Che57vy you have a great point there

About a yeat ago, I found a 56 4 door hardtop at a local junkyard, in Ontario, California, it was during the "cash for clunkers" federal gov. program. I thought I was back in 1980 at a junkyard, and couldn't believe my eyes. I took a few parts, most notably, the original steering gearbox. If you cut the snout off of the OEM 55-57 gearbox, the snout mates up to a Saginaw 525 manual or Saginaw 605 power steering gearbox. You mate it with the long 55-57 original steering gear, everything fits perfectly, and you've upgraded your steering gearbox to modern times! We live in the fast food age, and most people would rather overpay for Chinese castings and the like for their American car, to be able to install something today. Thus, you see people asking $25,000 for a 57 Chevy 4 door station wagon, because they've invested that much or more into the thing with off the shelf new parts, and they're in the red if they sold it for anything less. Before crushinig, I'd like to see any classic car stripped down to bare dirt of the4 junkyard. I am sure the car I found had a perfect frame, it still had the body on it, and somewhere out there, someone was paying $10,000 or more for a new reproduction 56 chevy frame!

Sources: http://www.pickyourpart.com

I have been on both sides of this dilemma. It is sad to see a solid vehicle rust away because someone either can not afford to redo it or just does not car. Too many people buy an old ride with good intentions, then find out they do not have to know how or money to do the vehicle right. Would almost rather see one crushed than hacked up by someone who ruins it for everyone else.

Good point..........but the cars that have rusty floors should go to the meusam so people can see them. I wish I could start a meusam like that. NO CLASSICS SHOULD GO TO THE CRUSHER TO BE TURNED INTO A NEW PIECE OF JUNK

IF ALL CARS WERE SAVED FROM THE CRUSHER THERE WOULD BE NO PARTS FOR THE ONES WORTH SAVING .MY FAMILY HAS BEEN IN THE RECYCLING BUSINESS SINCE 1937 .RIGHT NOW IN ALBANY NY AREA THERE ARE 2 57 CHEVYS THAT SHOULD NEVERGO BACK ON THE ROAD ADVERTISED ON THE E=== AUCTION SIGHT .WHEN THE FLOORS RUST OFF THE FRAME AND FALL THROUGH THE FRAME HAS TO SUFFERED RUST DAMAGE TO SOME EXTENT. I WENT TO S DAYKOTA AFTER A 48 NASH FROM MICHIGAN ,THE RUST FREE BODY WAS GOOD UNTIL THE FLOOR MATS WERE REMOVED AND FRAME RAILS HAD RUST HOLES IN THEM.WOULD YOU DRIVE A CAR WITH A RUSTY FRAME ? BY THE WAY I HAVE 2 57CHEVYS ,A 39 OLDS 2 48 CHEVYS AND A 55 CHEV FIRST SERIES 6100 MODEL TRUCK THAT I HAVE SAVED. WHERE WOULD THE PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN THE PARTS FOR THE OVER 10,000 CARS THAT WERE USED TO SAVE SOMEONE ELSES RIDE.

us car guys nead to save as many classics as we can

Well ,I for one feel your pain,and in the same way I see cars setting around that you try to buy and get that story of " I am going to restore that someday" sure you are & 20 years later it is still in the same place only it sunk in the ground a little deeper or the rust level creeped up the body a little farther. Use em or loose em !! Just my two cents worth.