What I got for fifty bucks in a junkyard

[Marty]

You might remember that last fall, Michael wrecked his car, A Ford Escort. He slipped on wet leaves going down the mountain and the car skidded out of control. He went head on into a guard rail and totaled out his front end.

The whole hood, bumper, was smashed up into the windshield, the windshield was also busted, and the left front fender and headlight were gone too. Air bags deployed. I had a smashed up crumbled up piece of crap parked in my yard all winter. Looked like an accordion.

We didn't carry collision on the car, just liability since it wasn't new.

I got estimates to fix it, but I about choked when the figures came in. "You want how much for a lousy fender?"

So what's a mother to do?

:

She goes to the junkyard to see what she can find!

:

So, for $50. bucks, I got a new hood, front bumper, and side fender and headlights. OK OK so it was red and the car is white. Michael never did body work a day in his life but had to figure it out if he was going to get the car fixed. So, he ripped the wrecked part off the car, sanded it all down, primed and painted it and replaced it with the good junk, and WALLA!!!!!! We're back on the road again! I think he did pretty good.

Now the junk yard man calls me to say he's got me a windshield for $20 bucks and all the rubber etc. already popped out and ready for us and air bags for $30. We have to take out the whole dash and get them packed but it's going to work too. :aktion033: We got a guy over here that knows how to do the airbags so he's going to help on that part.

So now I"ve gone from a Walmart shopper to a junk yard mother...........I also had my eye on a Harley Davidson in there too..........very very tempting. I could go ZOOOOOOMMMMMM!

:

 

[crponies]

That's great, Marty! Does Michael want to come work on my car now? LOL

 

[MInx]

That's wonderful. A great learning experience! That's exactly how Carl got his first car! His grandpa had put it int he ditch and wrecked the front end..he told Crl if he could fix it he could have it so with a lot of work Carl had himself his first car. :bgrin

Anytime you want to go shopping with me Marty just let me know..

Maxine

 

[JO~*]

Looks loke it has big red lips :lol:

You did good Marty it looks great.

 

[nootka]

Woohooo, Marty! You scored, you are a true mom among men.

My 16 year old son says to tell you that is "tight" and that may just be a "GT" bumper rather than the standard LX. He's also wondering what year your son's 'Scort is as my son also owns one and his does not have airbags, a '91 LX Wagon given to him by his Grandma. *LOL*

Congrats on the find and getting that thing running for less than a mint. Hope you can find someone to pack the airbags for you at a reasonable rate.

We enjoyed your thread.

The things a mother has to do when she has boys old enough to drive.

barnbum, that is ok, we have a good friend that owns a tow truck and guess what they drag home:

Wrecked cars for parts! (this thing is still out there in the weeds, this pic was taken a year ago)

Lookit 'em gathered around-you'd think there was free food! *LOL*

Don'tcha just love 'em, though...boys/men!

Liz M.

 

[Irish Hills Farm]

He did a wonderful job Marty :aktion033:

Looks loke it has big red lips

Please don't tell Michael that

: LOL

 

[Miniv]

WoooHOOO -- Mr. Critical saw your photo! And said, "Looks good!" :new_shocked:

Your junkyard buying and your son's work actually impressed my dear old curmudgeon!

:

:

MA

 

[Beccy]

Wow you did great Marty!!

OK, now I wanna see a pic of Marty on the Harley!!! :bgrin

 

[auledasacres]

Marty I think was you did was the best learning experience for your son. If there is a will to fix the car you tought him the best way to cut corners to get it done. The value in your find taught him a lot.

I personally think it looks great. When I was a teenager I remember thinking I wouldn't be caught dead in certain cars. Growing up and realizing it doesn't matter what it looks like as long as you can safely get from point A to point B.

Gosh that means I am getting old.

Traci

 

[luvmycritters]

Gosh that means I am getting old.

: Lori

 

[rabbitsfizz]

Marty it is great, and Michael is very clever, and a good worker, and you must tell him so, BUT....please Please PLEASE do NOT get the Harley.

Promise us????

:

:

 

[hobbyhorse23]

Yep, it's the Maybelline car! Perfect white complexion....and BIG, RED LIPS! :risa_suelos: :lol:

Seriously, I'm impressed that he fixed it. Nobody I know does that and I wish to heck they did because I get really tired of being a total consumer out here. If it breaks I have to buy a new one or pay someone a mint to fix it when I KNOW I could do it myself if I just had some simple know-how. I'm a budget shopper and don't like spending big cash for someone's time. But nope, all I know how to do is look for decent sales on what I need in chain stores and plunk down cash. :no: Sad, very sad. My slogan should be "I wanna be a tomboy but nobody taught me how!"

You go, Michael.

Leia

 

[Narrow Way Farm]

Marty,

Sounds like something we would do... not too long ago I was on my way home and some FOOL was stealing logs from a logging company well they fell off his truck and guess what I ran over them.. YEP the size of a telephone poll.. thank God I have a astro van that cleared them okay. but it damaged that plastic thing on the bottom under the bumper.. oh well no one can see it unless they bend over .. we say if you can fix it cheaper yourself DO IT!! Your boys are also learning valuable lessons by doing it this way as well