Michigan Musclecar Graveyard

[LS1Formulation]

How many times have you wished you could be walking through the woods and stumble upon a treasure trove of old musclecars? Cars from the 60's and 70's, some of which you'd give your left arm for in mint condition. Cars that have long since been forgotten and left to decay amongst the many trees and woodland creatures that now use them as refuge.
In my travels a few years back, I discovered such a place not far from my home. Walking through the woods on a warm spring evening, I spotted some vintage iron through a rickety wire fence and decided to investigate. What I found was impressive enough that I returned with my camera to capture these once magnificent beasts as they laid silently in their resting places.
Here are the photos of what I found. There were a lot more cars than I was able to take pictures of, but I had to be in and out fast - technically I was doing a bit of trespassing and the owners are the type to pull out the shotguns when they see anyone walking around on their property. Lucky for me, I was in and out within ten minutes and left everything as undisturbed as it was when I went in. How about a virtual tour?

In this pic we have from left to right: '77 Pontiac Can Am , '71 GMC Sprint (when's the last time you saw one of THOSE? There are two in this yard, that I could see), and finally, a '67 326 LeMans.








Up next is a Plymouth Barracuda, the year of which I am not sure - '67-68 I think. The rearend is long gone, probably removed to go into someone's project car back in the late 70's.








Here's what most people consider a bastard car - a '74 Pontiac Ventura/GTO. You don't see them very often and most people overlook them for projects. Considering how deep this one has sunk into the dirt, it's been overlooked for a couple decades.








Another Barracuda, this one a 1973 model, sits alongside a '69 Mustang fastback in the shade. Even being stuck in the dirt in Michigan hasn't destroyed this car too much. It has the potential to be restored, if you could ever get the owners to part with it...








I'm not much of a Mopar fan, but I've always liked the way these early 70's Plymouth Satellites looked. This one, a '71 model, looks like a stunt car from the Dukes of Hazzard with all the dents. The engine bay houses a rather haphazardly placed powerplant of undetermined make and vintage.








Now for my favorite car of the bunch. A 1971 Pontiac LeMans Sport with the GTO Endura bumper option and ram air hood. I had a 1972 model of this car and it looked nearly identical, except it was forest green. I will own one again someday!








With the bumpers and grille removed on this Cutlass, I can only guess that it's a '70-'72 model. It looks like someone had big plans for this car at one point, but either lack of interest or money led them to abandon their dream. It would take a LOT of cash to get this baby back to it's showroom shine.








Another Mustang Fastback, this one cannibalized to the point where you can't discern the model year - '69 or '70. At least back in the 60's, they changed the cars so drastically that even a body shell would give a clue to what year a car was within a couple years either way.








For all you G body fans out there, here's a nice '70 Monte Carlo just wasting away into the sand. Had hood pins on it at some point, and I can imagine a set of Keystone classics with gumball 60s out back. I'm reasonably sure the driver had a mullet.








Here's some desirable sheetmetal. A 1968 Olds Cutlass convertible. Probably long past the point of restoration, but still a cool ride regardless.








You have to wonder about what possessed someone to chop the entire roof of this '67 Firebird. I would LOVE to have this car in good shape.








Laying side by side, we have two nearly identical '66 Chevelles. One red and one blue. From the looks of them, both were street machines in the late 70's - early 80's. If only the original owners knew how valuable these cars are now in good shape.















Finally, I leave you with the most awesome ride in the place. A '65 Chevelle SS Convertible, 327 4-speed. How anyone could let such a rare and incredible car rot out in the elements is beyond me. I am sure out of any car in this graveyard, this one will eventually find it's way into the hands of a skilled restoration expert and be driving the roads once again.








Hopefully you enjoyed your virtual trip into this Michigan musclecar graveyard. If you're interested in seeing the real thing and don't mind bending the law a little, get ahold of me and we can make a trip out there. It's definitely eye opening.

[HoogiesNgrinderz]

I would love to see that! If we could get a few people together and pitch in some money, give it to the land owner, and spend a day walking around and snaping pictures.

[svw99ta]

I want the '72 sprint in the first pic.

[NovaMan]

Originally Posted by LS1Formulation

Here's what most people consider a bastard car - a '74 Pontiac Ventura/GTO. You don't see them very often and most people overlook them for projects. Considering how deep this one has sunk into the dirt, it's been overlooked for a couple decades.





Hopefully you enjoyed your virtual trip into this Michigan musclecar graveyard. If you're interested in seeing the real thing and don't mind bending the law a little, get ahold of me and we can make a trip out there. It's definitely eye opening.

I really like Omegas.

These pictures make me hopeful and sad at the same time.
How far from Kalamazoo is it?

Edit: B&S Auto in Vicksburg has a grille for a 74 Omega. It's pitted, but not bent like the one on that car. Dangit, I'm already starting to restore it in my mind!

[LS1Formulation]

Couple hours north of K-zoo. It's actually on the backside of a huge junkyard in a part that obviously isn't used anymore.

[HoogiesNgrinderz]

Near Gowen by chance?

[SLOW GTP]

Originally Posted by LS1Formulation

How many times have you wished you could be walking through the woods and stumble upon a treasure trove of old musclecars? Cars from the 60's and 70's, some of which you'd give your left arm for in mint condition. Cars that have long since been forgotten and left to decay amongst the many trees and woodland creatures that now use them as refuge.
In my travels a few years back, I discovered such a place not far from my home. Walking through the woods on a warm spring evening, I spotted some vintage iron through a rickety wire fence and decided to investigate. What I found was impressive enough that I returned with my camera to capture these once magnificent beasts as they laid silently in their resting places.
Here are the photos of what I found. There were a lot more cars than I was able to take pictures of, but I had to be in and out fast - technically I was doing a bit of trespassing and the owners are the type to pull out the shotguns when they see anyone walking around on their property. Lucky for me, I was in and out within ten minutes and left everything as undisturbed as it was when I went in. How about a virtual tour?

.

That's awesome! What's that GMC?

[Swifster]

All I see in those pictures is rusted scrap. A quick trip to the southwest will get you the same car without the rust problems. That's why I bought the Stude in Lake Tahoe instead of the Great Lakes. The only car possibly worth saving (and only because I can't see the rest of it) would be the '71 or '72 LeMans.

[rod442]

nice pics, cool place. Even if most of it is def junk by now.

And for god sakes people, dont quote a whole 20 screen post just to type one damn line.

[LS1Formulation]

The GMC looks to be an old '66 one ton dually. Something not seen very often. This place is literally 2 miles from my house.

[AL SS590 M6]

Originally Posted by rod442

nice pics, cool place. Even if most of it is def junk by now.

And for god sakes people, dont quote a whole 20 screen post just to type one damn line.

\

Yeah I just edited that out.

[Timberwolf]

Man I would love to have one of those 65/66 chevelles

[98ls1blackbird]

Great write up Patrick, always nice to make a trip down memory lane.
In that pic of the 68 cutlass conv there was a 62 stovebolt in the background. My buddy had one back in the day, it was an SS 327-300 4 speed car, I always had a special place for them.

[Q]

What is the salvage yard name.....I think I might know it

[Swifster]

LKQ!

[CR97WS6]

I had a friend bring me and Scott through a woods like that. It had a 57 Chevy 4 door and a bunch of 40's sedans and coupes. Real cool, but no way they were leaving there.

[91 Redd Sledd]

Another Mustang Fastback, this one cannibalized to the point where you can't discern the model year - '69 or '70. At least back in the 60's, they changed the cars so drastically that even a body shell would give a clue to what year a car was within a couple years either way.

It's a 69. 70's did'nt have the scoop cutouts in the quarter panel.

As Far as the Monte with the 60's Gumballs & Mullet, I wish I was that guy!!Those big ol'Boat Montes are BAD ASS!! My pops had a 71 and I wish he would have kept it for me.
Nice JY tour Patrick.Thanks for sharing.It has prompted me to dig out some of my pics from a local yard that I have been going to for years.I'll start another post.

James

[svw99ta]

Originally Posted by SLOW GTP

That's awesome! What's that GMC?

It is a 1972 sprint (the GMC version of an elcamino). They started making them in 1971.

[1BADAIR]

I need that sprint for parts for my elcamino

[NovaMan]

Originally Posted by Swifster

All I see in those pictures is rusted scrap. A quick trip to the southwest will get you the same car without the rust problems. That's why I bought the Stude in Lake Tahoe instead of the Great Lakes. The only car possibly worth saving (and only because I can't see the rest of it) would be the '71 or '72 LeMans.

There was an article like that in a car magazine about a year ago (probably Car Craft or Hot Rod). It's pretty much idiotic. Randomly pick a city not in the rust belt, fly there, find a car, and drive it back. Or tow it back. Air fare is not the problem. With gas prices what they are these days and with how long it would take for an out-of-towner to find a car they want, especially, if they have a specific model and year range in mind, the total cost of the trip there, lodging while you look, and getting the car back home cold easily equal the cost to replace a few body panels. And you'll have to have the panels aligned and painted either way, so that cuts out some of the price difference. The real deals are other people's projects that they are selling either because they've lost interest or run out of money. You know, "$15k invested, $5k OBO" type stuff.