November 9, 2023

Auto Salvage Yards: My Local Heroes

My most recent trip to the auto salvage yard was a practical one; I had a mission to find an affordable replacement bumper for my friend's 2008 Honda Civic EX coupe. After scouring the web and balking at retail prices, we decided that trying our luck at the local car junkyard might be a wise move.

These yards can often be a go-to spot for mechanics and enthusiasts looking to save on parts without sacrificing quality. In this sprawling landscape of automotive history, it's not just about what you're looking for—sometimes it’s also what you stumble upon by chance. On this particular day, besides zeroing junkyards in on Honda Civics, I kept my eyes peeled broadly—as past visits taught me opportunities could present themselves unexpectedly.

junk cars

During my quest among rows of cars, something caught my eye: Not far from where Nissan Sentras were lined up stood an unexpected catch—a set of lightly used alloy wheels priced attractively at $100 for all four. Considering these could fetch as much as $400 elsewhere, finding them tucked away here felt like hitting jackpot minus the slot machines.

You Can Join Me in the Auto Salvage Yard Fun

  • An accurate tape measure is indispensable – remember when Subarus tricked me? A door seemed perfect until I noticed post-2011 models differed significantly from their predecessors in dimensions.
  • Meticulous inspection pays off - who would have thought I'd unearth a BMW 3 Series engine nestled within an old Volvo chassis? It cost $500; much less than market rate thanks mostly to being discreetly placed outside its native model environment.
  • Cautiously approach parts with minor damage — they can be economical upfront but costly later on. For instance, once there was a Chevrolet Malibu fender selling for only $30 due to slight misalignment issues which later required additional work surpassing initial savings in costs.
Meet Alex Turner, the grease-monkey wordsmith with a knack for turning car tales into compelling yarns, and a soft spot for junk car nostalgia. When Alex isn't writing or elbow-deep in engine work, you'll find them at local auto salvage yards, hunting down the next rusty treasure.