A hidden disadvantage to owning an enthusiast's car

"The Transporter" (transporter)
12/16/2014 at 19:58 • Filed to: None

So what could possibly be a downside to owning a vehicle that's cheap, incredibly easy to maintain, and is loved by a massive group of enthusiasts all over the world? It's damned near impossible to find parts for it at a junk yard. It's almost easier to keep a Miata on the road than it is to junk it and there are just enough people willing to put the time in to do that. Junked Miatas are almost unicorns around here.

The last time I was at my local Pick-n-Pull, they had three - all NAs - and two of them were almost picked to the bone. Now they're down to one and that's about half plucked. Not that it would have helped me anyway. The whip antenna on the one remaining NA wasn't compatible with the retracting antenna on my NB.

The irony is that I could have rebuilt my shit box Neon with nothing but the VIN plate and unfettered access to there. I could have also started a spec 4th gen Mustang GT racing series just with what was in that Pick-n-Pull.

Most cars there were from the '80s and '90s. The number of cars from before that was slightly more than the number of Miatas. So why, oh why, did one of them have to be this?

It was stripped, bent, and rusted beyond repair (as you can see) and only had a straight six, but it was still a little depressing to see. What could have been.

DISCUSSION (11)

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > The Transporter
12/16/2014 at 20:03

Oh dear god no. AND A 67-68 STANG TOO?? DAMMIT! ;_;

I can never find any parts at junkyards for 944s because there aren't any 944s there; thank god 924 parts fit early 944s. Unfortunately, there are only TWO 924s at any of the yards combined...

Bandit > The Transporter
12/16/2014 at 20:14

It looked like it was crashed and a bit rusty, and being a 6-cyl coupe it probably would never be worth a ton. At least is is allowing other mustangs to live by donating its parts rather than just being crushed for scrap.

lone_liberal > The Transporter
12/16/2014 at 20:25

My project is a '71 Camaro and at one point the salvage yards were full of second gen Camaros but nobody junks them anymore. They are sitting under tarps and in fields rusting away until the parts are useless. The parts specific to the small bumper Camaros were always a challenge but now even body parts that went from 70-77 are impossible to find in the yards. At least the engines are easy to find parts for.

SVTyler > The Transporter
12/16/2014 at 20:29

I know your pain, dude. SVT Focus parts are virtually impossible to find so I've shipped parts from England before just so I don't have to worry about the hassle. Even Ford dealerships have sent me regular ZX3 parts, which is why I've stopped buying from them and just go aftermarket. Grrr, it's annoying me just to think about...

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Bandit
12/16/2014 at 20:45

I'd buy it for $100 and save it! What's left of it.

Decay buys too many beaters > The Transporter
12/16/2014 at 21:00

Back when I had my Mk3 Jetta, 100% of my parts came from pick and pull yards and there were routinely about 12 on the lot at any given time (and anywhere from 20-30 ABA engines). Saabs are little less common, been looking for a signal stalk for about a month with no luck.

The Transporter > lone_liberal
12/16/2014 at 21:16

I think that's part of the reason why these cars are getting so expensive - besides the false economy created by classic car auctions. You just can't get cheap parts for them anymore.

The Transporter > Bandit
12/16/2014 at 21:22

There are a few chrome bits that looked salvageable, anyway.

TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts > The Transporter
12/16/2014 at 21:34

That mustang would make a good starting point for a hard core drag car. Just saying. Back half, a John Kaase 521 Boss Nine, hrrrnnnnnnng.

Agrajag > The Transporter
12/16/2014 at 22:04

The junkyards near me are horrible. Unless you have a Lumina or Neon you are shit out of luck finding parts.

The Transporter > Agrajag
12/16/2014 at 22:25

Not exactly a surprising combination.