Classic Car Projects - You Can Build Personal
Salvage yards tend to be most interested in vehicles that have a reputation for reliability and popular vehicles of any kind. The former are valuable because drivers are interested in using their parts to keep the same model of vehicle running for a long period of time. The latter are desirable because their parts are typically in high demand.
The car doesn't just have to be a piece of junk in order for you to make some money off of it. You can have a damaged vehicle that you want to get rid of and you can get the insurance payment check PLUS the check from the junk yard. So that might be a good enough incentive for you to junk the car junk yard.
Keep in mind that junkyards are similar to swap meets in that most prices are negotiable. This is especially true when you're buying parts that are not in good condition. Ask for a discount or offer a lower price. Junkyards will often agree just to move the inventory. That being said, you can expect to pay nearly half of the cost of a new part. For example, a water pump for a BMW 740i may cost $140 new. Expect to pay $70 (in cash) at the junkyard.
SAFETY BEFORE LOOKS: Many first time car owners choose cars the way they seek their soul mates. They look on the outward appearances first. There just might be a statistical relationship between the percentages and reasons for divorces and the percentages and reasons for vehicular accidents. Since one of my best friends owns a car wreck yard, and since I am a pre-marital counselor, let me give you some serious car tips. Yep, you guessed it: your body is a vehicle also. Ask your dealer: Does your car have a chassis? Look in the brochure for the steel frame that the car sits on. Most modern cars are simply welded with some support mechanisms. Most of those are coffins on wheels. I will explain later.
Your local online classifieds: Try searching through a site like Craigslist if there is a board for where you live (or don't mind driving to). Craigslist is full of people who are looking to buy and sell used pickup trucks near me online. There is even a specific board just for car parts listings. With a few simple emails, you might be able to find exactly the part you are looking for, or with someone who knows how to find it.
You should really think about it, though. Factor in all the details, like what it might cost to repair the car (which can be pretty high depending on its condition) vs. buying a new one. Make sure that there's not much other use for the vehicle, that there's no one in the family that might benefit from the car or will need it in the near future, or that it won't even be worth keeping as a backup.
