Want to lease/buy a salvage yard...

[SillyValleyF250]

Hi guys,

I'm thinking about making a life change, and was wondering if someone here had any contacts and could point me in the right direction.

I'd like to own a salvage yard, and work for myself. I'd like to find a yard owner who's retiring, but who wouldn't mind showing me the ropes and starting me out right. I'd work like the dickens, and always keep a few slots full of the old bumpsides as I could find 'em (and Pontiacs, and Internationals...

If anyone knows of a yard owner who'd like a Pimply-Faced Youth (well... 36 years old...) to take over the reins and run an honest, fair yard, I'd love to know about it. I'm targeting [in order] Montana, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, Utah.

I've only done a brief stint in Cali-forney, so I'm not gonna bring a bunch of Californey BS to the table [no offense to Californians, but, well... you know...]

Thanks,

--Silly

[thebannister8]

[averagef250]

There's a private yard for sale in Battlegrounds Washington about 15 minutes from Portland. It's advertized on Portland craigslist in the business section. I think the seller's smoking something by what he thinks it's worth. Most established businesses are worth 2 years documented net profit plus assets. If all the cars in his yard are brand new it might be worth what he's asking.

I agree with Jamie though. My uncle owned two wrecking yards for a few decades. He sold out because the major yards (anything owned by LKQ) have the pull and power to make your life a living hell if you try competing with them. Basically they don't have any EPA problems but you certainly will.

The big yards focus on the newer stuff. That's where the money's at. A $3000 insurance auction wreck can be $10K in parts. Most of the small independant yards focus on older or specialty stuff and for the life of me I can't figure out how they stay in business or why anyone buys anything from them when craigslist has everything for older stuff and it's 1/10th the price.

If you want to do something automotive related like a wrecking yard but without the BS and don't mind working nights now and then get a recluse unit, a powerful, quiet 4x4 gasoline powered 1 ton truck, a small secure lot and get into the repo business. Good money right now.

[fordman]

one way to get around the epa thing is to call yourself a recyling center. not a salvage yard. they look at you differently.

[angliagt]

A friend of mine had the right idea - Ask them for
their IRS statement (showing what their earings were).
Nobody Overestimates to the IRS!

- Doug

[rjewkes]

Perhaps buying a ranch or farm type acreage somewhere in the sticks just close enough to town, then have a pad of some sort poured and park a nice collection of savable cars. then sell on craigs or the e-bay.

[rjewkes]

hey you could even secialize in bump parts on the side. 'll have to google eldridge, am i right about it being on the far right of missori(east)? I'll find out in the googleage.

EDIT: googled it to be up above lebanon. Cool i could make a trip to buy parts once you start selling. or as close as it shipping would be fast and possably inexpensive.

If all goes well enough could be opening My own tow company in the next year or two.

[SillyValleyF250]

Specializing in bump parts, Pontiac parts, International Harvester.

There are so many nice old rust-free cars out here, I'm tempted to make trips out to Cali to buy up old cars and trucks, and get 'em shipped back to Missouri for fixup-resale or part-out.

--Silly

[rjewkes]

when you do that keep me in mind for a 67-77 nova 2 door please.

[fordman]

good interchange books are hollander and mitchells. as well as ford master parts catalogs.

[SillyValleyF250]

rjewkes: I'd not mind a '73-74 GTO, either...

fordman: I'm casting my eyes about for a good computerized solution, too. I'd love to have the books as a no-power backup.

--Silly

[rjewkes]

seems like the towing company i worked for had a software called tow manager and it would keep track of a car i the lot, is this what your looking forr a computerized inventory or a parts list/interchange list? i think you can get fords master catolog on cd. not sure about the others though.

[SillyValleyF250]

Hi,

What I'd really like to find is a digitized parts list, with standardized part numbers, for each part of each car model made.

Wouldn't that make life simple? Meta-numbers for entire assemblies (engine assembly, etc.) Should make parts hotline lookups a lot slicker. I'm sure the industry already has such a database, otherwise procuring parts would be even worse a nightmare than it already is.

That way, I can catalog parts as they come off the cars and go onto my shelves, and keep a tight ship running. I'd like to keep the more modern stuff turning over quickly. In, part, crunch, next. The older stuff, I'd like to reserve spaces for. I'll be out rummaging around in those vehicles, too.

--Silly

[72FishinTruck]

Silly,

Looks like its been awhile. How'd the business turn out?

[R.Smith]

First, leave words like "senergy" in California.

Second, contact the Discovery Channel or the History Channel and set up your own TV show called "American Parts Picker Stars" and have them follow you around while you try to convince shotgun waving old farmers that the 50 Chevy with the tree growing thru the bed is never going to be a "farm truck" and they'd be better off selling it to you....and no, it's not worth $40,000.

I'm goofin but that's actually not a bad idea for a show. I'd watch it. It's every 45 year old mans dream to stumble across an unmolested 30's era pickup.

Fordmans advice about calling it a recycling operation is good too. I'd maybe even call it "Sunny Valley Organic Resource Reclaimation" and have a happy tree as your logo. Maybe even work the phrase "sustainable energy" into the pitch. Then apply for some green jobs loot. Don't laugh. Look how far BP got with that stipid sunflower logo and the "Beyond Petroleum" tag. People eat that crap right up. You could even offer washable parts totes made from hemp and recycled upholstery.