“Ours is a culture and a time immensely rich in trash as it is in treasures.” ― Ray Bradbury
I’ve always had a love affair with cars.
It goes back to my youth. Growing up, there were three junkyards within a few miles of my home. Each yard was overflowing with enough old cars to cover a city block. Walking those yards was the perfect way for any red-blooded Missouri boy to begin his Saturday. With luck I’d have my freshly salvaged parts added in time for an evening cruise through Whataburger. That is, if “she” was up to it.
In those days, lots containing junked cars were a mess. The yard’s owners tried to keep a walking space available for customers, but they weren’t always successful. I would need to climb over a Studebaker with a tree growing in the abandoned engine bay to get at the DeSoto taillights I had my eye set on.
Finding throttle linkage to get gas to my sputtering engine was even more difficult, but the hunt was all part of the fun.
Junk yards today are different. Digital inventory systems track every item, like a 1937 LaSalle transmission, perfect for a Ford flathead V8.
If they don’t have it, their computer knows who does, along with the cost of having it in your work shop by the weekend.
Computers take the adventure from the search. They rob the enthusiast of spotting unusual things like a pair of ’39 Ford teardrop tail lights in the morning sun and then the joy of seeing them in their new life.
Of course, computers have their place, but if you’re not out in the junk yards of life, climbing over the wreckage, imagination never has a chance. You’re stuck with only textbook ideas of what works and what does’t.
It’s said how one man’s trash can be someone else’s treasure. So this All-American treasure, a ’57 Buick Roadmaster, should never be allowed to step foot – or tire – in a junk yard.
Those who think so would be wrong. It would be equally wrong to put her on a pedestal, trailering her from show to show. She wants to be out on the road, enjoying her life to the end. After all, it’s in her name. So for me, a better plan would be to give her a gentle bath and make sure she could start and stop on her own. That’s all.
Then she would be ready for stepping out for a night on the town. She’d turn heads, even in a city where only the young and shiny get noticed.
“Double dare me!”
When I first posted her picture on FaceBook, my friends were eager to know more. They encouraged me to make her mine, to bring her home. “It was all in good fun,” I said. Yet, I couldn’t stop thinking of her.
What color would a 60 year-old look best in? How much makeup should she wear? How could I fix her up without spoiling her classic beauty? I wouldn’t want her to look anymore out of place than she already did.
What would you do?
Chasing perfection, both in cars and life is exhausting. There will always be a more perfect this or that. So I’m choosing to go with good enough. That’ll keep me on the road longer. Living should be about patina with renovation; not perfection and another layer of wax. There’s ageless beauty in classic functionality.
If you are fortunate enough to have walked through junk yards, like I have, what did you find? Were there treasures when you knew how to spot them? What was your best find? What stories did you imagine the little convertible or long limousine telling?
There may not be many junk yards for cars near you today but there are other yards where the discarded and marginalized are kept. When did you list visit and what stories did you hear?
Can you tell me about “climbing over the wreckage” to find your way to creativity?
As always, the conversation starts here.
“In the ordinary choices of every day we begin to change the direction of our lives.” – Eknath Easwaran
Epilogue
Thinking back, I should have carried a first-aid kit on those Saturday mornings in St. Louis. Take a look.
I have to be honest. There was one large junkyard near where I grew up. All of us were scared to death of going anywhere it. The reason: junkyard dogs are (or at least were) real!
Jeff – All three of my boyhood yards had dogs. They were chained during the day and barked a lot but you hoped, by the size of their chains, that you were safe. The main gates were wide open during the day. We pulled our own parts back then so we needed to get in and out. The big hassle would come when you found something heavy like an engine or rear-end. All you could do was get as close as possible and bring friends. The dogs were free at night, after the gates were closed. I know they were… Read more »
Back in high school I couldn’t afford new parts for my car, so I had to shop at the junk yards! Like yourself, it was always an education. Fast forward fifty years and because of my love of old cars, I still seek out the older yards for parts that you can’t find anywhere else. They are still around but, you have to do more research to find them. Usually by use of the internet, therefor you are still tied to the computer! By the way…a Whataburger in Missouri?
Hi Tim –
For sure, the old yards are the best. Besides, newer cars are different. They don’t need wrenching as much as plug and play experts.
Your recent Route 66 adventure in the old red Chrysler convertible is still a personal favorite. We need to visit about that trip sometime.
Yes, we would drive back and forth on the Old Saint Charles Rock Road between Steak n Shake in St. Ann and Whataburger across from Ritenour High School. The cool kids went to Whataburger. Is it still standing?
– Bruce
You need to come back so I can give you a tour…Steak was in St John and the place across from Ritenour is Chuck A Burger! Whataburger is a Texas thing…still have Chyrsler but, tooling around in a 71 MGB/GT…don’t think I’ll be taking any long trips in it!
Tim –
Yes, memory is a funny thing. I do need to visit. You can drive your Chrysler or the MGB/GT on our tour. That would be fun.
Maybe you could find https://www.choicesdomatter.org/the-one-that-got-away/ while you are out searching.
– Bruce
I grew up on a Navy base in the Southern California high desert about 2 1/2 hours from LA. Near my house was a dry lake, which only had water after a good rain. I don’t think it was official, but folks dumped stuff there. We would wander around and look at this stuff, and let’s face it, if something seemed fun to break, it would get thrown as far as we could. I don’t recall finding anything great, but we just loved to ramble around the desert looking for lizards, snakes, and tortoises. I’m sure there was old cars… Read more »
Jim –
What fun adventures. I’m sure you were looking for buried treasure or Spanish gold bars. If you would have found that you could have bought all the cars you needed.
Your right, I just scratch my head when I open the hood today. I don’t think anyone even looks there in the showrooms these days.
It sounds like you should stick to road trips in a reliable ride – and keep your cell phone handy.
– Bruce
Speaking of buried things…When I was in 2nd or 3rd grade, my friend across the alley, Richard, told me with great sincerity and enthusiasm that he had dug up some shrunken heads in his backyard. Cool! I was so keen to see these things. He presented me with some dried mud skulls he had made. I realize now I was supposed to play along. At the time I was so disappointed that I’d fallen for his rouse that I just called him out and the game ended. In the same alley my brother and I tried to dig to China.… Read more »
Jim –
Childhood adventures are the best. Curiousity and creativity are sparked in those early years. It sounds like you are all set to soon pull out a pen and paper. I can’t wait.
– Bruce
Bruce, this piece is so beautifully written. The nuggets of wisdom are heard and appreciated greatly.
Interestingly enough, the two of us have a similar passion for rummaging through someone else’s junk to find treasure. I’ve been stewing on a piece for years now. You have inspired me to write and show the many lessons I learned.
Thank you, as always for provoking thought and conversation.
Janelle –
Thank you. Maybe our passion is not for junk but in re-purposing possessions. Or maybe that’s just how I want to look at my own mess. 🙂
If I have inspired you to put pen to paper, then everything I’m doing has been worth the labor. I’m excited to learn more. For me, writing is the best therapy.
Enjoy 2018, my friend,
– Bruce