods. They close at 1pm on Sat. and there was 3-4 inches of fresh snow on everything last Sat. I'm hoping to see a lot more the second time around. Prices are reasonable, from what I can tell.

I posted some pix over on this thread at a big VW website:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=212015

-Stan

[stock_steve]

Hey good scouting Stan!

Steve M.

[Guest oldsmobile1915]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">No. But near the end I saw several photos of an extremely rare 1958-59 VW Karmann Ghia convertible. </div></div>

What makes it any different from all the others built? <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> </div></div>

The first Karmann Ghias (1956-59) have a slightly lower fender/headlight profile that technically didn't pass U.S. lighting standards. It was raised for 1960. 1958 was the first year for convertibles, so it could only be a '58 or a '59.

</div></div>

Have you seen the 1954 Geneva Auto Show car that VW got their Karmann Ghia styling? It is the Ghia Aigle Suisse. Check it out at http://www.geocities.com/restorehotcars/ghia.html I guess it might be considered the first of its kind!

~Joe Ferrero

Geneseo, NY

www.geocities.com/oldsmobile1915

[Dave@Moon]

The Karmann Ghia was largely styled after a concept car Ghia did for Chrysler in 1953 called the D'Elegance. to quote the Volkswagen Owners of San Antonio web site (because it was the first one I found with a good/concise explanation):

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Volkswagen, in the early 1950's, was facing the prospect of selling a small line of "homely" cars to a more demanding car buying public. VW executives felt it was necessary to introduce an "image" car to reach this new market. Several other car companies were in the same situation, most notably, Chrysler. Chrysler contracted with the Italian styling and coach building firm of Ghia to build a series of "dream" cars.

<p>

While Chrysler produced some of these dream cars, one car they did not produce would eventually become, the Volkswagen Karmann Ghia. While Chrysler worked with Ghia, Volkswagen contracted with the German coach builder, Karmann to build their "image" car.Karmann, in need of a design, approached Ghia and somehow the old Chrysler design surfaced and was modified to fit the Beetle floorpan. The VW executives liked what they saw and decided to officially introduce the Ghia to the public on July 14th 1955; by August of 1955, the first Volkswagen Karmann Ghias rolled off assembly line in Osnabruck, Germany as 1956 models. </div></div>

[Dave@Moon]

BTW, Hemmings' Sports & Exotic Car Magazine is currently running a multi-part restoration profile of a gorgeous early (1956) Karmann Ghia. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> VW fans should definitely check it out!