Lose Job? Buy a Junkyard

[@LarryPeterson-p3e]

When I was younger I would skip work and go to the junkyard and just walk the rows of cars and dream I'm 65 now but those were some of my favorite times of my life. Great interview and a classic old man awsome thanks

[@TheCbxmaster]

@@LarryPeterson-p3e totally I can remember wondering around some junkyards and it was like Disneyland for me . The awesome deals you could find. Right now I’m finding old Honda ct70’s that look like junk and TOTALLY restoring them. LIKE NEW .👍🙏

[@theojilderts9729]

@@LarryPeterson-p3e alabama. Greath state Lynard skinard..

[@blucheer8743]

Use to do the same thing! Instead of going to the park I’d rather go to a junk yard… I use to think “man if these cars could talk!”

[@duncandmcgrath6290]

I had a chance to buy one myself when local owner passed away . New environmental regs and a new recycler license is required, it sucks … the good old days are right where we left them .

[@darrininverarity4297]

That was a great interview,Rest in Peace Ray

[@cobyburrow9339]

Got a guy here that he and his brothers all had junkyards one loved Chevys another one Fords and the oldest Mopars. Harold just turned 92 and is just like Mr. White and he still owns his 57 Chevy. Cool video

[@Junkyardlife]

@@cobyburrow9339 I’d like to meet Harold ! Quite a family story.

[@cobyburrow9339]

@Junkyardlife I will see if he is willing and let you know. If you would like.

[@Junkyardlife]

That would be great, send me a msg at [e-mail] Thanks!

[@delvinbillingsley714]

@@Junkyardlife I've got a nice barn find 1965 f100 short bed with a 390 fe,3 on the tree for sale

[@cobyburrow9339]

Harold passed away Tuesday the 23rd of December I didn't get to ask him for you an interview. He will be missed

[@kischillin5539]

😂 love that old dude , he said what are ya the government?

[@Junkyardlife]

He was sharp as a tack! 😂

[@TM73PH]

For a guy in his 80s he's still sharp as ever, excellent memory I envy him

[@davesrvchannel4717]

He’s cranky like an old junker I used to visit. In Fayetteville Tn about 50 miles north of Huntsville AL, was Claude Holt junkyard with 5000 antique cars. I tried to pick his brain, he was just like the old guy in video, very brash. I loved just spending Saturdays going through the yard looking at the relics

[@ryurc3033]

There was a guy down the road from me Who had a junk yard, same attitude. Ronnie Holt, and his brother Johnny Holt had another yard in downtown.

[@bamabound9495]

@davesrvchannel4717 some buddies and I went to Claude Holts place back in the early 90s. Great memories

[@Mercmad]

" I got a country boy cut and you got a Hippie "😁😁

[@Bullseye120]

Thank you for introducing us to Ray, and also for telling your story. Interesting how many of these folk made and in some cases still are making a great living selling used cars and parts. These people were street smart and resourceful. There are thousands of people who should have their stories told. A good writer (hint, hint) should be writing a book(s) about who these folks are and their stories. We can all learn many lessons about how they made it, and the details of thier own self made success, and determination.

[@Junkyardlife]

I appreciate the kind words! Working on more stories soon here and on the junkyardlife.com website. A book would give me hope that these stories & history will live on.

[@704406bbl]

Good story. These old guys are something special. I knew this old man I bought my 70 road runner from years ago. Billy West was his name. His place was in Selma,N.C. It was a Mopar junkyard. He's been dead for years, but I think some kin is running it now.

[@davidrice3337]

My Mother's parents , in the early 1960s , decided they were going to lease an old dairy farm , built a show arena and started having Quarter Horse Shows and the occasional rodeo - there were around 50 stalls between the 2 barns and they boarded horses for the public - My Dad had recently divorced and was living in a house trailer beside his buddy's junk yard ,across the road from the farm - My Dad and his buddies had a couple of contest horses and kept them over at the farm - this was south of Louisville KY literally in the Ohio River - when they built the flood wall we would use a car hood for a sled when the 1978 blizzard hit - Cane Run Farm put on some big events thru the mid 90s - The junkyard is still there and I'm 54 - you get the drift - PS - My friend Joe Brown retired and moved to Gadsden Alabama, on the river - we used to have a blast down there - had some good times at a joint called the Fuzzy Duck -

[@tonybruno7917]

Great story Ray very sharp. Man. Keep doing videos 🎥. Thanks for your time peace. 🕊️

[@Junkyardlife]

Thanks, appreciate the kind words!

[@nicholasnapier2684]

The old man knows what he’s doing, man. This is a great interview. You’re making history with this one whether you like think you’re not I’ve ran into many of these old timers like this man specially in Tennessee.

[@charlietabone6162]

What a sweet old bloke with a sweet story. God bless the dude.

[@BoStaggs-cr5lc]

I passed those cars every week for years on my way back and forth to Atlanta

[@toybugengoodman3490]

neat interview I met alot of old guys like that when I was hunting cars in the 90s. his business model does not work today . impossible to by a car from a scrapyard were I live and no county would let you have cars like that on your property . all cooperate wrecking yards now

[@Mercmad]

Where I live it's all Afghan owned wrecking yards,dozens of them where they was once only 4 in total and nothing much over 5 years old. which is where the money is at. Older stuff is broken down into body metal and mechanical and shredded. Anyone familiar with the Turkish barber phenomenon in Europe will know what is happening.

[@mattmatt6572]

Not true. My brother still runs the yard my father started.and the key is to keep the average year about 10 yo. Can be lil oder on some the vehicles people keep going longer, toy pu Mercedes etc. But 5 years and newer you will sell next to no parts until older and the vehicle is out of warranty. The parts cars are mostly bought online auto insurance auctions. They pay thousands of dollars a year for software that tells them how much to bid on what based on what the parts will sell for what their inventory is and what their previous sales have done. They buy software that inventories and prices the parts. Most all parts they sell are online as it is a rural yard.

[@davidblackwell6914]

My grandfather was a Korean war veteran and came home and worked at GM in Buffalo NY and later became an auto mechanic had a lot of cars on his land and myself followed his passion into today I appreciate this video and interview with him!

[@fortheloveofnoise]

I remember passing by this place so much as a kid in middle school and high school on our way from Atlanta to Florence to visit my grandfather. I always wanted to stop in there.

[@SimplyHerb-h8k]

I love junkyards,ty for posting

[@mikevenable9945]

Great story, nothin better than gleaning wisdom from grass roots folk. I spent lots of weekends strolling through junkyards back in highschool. Thanks for the story!

[@aaronruffin7904]

Gotta love it oleskool got him a ice cold one!!!! Takin that brew to the mustache!!

[@wlc1980]

I passed by there on my way to Missouri to visit family with the last name Potter, I think you said you are a Potter. I didn’t have time to stop but I always wanted you to go back. My uncle had a junk yard so I love them too. I own 11 cars and 3 motorcycles so I’m on my way here in Georgia. Great video!!!

[@the.porter.productions]

O-H-I-O Porter greetings 🇺🇸 Good video. My dad had owned several junkyards over the years & he & I would go to many junkyards around our tri state area to get parts & cars/trucks. Those older guys were quite characters. Ray seemed like a very cool character as well! To this day, I still have a love/hate relationship with junkyards & I still go when I can. It really brings back some great memories. I take my boys, too. Old cars & trucks are a great way to make new friends & learn a great deal! You do meet some nasty people as well, but the nicer ones are what makes the hobby exciting & fun. So what happened to his cars & property? Did you guys ever buy any of his stuff? Old car memorabilia is pretty cool as well! Thanks for sharing. 🥰😎✌️

[@WaltonBrosAuto]

“Are you workin for the government!” 🤣

[@markdanielczyk944]

Well, if Victory Auto Wreckers closed their doors... I'm not sure I'd roll the dice. It would be cool, though!

[@VagrantCode]

@@markdanielczyk944 Victory auto wreckers in bensenville IL?

[@TheZachVideo]

Great video, reminded me of my grandpa, he didn't take shit from nobody. I miss people like that. Also miss cruising junkyards. I always looked at the cars to try and figure out what the story behind it being there was, and if someone lived or died.

[@Junkyardlife]

Thank you! We think like that too! Thanks for watching! We’re trying to capture some more of these stories before they are all gone.

[@tonywestvirginia]

Born and raised in Flint Michigan.(60's-90's) Most of my family worked for GM.

[@davestewart2067]

Believe Flint was the home of Buick.

[@CCerwin]

I miss my old car buddies

[@toddbushie1657]

Great story 👏👏 Thank you very much, 👍

[@toddbushie1657]

Proof of life .

[@melmen2379]

Oldtimers like Ray are dissapearing sadly. Its important to listen to their stories and learn from them.

[@20havenfun08]

Thank for the video... Sorry to hear of ray's passing:( I understand ray thinking... more than likely family got it, sold everything... they didn't work for it:( didnt mean anything to them... they just wanted the money:(

[@thefloridapicker]

Great interview. Ray reminded me very much of my father who was also from Alabama and a mechanic. My dad was always pissed off, just like Ray. I sure hope the people that built a home on that property are not on well water. I can't imagine the groundwater water contamination from all the fluids leaching into the ground for decades.

[@Workingman4920]

It must have been a pleasure to have been spoken to him…

[@Dks-q6t]

That k you so very much for sharing this story , wish you greate succes in the future

[@kimbowersock3196]

It is a shame that people have all the old cars and will not sale them and when they die the cars all get crushed

[@rodfreess6019]

Just gotta pay more than the scrapper.

[@davestewart2067]

Very few will actually pay for the part. Most are bottom feeders or nibblers. Logistics is the Gorilla in the room, getting the part to the customer.

[@mattmatt6572]

I knew a guy prolly had 3 to 400 old cars he needed heart medicine he couldn't afford and wouldn't sell the cars to save his own life. Near as I know his wife still won't let any the cars go.

[@lilypondgarage2968]

People will usually sell a car for the right offer. People usually that get pissed about guys not selling cars to anyone are usually the ones who can’t afford them.

[@quirinm.]

@@lilypondgarage2968 poeple just have unrealistic expectations, i know a guy that has a 440 69 charger sitting under a tree for the last 15 years, it’s really run down by now. I offered him 10k cash 10 years ago and he wouldn’t take it, by now the whole frame and body is rusted to shit and now he wants the 10k i offered him back before the whole car was gone to shit, poeple need to learn to let go or deal with the consequences when their stuff deteriorates

[@FloydThomas-y5g]

My Dad was 84 men like him & Ray are Cut from a Different Cloth when Men was Real Men. from Pioneer Tennessee 👋

[@pitman225]

He would be playing Jerry Reed in the background too what a legend

[@G2G2-q7w]

Junkyards are millions of dollars here in Michigan, not sure who can afford that....

[@timreid3020]

This brings me back when I was a kid.. the funny thing is I'm only 44 years old.

[@Junkyardlife]

@@timreid3020 the Greatest Generation provided us with some great characters, role models, and genuine grit!

[@davidrice3337]

I hate to break it to you but you're an old man now

[@timreid3020]

@@davidrice3337 thanks

[@jamesmack3266]

I thought about it years ago and bought some wrecked porches and parted them out. But in some of the crashed cars there was the evidence shall we say that someone had been badly hurt or killed in the wreck. I didn't want to work on those cars or have them on my property so that was the end of my short career parting out cars! Didn't think it would bother me, it did! Let me tell you.

[@mattmatt6572]

Yeah it is a dirty nasty business parting out those insurance wrecks. If they got the biohazard tape on them prolly somone died in their. Can some times find a good stash in those wrecks though. Who know you might even find a skull. Did once 30 years ago when we were kids.

[@johnkranz4004]

Good video and God Bless Ray

[@chrisfor_real7116]

Great story thanks for sharing 👍

[@Junkyardlife]

You made my day! Thanks for watching!

[@markwinston6995]

Lived near there was wondering about those cars they were old great video

[@Junkyardlife]

Thank you for watching!

[@greggpaul8053]

What a great 👍 story and interview, i sure miss all the boneyards and old timers ,there were some mean old ww2 guys and some very nice guys too and all of them hated bullshitters! Tell em what your looking for and have at it!

[@TheCbxmaster]

Ray was a great guy. I think I’d probably talk all day with him also. 🙏🙏

[@morgansword]

Well, I am seventy five and was sorta a mechanic. Self trained and worked as a truck driver, mechanic, fabricator, this list goes on and on. We all have a story about a car or truck that meant a lot to us. I had several right up to when I got hurt and couldn't work no more. If you were to take into consideration how many people as women did this work as well.... how many people from the age of sixty to say eighty are still alive, and have their first or special rig hidden in a place for some odd reason as it means a lot to them and do not want to part with it. Ray was old and actually selfish as it was a time when stuff was cheap. People drive to work every day and when it gave a problem, parked it to go get another thinking they would repair the issues the vehicle had. Time goes by and so after a while their wife said "Honey, get that junk out of the yard"! It sat so long that it was a mouse infested pile they would of killed to get going ten years before. Ray to me thinking he was all that and no one would damn well tell him different. I am that assh**e that never figured out what was what or why I didn't have much to show for those years of wasting time. I am going out there this weekend and start it and drive up for some gasoline.... ya right!!!!! never happens and so millions of them are just tow aways. Yet some young person falls in love with it and wants it so bad... if ya have a thousand dollars you can have this worthless pile of junk is whats happening. A great channel you might relate my tale to is "Adventures made from scratch".... Silas in central Kansas has several wrecking yards where he keeps several old rigs he picks up for scrap and sells parts or whole rigs. He has done this all his life as he is early forties or late thirties and young kids, wife and father who started it in the first place. Within a hundred mile radius are thousands of vehicles and farm equipment/grain trucks and tractors.... best to just check it out as he will wake you up to millions of stories. Less than fifty thousand population in this area I speak of results in thousands of vehicles. There are very few wrecking yards in alaska where I live and probably fifty million cars that are out in the brush rusting away as no one wants them. These older rigs had style and power where todays rigs are four cylinder little death traps.... I am very curious about your channel and going to give it a try....

[@davidlaramore1359]

I knew an old man that run a junkyard. He would crush a cobra jet if he was running low on funds

[@mph5896]

$2m and Ray would not have sold out. What would he do with $2m that he already didn't already have/want. I restored a house near the old Bristol Rd Flint plant. I met with the owners brother who sold it off to me. Great people.

[@Junkyardlife]

@@mph5896 I believe you are right! Money was not what fueled Ray’s happiness. A cold beverage, good dog, and a warm place to lay his head is all he needed. Looking out the bay door at his car collection was icing on the cake.

[@rickregister9424]

I would love to own a junk yard

[@NJDronesincorporated]

You and me both

[@adammarsden2643]

What happened is one more little piece of america died and went away forever...its frustrating and sad soon itll all be gone.

[@rockerdad2]

Loved the story man!

[@Junkyardlife]

Appreciate the kind words! Thank you for watching!

[@kevintempleton8671]

I just love to story of Ray!!!

[@Junkyardlife]

Thank you!

[@srercrcr]

I could never take my savings to risk losing it.

[@88Don]

Definitely very informative

[@joshuagreen5699]

This was an amazing video

[@Junkyardlife]

Thank you for the kind words! It helps keep us going! I don’t mention it enough - like, subscribe, share and all that stuff would help too!

[@ourv9603]

Back in the bad ol days going to junkyards used to be fun. But over the years the gov made them all clean up their properties & capture oil & AFRZ then all these yards switched over to pulling the cars apart and you would go in & tell them what you wanted and they would get one for you. You no longer are allowed to walk amongst the wrecks and see what there is to see. The good old days. !

[@nicholasnapier2684]

When he said he was living off the interest that means he’s got somewhere over 400,000 in the bank. He’s living off the interest like a money market. You gotta figure out from that point on where you’re working with things.

[@jacktrottertr_932]

I grew up in Lawrence county drove through there to get to Cullman

[@BillTilly]

that old boy loved givin u young bucks the gears lol

[@MrSymbolic7]

I remember somewhere around 1977 a local junkyard man ( I will with hold his name ) had been approached by a group out of Houston ( allegedly) to purchase his property in Clute , Tx. and he had declined their offer , well one Friday night I hear at the local Sonic just 3 miles down the road that the Man had been gun downed in his Lazy Boy recliner while sitting in his living room and his Son was at the Sonic when the shooting went down and sure enough we all raced down there and the Police we're on scene and the man was shot dead , so if someone makes you a offer for your junkyard think long and hard how much you really like the place !

[@Junkyardlife]

Scary story, I hope that don’t happen nowadays!

[@fireintheholeagain]

🎉 Is that the Powell Machine shop Guy🎉

[@workingmansrestorations7071]

Wow... back then the old man said, crusher give more money than the public... that is still true. I just took 6 to the crusher. I hate dealing with people. They want stuff delivered for free with a warranty.

[@cwhall5430]

I've been there before with my Daddy. He was just as honorary then too😂.. . It would be interesting tp know what the county auctioned that property off for. It's a dying breed, and makes me feel old at 40, knowing these type yards are disappearing without heirs....

[@kyleecarlson9912]

What no one mentioned state and county gotcha with potential environmental fines,and other costly taxes targeting junkyards.

[@valdoespana1979]

what i find sad is old man passes away whoever inherits sells quickly without any hesitation or waiting on the right prive cause any price is the right price when you get aomething for free😢

[@tommywilliams5135]

I had been buy mr white yard before i live about 40 miles from that placeni never bought anything just checked his old cars out

[@bradbradshaw-i4n]

i'm from flint michigan. there's lots of money in owning a junk yard.

[@TheSleepingonit]

Wish I could do that,but very difficult on a disability check

[@joewebb4836]

One just went up for sale in Andover Ct. 1.5 Mil.. little too rich for my blood.

[@IdahoHillbilly]

THAT Was GREAT! JUST SUBBED

[@shanew.williams]

Interesting place. I live in the next county, never been there. Didn't look & sound like you all were taking the old man very seriously. He probably would have told you a lot more.

[@belowfray5251]

Nice. Rest easy Ray.

[@rodfreess6019]

Anybody know if they had an auction, or brought in a crusher or both? Junky Ray, Newton Wi was the closest I've met, they crushed most and auctioned some after he passed. More general farm and vehicles, he did like his Allis Chalmers.

[@mysterybuyer3738]

I want to own a junkyard but land in ca is expensive and you need the right zoning or those karens will be all over you. I got in trouble for having a few scrap appliances in the front yard I was taking apart.

[@mauricemoore6541]

Would you happen to have a front cover for the Grand Am behind you in the video? I am looking for a front bumper my car is a 1973 Grand Am

[@Junkyardlife]

I’ve got a fiberglass reproduction on the shelf for my ‘73 GA. Maybe you just sell me your ‘73? 😂

[@BrandonKnight-il9xs]

I seen those cars, im in sumiton

[@rexchiquine6049]

If you're traveling down 157 to West point Alabama,,,

[@nicholasnapier2684]

You know I’ve run the guys like this. You gotta get that number that he wants because he wants live the rest of what he got and help out his grandchildren and his family. He’s looking for $1 million ticket or more. You just go with that load number he gave you for 60,000 just in one vehicle You may be looking for that million dollar figure at the least😂

[@milfordcivic6755]

If you want to deal with the EPA, state environmental agencies and hazardous waste disposal, go ahead and buy a junkyard. You'll find out how expensive it is.

[@Junkyardlife]

Building a new one would be a no-go without mega bucks, even in Alabama. Grandfathered-in rule apply?

[@davidsalvador8989]

Living the dream, making money off something you enjoy, and eating the chicken tendies.

[@jeanwilkinson3080]

Shoe box is a referral to a Ford not Chevrolet. Tri five for Chevrolet

[@muthagoose69]

listen closely @ 11:29, East Bound and Down in playing on the radio in the background.

[@matthewheinze1231]

Heard it!!!

[@88Don]

RIP TO THAT MAN 🫡🙏🏾

[@jeremybettis8446]

You know, it's sad to know that someone got those vehicles and property wether it be a family member or the state and probably either sold all of them for like 100k if not less, or if the state took it then it was ALL just hauled to the dump. I hope that wasn't the case, but I bet it just about anything it was.

[@TheSleepingonit]

Wish I could buy a junkyard, can't on a disability check

[@charlietabone6162]

How’s that born and died? Practically it the same place never been married. Never had kids 82 years later he stories pretty close to mine, except I’m only 55 and just left the place. I was born at which does not exist any more it’s all houses.

[@tre9563]

I'm not saying this old man didn't work but it's very different starting out doing this vrs having a farm deeded to you probaly paid for already, doing what u want

[@Vwgls]

Junkyard = ❤

[@quaz-z6w]

i wish my grandather was still alive

[@Josh-oz4yy]

What makes you think if someone just became unemployed they can afford anything let alone a freaking junk yard. This is insulting.

[@Junkyardlife]

Desperate times. You been laid off with 3 kids under 10yo? Looking for any opportunity or knowledge I could gather. I believe Ray and I got along pretty good. No disrespect intended.

[@jtd662]

@@Josh-oz4yy just because someone became unemployed doesn’t mean they don’t have plenty of money!

[@tommywilliams5135]

I am 55 i have seen old junk yards like this most my life most all are gown owner dies family crush out they wouldn't dare try sell to anyone these car crushing people has destroyed history sad thing they crushed nicer cars that people are trying to fix i live in central alabama during Obama presidential time scrap went threw the roof

[@davestewart2067]

Scrap actually peaked in the last few years of W’s presidency. They were paying $275ish / ton for unprocessed cars in El Paso. Vinton to be exact. Stuff that had literally sat for decades was scavenged. The U pull its are finishing off the rest. The stuff discarded in the El Paso pick a parts would boggle many in the rust belt. But they’re too cheap to come get it or ship it.

[@1971_Chevelle_SS]

@@tommywilliams5135 I’m just west of Bham and remember scrap prices being up around 2006 and 7, a junk yard near me specialized in trucks and crushed everything. I told him he was screwing up getting rid of all those trucks that had lots of good parts and loosing the customer base, he said they were worth more in scrap. Probably wasn’t a year and the place permanently closed. I enjoyed picking through the 73-79 Fords, I haven’t been to a yard like that since.

[@tommywilliams5135]

@davestewart2067 friend mine got 360 ton he had lot old cars they came out and crush his yard they put scrap yards in every town around me we were going to them buy cars and trucks I bought tools running lawn mowers chain saws hand tools the thief's were stilling in other counties and selling it for scrap that finished all old cars off around here

[@tommywilliams5135]

@1971_Chevelle_SS i live in walker county there were scrap yards in every town

[@russellnelson7550]

I share a birthday with Ray

[@ProctorSilex]

From awesome cars to crappy houses :(

[@MidnightOilsRestoration]

❤

[@GlennGraham-q8t]

💯🇺🇲💪🇺🇸❤️🌞👍✅️

[@Josh-oz4yy]

Old man obviously inherited what he has. This is misleading.

[@Junkyardlife]

I don’t believe any of those cars were there in 1964 when Ray White moved back to Alabama. Seems to me like he worked his tail off to take care of things on the family land using his brain and breaking his back to hold things together. Anybody else woulda sold off the land when times got tough. IMHO Ray wouldn’t agree with your comment.

[@plusblood5101]

Looks like poor excuse for a video Now there are junks in junk yards And then There is dust in the yard Most of these junks are close to dust Like the saying Ashes to ashes Dust to dust There is hardly much meat left after decades of weather challenges on this open field.

[@Junkyardlife]

Thanks for watching! “plusblood5101” - how’d you get lucky enough to snag such a cool name?

[@putitback4789]

Man this was painful to watch. You guys are hella awkward with you car lingo especially the guy behind the camera I cringe almost every time he talked. Couple goofs trying to talk good ole boy lingo was hard to watch

[@matthewstrine]

Grumpy ole feller

[@mattszarowicz5049]

I call bullishit junk yard owners don't have money I'm sorry