Model A Boneyard

J

JayJay

Well-known member
I have a vague recollection that at one time there was a large Model A boneyard located somewhere in the Pacific Northwest - Spokane, maybe, or perhaps Montana? Anyone know what I'm talking about, and if so have contact info? Or am I hallucinating again?

Thanks.
 
JayJay said:
I have a vague recollection that at one time there was a large Model A boneyard located somewhere in the Pacific Northwest - Spokane, maybe, or perhaps Montana? Anyone know what I'm talking about, and if so have contact info? Or am I hallucinating again?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Probably hallucinating... Or your thinking of Bert's. They claim to have ½ million used parts in addition to new parts.
 
it was called the Model A Ranch in Spokane Wa, it might still there but nothing like it was in the early years.
 
Y-Blockhead said:
Probably hallucinating... Or your thinking of Bert's. They claim to have ½ million used parts in addition to new parts.
Click to expand...
Thanks, Y-B. I know Bert's well (just got a shipment from Steve B today), but I think JW Hash may be onto what I remember. In addition to hallucinating...

JW, I found something called Antique Auto Ranch, 2225 N. Dollar Rd., Spokane Valley, WA 99212. Might this be it? There's an old catalogue of Model A parts from here on FleaBay...
 
I looked on Google Maps, looks like something is still there.

568092


54585666121_47846cbe06_c.jpg
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot 2025-06-12 at 6.18.30 PM.jpg
    Screenshot 2025-06-12 at 6.18.30 PM.jpg
    20.7 KB · Views: 316
How about Medicine Bow Motors in Missoula, MT? At one time they claimed to have a large "A" junkyard. They've been gone for years I imagine.
 
Agree with John Hash. Back in the day there were two places in WA. Vintage Auto which started in downtown Seattle and moved to Woodinville, WA. Eventually closed. The other is the one mentioned in Spokane on Dollar Rd. I have pictures from the Antique Auto Ranch of me and my friend Paul Wagner wondering through the place. Circa 1973.
 
Junk yards usually scrapped cars after the good stuff had been stripped. I wonder how many frames and (savable today) bodies went to the crusher as they made room for newer cars?
In the 70s the "Pick-A-Part" business model came into vogue. They'd haul the cars in and neatly put them in rows on jack stands. After they were there for about a month what was left was pulled out and crushed on the spot. The car pancakes were stacked on a semi and taken to LA Harbor. There they had a large chipper they fed the cars into and it spit little chunks into a ships hold to be recycled in Japan into new Toyotas, Hondas, etc.
We used to watch them prep the cars to be crushed. They had a giant forklift. The forks were about 10' long. It also had a claw. They would lay the forks on the front fenders and the claw would reach in and yank the engine/trans out - nothing was unbolted it was brute strength. Then they would flip the car over and spear the gas tank out. Those and the engine went into piles the rest went on the crusher.
I looked for a video on the process. Today they have gotten more sophisticated. They target specific materials - aluminum, copper wiring, cast iron rotors, etc. It still takes less than 10 minutes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3__cghqyOU


The LA Harbor shredder - About every six months they pay to clean all the rust spots from the boats in the adjacent marina. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ix7eEk0G1B0
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top