The weirdest thing at Pick-A-Part today

[ROLLGUY]

I went to P-A-P today to get some tires and wheels for my parts cars (Monday is yard tire day- $7 each with steel wheel) so I can still roll the cars around, but make use of the bundts for other project cars. I saw the weirdest thing: I found 3 123's, a 126, and a 115 that ALL had both the front and rear suspension picked (gone), and all 4 doors removed. The grilles, bumpers, and lights were gone as well. I have no idea why the cars were picked as clean as these were. Just bare carcasses with only some interior pieces gone, and some still had drive trains. None of the other cars had that much stuff missing from them (20+ rows of imports). Even the rear sub-frames were gone. All of the front suspension pieces were removed down to the last bolt.
Anybody have any idea why the cars were picked so clean like this?
Could someone be selling the parts on ebay?
Could the parts be going out of the country or to the Rust Belt?

[greazzer]

A guy who lives around 45 min from me has a mini-junkyard for 240Ds, around a dozen. He said he sold off around 85% of this stuff from a guy who traveled all the way from New Jersey in route to the Port of Charleston to ship this stuff to Africa. No clue if the story is true or not, but maybe same sort of deal.

[TheDon]

Someone is stocking up. I would be doing the same. I can never find w123's in the yards here.

[Mölyapina]

Has Charlie made a road trip recently?

[sloride]

Most 30+ year old domestic and Japan products have already been crushed a decade ago. The suspension and sub frame on that vintage MB parts are needed now by owners that still have good running vehicles just slowly disintegrating by oxidation. Myself included

[BillGrissom]

My guess too would be shipping in bulk to rusty areas. My guess would be northern Europe, since many cars were sold there and CA parts are desired. Still, seems like a lot of work for cars that aren't considered very collectible in the U.S. Perhaps these cars are now desired in Eastern Europe since only the rich could have one under communism. 50 yr old guys usually go for the cars they yearned for in their youth.

[vstech]

I've got plenty of that stuff... On complete cars, and in piles in my shop... Ya need something or just making a note?

[MBZ123]

Originally Posted by ROLLGUY

I went to P-A-P today to get some tires and wheels for my parts cars (Monday is yard tire day- $7 each with steel wheel) so I can still roll the cars around, but make use of the bundts for other project cars. I saw the weirdest thing: I found 3 123's, a 126, and a 115 that ALL had both the front and rear suspension picked (gone), and all 4 doors removed. The grilles, bumpers, and lights were gone as well. I have no idea why the cars were picked as clean as these were. Just bare carcasses with only some interior pieces gone, and some still had drive trains. None of the other cars had that much stuff missing from them (20+ rows of imports). Even the rear sub-frames were gone. All of the front suspension pieces were removed down to the last bolt.
Anybody have any idea why the cars were picked so clean like this?
Could someone be selling the parts on ebay?
Could the parts be going out of the country or to the Rust Belt?

Sup Rich? You end up scoring anything bueno? I think there's an lsd in there, but two or three of the VIN's didn't run correctly for me in epc and that car was one of em.

I was meandering through there last Friday, and when witnessing what you described, immediately suspected it was Y.O.U.R. handiwork!!! LOL >Amiriteoramirite.jpg :shrug: hehe
You're the only person I know in high desert with w123 affliction and gots hoarding tier collection. Dude down street from me is gay for w124 coupes, but not many roll through the yards up here. He doesn't collect anyway, too bad fer him. 8-D Put money on the wholesale shipping to rust belt and out of country AND all at a profit. Cheap + plentiful = no brainer

That reminds me, you got any aluminum hoods/trunk lids? My newest SDL got slapped the hood peel/trunk fade burdy bad. I figure since they gonna get a fresh coat, might as well throw in lighter pieces. >amiriteoramirite.bmp

MBZ123

[mike-81-240d]

Was the w115 a 300D?

Were any of the 123's 82-83 with tachometer?

[Walter K]

On an interesting side note, the produce manager of the local grocery store mentioned yesterday that a basket case tractor that his dad had put back together sold at auction a couple of weeks ago, and was being sent down to Belize. The buyer was looking for older tractors and implements that were easier to keep running than the new stuff (plus cheaper). In the last 15 years I have watched the used machine tools get sucked out of the US. Much of the quality machines from 30 to 40 years ago are difficult to find anywhere.

I wouldn't have thought that used car parts were worth enough to export, but I have been wrong before!

Regards,

W.

[fahrvergnugen]

Sure would be nice to pick up an lsd...

[patbob]

I got an email from row52 the other day about how they now match parts buyers with people willing to pull a part.

[ROLLGUY]

Originally Posted by mike-81-240d

Was the w115 a 300D?

Were any of the 123's 82-83 with tachometer?

I think all the thoroughly picked cars were all Diesel. I did not look to see if the cluster was still in any of the cars, but I will probably go back next Monday and will try to get a photo or two and see if any of them still have the cluster (I doubt they do)....Rich

[MBZ123]

Originally Posted by patbob

I got an email from row52 the other day about how they now match parts buyers with people willing to pull a part.

I believe that is part of the business model. As long as I've been going to the site they've had that service. Don't think it's marketed properly though. Seems to me it has way more potential.

MBZ123

[clacker]

I find it is a very localized market, we too have Upull yards and some cars get stripped to the bone real fast, while 20 minutes away at another yard the same car is complete (talking about W123s). Some shops that specialize in them have dozens of cars tucked away and seldom sell anything off of them but are not in the city and undiscovered.
I was amazed at how few are left on a recent family trip to Florida, I went to half a dozen upull yards around Miami and found only a couple w123, some were complete- it all depended on the yard, the bigger yards had little left the smaller ones 10 minutes away had untouched cars. I filled a Thule box full with small parts and a bumper for a 240D. I saw ONE w123 on a 5 week 4000 mile journey! Last time (ten years ago) they were on every street corner...