Projects Grandinetti's Metal Recycling(Iowa) 1,000+ cars to part in November

https://www.facebook.com/Grandinettis-Metal-Recycling-349520735170136/

I had to post this here in an attempt to help others rescue as much as possible from this collection. Highlights(IMO) are 1960 Chevy 2 door, 1961 Chevy bubbletop, 1960 Pontiac convert, a few tri-five Chevys with lots left on them. Hope this helps some of out. Personally, I'd love to have that bubbletop, but no time, no space and so on.

 

Looks like a lot of possibly usable parts, not many restorable vehicles. Going to be hard to get anything the way that place is grown up, better hope it's cool enough the snakes and wasps have hibernated!

 

Just to clarify, this is the old Putnam's in Burlington. Haven't been there in over 20 years, as BamaMav said there probably won't be much as far as body parts go due to typical midwest rust, but tons of otherwise unobtainable trim parts. I know I spent a day pulling parts from a '60 Olds, and a bagful of T3 lamps back in the late '80s. Likely lots of odd / unusual stuff too, the place was a dealership of some kind at one time, I think Rambler and a foreign make like Simca.

 

..they are and have been clearing out trees and brush for several weeks to make it easier to see the stuff and get parts or cars out.
I'm planning on going before it's all history.

 

Posted this before on another thread but the more the merrier.....there is an early coupe body from the 30's in one picture.....looks GM.....and remember the sale is per pound !!!! There is trim and curved glass like for wagons that most likely isn't being re-produced.....

 

...my wife and I and hundreds more people went to Putnam's today;...beautiful day in a boneyard;...lots of parts going out @ $2.00 a pound;..found some stuff I needed, some I didn't but cheap....here's a few pics...

 

I posted some pics too on a thread I didn't see this one. Looked like a lot of stuff going out the gate.

 

Some guys got all the luck


Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

...the whole day I kept saying "this is a part of what Heaven's like",..everyone was having a good time, all great to talk to, talked with a couple real young guys who drove over 9 hours from Ohio to be there, others from 5-6 hours away;..we drove 3 hours to get there but worth it to see this vanishing part of history....sale goes thru the 20th, get there if you can.

 

The smart way to do this other than just junkin' it all at the start, good on them!

 

Nothing lasts forever...its like closing the chapter on a lot of history.
Good luck to all who are able to rescue something out of there.

 

Scrap is going for less than 1 cent a pound. Don't fall for the hype unless you need the parts.

 

...I paid $28.00 for 14 lbs,...I figure the few items I got are worth over $125.00 to me...
I call that a deal.

 

100% if you need something. Just a FYI on the economics. They will need to pay out of pocket for someone to crush and haul what ever is left. Junk steel it is worth negative money now.

 

thanks RustyL for the pics, the trip and saving some stuff...saw a 53/54 Chevy hardtop....that back glass is 53/54 only.....no one's making repo's......so much stuff - GRILL'S weigh NOTHING....hint hint.....also make great wall hangers.....

 

My son's and my haul. Fenders with beaded edge are 37 Dodge other is 39 Chevy coupe right rear, $28 each. Bumpers are 37 Dodge also, a little higher priced (62 pounds, $124) but they're the only set I've ever seen. Rear has the mounting brackets, both have guards. Most amazing part to me was that other than at the running boards the fenders on the Dodge unbolted. If you went by the plate on the Dodge bumper it had been there 63 years.

 

I hope your right for vintage tins sake.

 

Got a few things Sunday, including a NOS 41 Chevy front fender and a decent 49 Chevy steering wheel. Didn't find a hood ornament for my 41 Pontiac, though.

If someone is looking for AMC or Rambler parts, there is a bunch. One building has a few 6 cylinder crate engines, and a some NOS sheetmetal pieces.

 

Looks like a great deal to me. I would love to have an opportunity like this. Good on them for doing it.
Plenty of guys on here piss and moan when they encounter people who wont sell or are going to get to it one day.
Vintage tin at $2.00 a pound. What a deal.

 

So what? All the old cars we fool around with cost us far in excess of their intrinsic value (scrap value) which in the final analysis is all they are really worth. It is only what they mean to us emotionally, their extrinsic value, that prompts any of us to pay more than pennies on the pound in the first place. It's a hobby, not a business.

And, if you think this stuff is "overpriced", please reveal where it is as readily available today for less.

Ray

 

What I am saying is that they are making over 200% in profit. Negotiate accordingly. A complete scrap car is worth less than $40 at the crusher. If they NEED to clear the land anytime soon. They will need to PAY to have it done. Again negotiate accordingly.

 

"Negotiate accordingly"? One just might "negotiate" themselves into an invitation to "get off my lawn".
Walk in, find what you want, pay the asking price, and walk, (or stagger) out.

Roger

 

Really?

 

Totally agree that it's a shame to see them get crushed if I had the means to buy everything especially at $2 a pound I would and start a classic parts yard a lot more organized but at least it'd give a chance for people that are looking for the parts a good chance to get them

 

This is a longshot, but here goes...
If anyone is going, please be on the lookout for trim for a 1962 Rambler Classic 400. I need front fender and door trim for both sides. Pic of correct car is attached.

Any help will be appreciated...!!! Please contact me if you are interested in getting the trim parts for me.

 

Here's an aerial view.
https://www.facebook.com/pg/Grandinettis-Metal-Recycling-349520735170136/videos/

 

Would anyone want to grab me the tail lights off the 56 Pontiac wagon? I live on the west coast. Wish I were closer.

 

You sound like the "buyer" that every seller wants to avoid.

 

Going to have to agree with H380 to a certain extent. It depends on what parts you are looking for. If you are looking for trim or other parts that don't weigh up, then you are likely to get a bargain. Or even if you are lucky enough to find fenders or hoods that are still in good condition. BUT, if you are like me and you find yourself wanting to save complete cars then it quickly becomes a losing proposition at $2 a pound. Also, agree 100% that if they are unable to crush out themselves, tin/steel may well have a negative value at the current time.

 

It would seem the sellers expect to sell parts, not whole vehicles. It's pretty obvious that a 3000 lb car for $2.00 a lb is a non-starter. After viewing over a hundred photos of the inventory it appears there are few really desirable cars that are good enough to save in their entirety. But if there are, I have to believe both buyer and seller would have sense enough to know $2.00 a lb is out of the question and a more reasonable price could be reached. My guess is any HAMBers interested in this venture are smart enough to already have figured that out.

Ray