I like old cars. Sometimes, before I became married and respectable, I used to own old cars. I spent a reasonable amount of time cruising junkyards just to see what was interesting and cheap. I needed to keep my old trash running. I continue to live that way vicariously through two enthusiast sites that I frequent.
I wish I had a dime for every time I hear someone say “you just never see them nowadays. Guess the tin worm got them”. For the uninitiated tin worm means rust.
The two sites are curbsideclassic.com and thetruthaboutcars.com. Murilee Martin, in particular in the TTAC.com articles “found in the junkyard” is pretty popular with the geezer population. That’s probably where I hear about automotive species extinction most frequently.
I would think by this time that there would be a better answer to snow than spreading salt on most of the roads up north. I know some places use sand and recently heard about one location that used lava particles.
I doubt rust is the biggest contributor to the loss of someone's favorites in the Southern U.S. One big factor in their disappearance is that scrap metal pays well. The crusher is the first step in turning a car into a toaster from China. However, you can see the free market at work here in Texas any time you would like to kill some time looking. There is a real market below the border for clean, middle aged vans and trucks.
I doubt rust is the biggest contributor to the loss of someone's favorites in the Southern U.S. One big factor in their disappearance is that scrap metal pays well. The crusher is the first step in turning a car into a toaster from China. However, you can see the free market at work here in Texas any time you would like to kill some time looking. There is a real market below the border for clean, middle aged vans and trucks.
There are probably other popular routes but there is one that I am very familiar with.Take a seat alongside U.S. 59 between Houston and Brownsville. You will see a string of convoys similar to these. I never cease being amazed at the quantity.
This past weekend I had to make a trip from north of Houston to the Rio Grande Valley. On the way down I passed two entrepreneurs that were extra heavily laden.
I felt like calling them road trains like the ones found in Australia. You usually only find one pulling another although they may come as a herd. These two were loaded differently.
I felt like calling them road trains like the ones found in Australia. You usually only find one pulling another although they may come as a herd. These two were loaded differently.
I am sure these two were traveling together. The first of these pictures has three vehicles and the second has four if you count the tow dolly. Can’t recall seeing this arrangement before but it’s legal in Texas.
I am told that these vehicles have to pass through Mexico for a certain distance before they can be sold. Possibly through to points south. I am sure the non-salty southern U.S. is the biggest source and I have seen many a Toyomazisuzusan light pickup pass through. Having traveled in Costa Rica and Panama I know some of them got that far but not sure just how. Ford seemed to be the flavor here but results may vary.
I am told that these vehicles have to pass through Mexico for a certain distance before they can be sold. Possibly through to points south. I am sure the non-salty southern U.S. is the biggest source and I have seen many a Toyomazisuzusan light pickup pass through. Having traveled in Costa Rica and Panama I know some of them got that far but not sure just how. Ford seemed to be the flavor here but results may vary.
If you are traveling south and so are the road trains, you aren’t going to see as many as if you were traveling north. I’ve seen enough of them to know that a single days traffic may be in the hundreds of vehicles.
I also know that the specimens tend to be a few years old and many were probably run through the auction before they started their trip. I saw one Windstar Ford van pulling another yesterday. My phone was busy being my speedometer so I got no picture. I will see more and intend to just add them to the site when I get them. I no longer spend a lot of time hanging out on 59 South.
My contention is that if you no longer see your favorite model classic car it may be in your toaster or it may be speaking Spanish . I think either alternative is a lot more likely than red earth.
I also know that the specimens tend to be a few years old and many were probably run through the auction before they started their trip. I saw one Windstar Ford van pulling another yesterday. My phone was busy being my speedometer so I got no picture. I will see more and intend to just add them to the site when I get them. I no longer spend a lot of time hanging out on 59 South.
My contention is that if you no longer see your favorite model classic car it may be in your toaster or it may be speaking Spanish . I think either alternative is a lot more likely than red earth.
Six axles on the road. The toll roade would eat this guy up. 6 April 2013
Another fast trip to the Rio Grande Valley. Love it here. Got a Nissan Versa Rental that did 400 miles on 10 gallons of fuel. Passed a couple more convoys who probably aren't getting half that. Thought I would publish just in case you thought that the Mexican Convoys were all about pickup trucks.
SUVs and MiniVans obviously have their place in the market as well. With the money it costs to register in Mexico I suspect that the old version of the story is right.
Another fast trip to the Rio Grande Valley. Love it here. Got a Nissan Versa Rental that did 400 miles on 10 gallons of fuel. Passed a couple more convoys who probably aren't getting half that. Thought I would publish just in case you thought that the Mexican Convoys were all about pickup trucks.
SUVs and MiniVans obviously have their place in the market as well. With the money it costs to register in Mexico I suspect that the old version of the story is right.
Six axles on the ground here too. All of but one belonging to a van.
The first I heard about this sort of thing I was told that they had to travel through Mexico because of brutal taxation. Recently heard someone telling about $1000 price tag for a school to register a van. Lots of money here on the hoof for the federales taking.
The first I heard about this sort of thing I was told that they had to travel through Mexico because of brutal taxation. Recently heard someone telling about $1000 price tag for a school to register a van. Lots of money here on the hoof for the federales taking.
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