2014-06-13 — Keith Thelen
After a brief hiatus, the Junkyard Outtake is back once again. Make the jump for your weekly dose of rusty gems – all coming to you this week from somewhere near Brainerd, Minnesota.
As you may recall from the previous installment, the yard we’re visiting is the aptly-named CC Motors (and yes, that truly is its name!). Since it’s located a couple hours away from me, I only get to visit it on rare occasions. In the past my walk-throughs have been precipitated by everything from corporate retreats to potential camper purchases. Any reason for being in the area is a good enough excuse for me.
On this particular day, the reason was that I had broadcast equipment to be picked up. A well-known engineer in Brainerd had finished checking and spec-ing some transmission gear for me, and the time had come to retrieve it.
But this time, we’re not talking Muncies or Saginaws. This is transmission as in transmitter… or, to be exact, an FM exciter, RF amplifier, and some other goodies. They’re just a few of the many, many pieces involved in building a radio station.
For many years I’ve been working to obtain an FM broadcast license in my area. Having gone through nearly indescribable amounts of tail-chasing and general hassle, I finally managed to obtain said license a few months ago. Now I have until August to go from the drawing board to the airwaves… a huge task, to say the least. I’m fortunate to have a great bunch of people working with me, and years’ worth of ideas and equipment stockpiled. But it’s still a major undertaking.
Having said that, perhaps my unscheduled vacation from CC over the past few weeks will make a bit more sense. Working around the clock to write up proposals, contracts, agreements, presentations, and countless other things (in addition to all the other tasks which come with the titles of “general manager” and “chief engineer”) has left little time for writing the fun stuff. I don’t anticipate this crunch will last forever – but for now, time is at a premium.
Rest assured that neither the Junkyard Outtake nor Project XJ6 have been forgotten. Each will continue on, though perhaps not at the pace I’d previously been devoted to keeping. In both cases, I hope that moving away from a definite weekly schedule will allow me to focus on bringing the best words and pictures together, rather than tossing together something serviceable to run each week.
In the case of Project XJ6, the car WILL go down the road again – and soon! A fuel cell should be arriving shortly, which will open up a whole ‘nother chapter of that saga. For the Junkyard Outtake, expect less of the “one post, dozens of pictures, nothing overly exciting” format, and more of a focus on posting when something remarkable pokes its head out. (This should also leave more room for other individuals to post their junkyard finds, which I hope will happen going forward).
I’d tell you some tales of hot-rodding vintage audio processors to be “just a little louder”, of restoring rusty old rotary-pot consoles to their former glory, or about when cart machines were built like tanks and stereo was a selling point. But until someone launches Studio-side Classic, those stories will have to wait.
Meanwhile, let’s get back to the junkyard!
This Ford looked better from the other side. Ouch!
Speaking of crunched and rusted cars, how would you like to restore this El Camino?
Good thing there’s a few others around to choose from.
If it were me, though, I wouldn’t be looking at the Colonnade Elkys – this ’70 would be more my style.
For you opera window fans, maybe this Grand Prix would be more up your alley.
Or perhaps you need some parts for your Monte Carlo?
Here’s one I wasn’t familiar with… a Mercury Meteor.
Looks like there’s plenty of parts left to be had.
Be glad you’re merely taking the virtual excursion… otherwise, your shoes would be filled with snow by this point, just as mine were!
Here’s one car-truck-wagon that needs no introduction.
This Eagle won’t be flying down the road anytime soon.
Like your wagons with less doors, less weight, and less traction? Perhaps this Vega is more your style.
Can you imagine this one in its former shade of green?
Real or fake? You be the judge!
Here’s another odd duck. Not many ’78/’79 Regals left on the ground these days.
It didn’t mean much – but still, “Sport Coupe” looked better on the fender than “3.8 Litre”.
The single headlights, and the sloped rear-end, are both hallmarks of these early G-body Regals.
Looks like we’ve got a Mustang sighting!
Right next door, another car for the “legit or stickered” file: what might be a Camaro Z28/Type LT.
Can’t say I’ve ever seen the two packages together – but from what I’ve read, it was an obtainable combination.
It only takes two ’50s Pontiac wagons for this yard to officially have the Most I’ve Seen In One Place.
This old girl would appear to be a ’57.
Meanwhile, our second candidate looks to be a ’55… and it’s a two-door!
The temptation is big. Unfortunately, my ability to take on more projects right now is small – and the likelihood of getting it out the door, even smaller. If nothing else, may it rust in peace.
How do you top this wagon? An illuminated hood ornament does the job nicely.
Here’s one for the Oldsmobile faithful.
A real 442, or just another badged-up pretender?
Continentals in the snow…
…right next to…
…Coupe de Villes in the snow.
How about that!
Last, but certainly not least, we have a forward-control Jeep – the first one I’ve seen in years, and a fitting end to today’s wandering.
As you probably guessed, this is far from the end of this junkyard tour. At some point in the future, I’ll take on Part Three – wherein we’ll see more trucks, a few Fords, and a Chrysler or two. Until then, happy hunting!
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