Custom Car Museum Or Salvage Yard?
From an Anonymous Reader – I recently went to Frankies Auto Parts just south of Gettysburg, PA. They have a section of the yard for older & unusual vehicles. I took a couple of dozen pics while there! All of the cars or parts are available, so if you see something you want, it’s there. I saw a Porsche 928, ’54 Ford Panel Sedan, Edsel, ’65/66 Bonneville Converts, early Dodge van cab/pickups, etc. While I was in the area, I also went to see a VERY UNUSUAL car museum. The guy has about 160 vehicles from 1940 to late model cars. All but 21 of the cars are stored outside in a “woods like” setting with little or no protection. And the ones inside are subject to high moisture or tons of stuff piled on top of the cars.
The worst part of the collection is his need to customize almost all the cars. When he was stationed in the Philippines for the US Air Force, he saw the way they customize vehicles with tons of extra trim, emblems, panels, & shiny crap. These cars are adorned with a huge amount of extra trim, emblems & more. Most of the cars were driving and running when he bought them years ago, and they were simply parked, but only after he was finished customizing them! In my opinion he ruined all but a few cars, but he’s proud of what he’s accomplished!
It looks like this reader had an eventful adventure in Gettysburg and I want to thank them for sharing! While the museum is interesting, I think I’d rather go to Frankies Auto Parts, simply because if I see something I want I could actually buy it!
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Comments
So where are the pictures?
Seconded!
Sounds like the car museum guy heard about Michael Fröhlich’s car collection, “artistically” rotting in the woods and attempted to do the same with his cars.
http://www.messynessychic.com/2014/04/30/the-vintage-supercars-rotting-away-in-a-forest-because-thats-how-the-owner-wants-it/
Personally I’d like to see the car ‘museum’ just to get a look at the ’55 Packard that’s been chromed up to look like a Philippine jeepney! ^_^
Please! More pictures!
I was driving through Liberty, NY yesterday & past a Auto Repair shop on Route 52 that had a lot next to it with a bunch of old Chevy’s & a few other cars. I did see a few 58′ Chevy’s & a not bad looking 60′ Chevy Elcaimo Sorry I didn’t take Photos!! : (
I think we are seeing the beginning of a trend with these “outside car museums”. The junkyard (I’m sorry, museum) owners love it, all it takes is one person to collect the admission, no nasty part pulling any more, no expensive building to keep up, no maintenance or detailing necessary. As a filmmaker, I want to make an “artistic” DVD to sell in their gift shops.
Any more pic’s or a couple of links?
We are working on getting more photos and I’ll see if I can find a link to Frankies!
That Packard has more chrome do-dads than a ’58 Harley Earl.
I’m shocked at what 57 Chevy’s are bringing lately. Stuff for the grinder going for up to 25K.
maybe listed as museum to get around local zoning ordinances.
There’s a similar junkyard near Brenham, TX, out by the airport. I’ve never stopped there, but I’ve always been amazed by the old cars I’ve seen while driving by.
I have to say, though, Arkansas is a real treat to drive through–you never know what you’ll see, either on the side of the road, or right there rolling along on the highways. All conditions from barn finds to fully restored. Now that we’ve moved here, I’d had an opportunity to meet many of the owners as we’ve gone to various club gatherings.