North Providence Auto Salvage 2021

2002 Saab 9-5 Sedan

Knowing David's affection for Saabs, I knew I had to photograph this when I was immediately greeted by it upon entering the yard.  It's a 2002-'05 Saab 9-5 according to David.  It was gone when I went back again this past year (2022), so I guess it probably got gradually stripped and then crushed.  Most of the late-model cars in the yard meet this fate.  

1969 Chevy C-50 Wrecker 

This was the first classic I saw in the yard.  I technically saw it before the Saab, but I put it second to keep David happy.  This rig was actually bought new in 1969 and did the heavy-duty towing for North Providence, including the garbage trucks, until statewide towing companies became equipped to do so.  When I was there this summer (2022), the owner told me it needs a carb rebuild (likely among a few other things like a brake rebuild and fuel system flush), but it should still run.  

1971 Ford Country Squire Wagon

This was the next classic I saw upon entering the yard, a 71-72 Ford Country Squire wagon.  The remarkable thing about this car is that, aside from the exterior weathering and slight rust on the door, this car is in very solid condition.  The frame is even still sporting its original black paint, which makes me thing it came from either down South or somewhere out West, or that it was garaged most of its life.  Other than the blatantly obvious missing drivetrain and rear end, this car could easily be put back on the road with a 351 and 9" from a truck.  The interior is in great shape, and the body is solid (other than the missing hood).  Not much had changed when I returned the next year.  A shirt had somehow materialized on the grille, but that was about it.  Maybe they were trying to protect the Ford crest.  I'd honestly consider buying this car if it's still there in 5-10 years (after I graduate college, hopefully get a decent job, and finish my Impala) as a sort of resto-mod project, but that's only a pipe dream.  One car at a time, Sam.  

1967 Ford Mustang

This was the next car that appeared from amongst the bamboo as I strolled deeper into the yard.  It's a 1967 Ford Mustang 289 auto  car that expired somewhere around 2007, as that was the last inspection sticker on it.  The drivetrain is still complete, and the interior is mostly intact, but rust has eaten up most of the unibody structure of the car.  That, combined with the light front-end collision this car received at some point, probably led to the decision to scrap it.  

1963 Ford Fairlane 500 Sedan

And now we get to my ignorance.  As soon as I saw this car, I fell in love with it.  Fortunately, my mom immediately talked me out of it.  This is a 1963 Ford Fairlane 500 4-door car that was last on the road in 2000.  The carb was off and just dangling in the engine bay, and the valve cover was on the front bench seat.  The car appeared to be fairly solid, but there was a soft spot in the driver's side floor pan from a leak in the front windshield.  Fortunately, the yard has decided to put the car up for sale, and as of August 2022, it's on FB for 1k.  I think they're flexible on the price, so someone may buy it for parts or as an ambitious project.  Out of all the cars in the yard, this is likely the most solid, aside from the wagon.  

1965 Buick LeSabre Custom Sedan

And here we have heartache at its best.  Boy, did my ignorance really make me blind.  This poor car, a 1965 Buick LeSabre Custom sport sedan with the 310 Wildcat, had been sitting since 1992.  I saw a fairly straight body, complete drivetrain (minus the radiator), and overall a cool project I could probably get for cheap.  Who needs an interior?  That's what blankets and towels are for!  Just look at that poor, sad face.  It's just begging to be rescued.  I went home that day convinced I was going to buy that car.  

1980s Oldsmobile Cutlass and a 1973 Ford Mustang Grande

I found these two classics next, but my attention was mostly caught by the Buick, so I didn't check them out too much.  The '73 Mustang Grande had a rotten roof due to the vinyl top, but a complete small block V8, revealing the car had factory air.  The 80's G-body Cutlass seemed solid, and I wondered why nobody had decided to rescue it and throw in a new drivetrain.  It turns out the car was not as solid as I thought.  On my return the following year, I found the doors rusted out so badly that the window track had fallen out of the driver's side.  This is likely what spelled the end for the Olds.  

Buried 1978 Ford Ranchero

This 1978 Ranchero was rather buried in the weeds when I first saw it, so I didn't do too much more digging to get to it.  I figure it was probably roached out.  Surprisingly, I found it to be fairly solid when I returned to the yard a year later.  Only missing a drivetrain, it could probably be brought back if the frame is still solid.  There just isn't much demand or interest in these last-gen Rancheros.  

First Generation Chevy Corvair

I backtracked back to the Fairlane area to check out some other cars that were really buried.  This Corvair seemed solid from the outside, but upon peering through the windows, I began to question why the floor was a foot lower than the rest of the car.  It was literally rotting into the ground.  

Buried Ford Thunderbird

One of several T-Birds in the weeds, this one appears to be a '61-'63 vintage.  The paint was actually in good shape, but it had no interior.  A year later, the owner of the yard decided to cut up the hood and mount the scoop on his '04 Grand Marquis.  I'm not gonna question it.  He's a nice guy and gave me a good deal on wheels for my Impala.  

There was another 3rd gen T-Bird like this one, a green one, but it was buried in the weeds and I was told it was sold when I went to look at the cars.  It was gone when I returned the next year.  There was also a '65 TBird that had been off the road since '77.  It was in really rough shape, with some roof damage and the usual rust.  Also, there was a '65 Olds convertible and a '66 Galaxie convertible I never got to because they were too far buried.  Alongside them were a 70s Coronet wagon and a 50s Studebaker, also equally-buried.  With my initial reconnaissance over, I returned home to establish my course of action.