Send us your Rusting old Muscle Car Pics!

'57 Chevy

This 57 Chevy Convertible was found by Pat Knight in Bardstown, Kentucky in a sink hole. Pat managed to drag it out and haul it home. After he got it home and parked the trailer in the field, his cow decided it would make a good appetizer and proceeded to eat a portion of it. That was Pat’s first and last cow.

Unfortunately due to its bad condition it couldn’t be saved (both the cow and the car). It did donate some parts for another 57 Chevy that will be on the road again.

'65 GTO Conv.

This 65 GTO Convertible was rescued out of Ohio by Bob Baltzly, after a hard life in a field. Bob stored the old Goat in his barn for 11 years. It is now stored in the AMCA warehouse/barn waiting for restoration. Its in rough shape, but it is all there.

'71 Torino Cobra 429CJ

This 71 Ford Torino Cobra is owned by Richard Tipton of Louisville, Kentucky. The car was purchased in Spencer county back in ‘72 and after several years of driving, was parked in a barn when Richard opted for a new 4 x 4 pickup truck. For the last 15 years or more, this original 429 cobra jet Torino has sat in his father’s yard awaiting restoration. This complete car even has all the trim that he has removed and stored. The 429 still ran about 8 years ago when they moved the car from the side of the house to the rear, to deter passersby from stopping by and asking if it was for sale. Richard’s father hopes that since Richard has a new garage, he will finally haul it over to “his” house and work on it before its too late.

Richard says he plans to get it in and start working on the old car. If he does, we will check in and get some pictures of his progress.

'68 Buick GS 400

David Gramlow of Fargo, ND, sends us this picture of a 68 Buick GS 400 that his brother had bought back in 1973. David was allowed the honor of driving it to college and on one winter evening after a movie,  he hit a patch of ice and got stranded in mid turn just long enough to be plowed into by a speeding car. It spun David around and caused further damage to the body on a side street. With all the damage, the car was totaled and taken to the family farm for burial. Or cremation? It has not only sat and rusted away, but had to endure a few fires that got out of hand. The 400 engine made its way into a Chevy pickup and the four speed tranny was donated to David’s 73 Nova. David now has another 68 GS 350 that is making use of some of the left overs of the GS 400 he wrecked. With all the damage and fires to boot, one wonders what movie a college guy could have watched that night and begin this chain of destruction. The movie: “Animal House”.       Ice patch??

'65 Galaxie 500 XL

Bob Mayben sent us these pics of a 65 Galaxie 500 XL he located in a Junk Yard in Northeast  Alabama. This old Ford Galaxie has been there since 1994 until Bob came across it. It is complete with all its parts except the radiator, fan and starter relay (guess it really didn’t need that right now). Except for the usual rust spots, the body panels are in good shape. Bob has purchased the car and says he will make it live again. Instead of the original light metallic green paint it sported when it rolled off the assembly line in Chicago, he is opting for a Rangoon Red acrylic. A 302 CID engine will replace the 390 engine for now.  

GTO

This GTO has been sitting in the same spot since 1974. That is when the owner graduated from high school. I have hit him up several times to sell it to me and the answer is always NO!

I have tried to at least shame him into covering it up. He’ll reply with ”Yea, guess I otta one of these days” But as you can see, it is still at Mother Nature’s disposal. “Literally”.

From a “Muscle Car Junkie” that prefers to be anonymous

Buick GS

We found this Buick GS sitting in a back lot surrounded by Corvairs. As usual, everyone’s inquiries are given the "Not for Sale" reply. Seems the owner enjoyed one too many cold start, high revs in a series of ongoing burn-out and quick parking in the garage before damaging a rod bearing. The engine was pulled and rebuiilt by a machine shop, but has been sitting in storage for 20 years now. It’s a shame the body wasn’t stored also. MCM

GTX

This GTX has been sitting for about 25 years. I think this guy likes having people asking him to sell, just so he can give them a big NOPE! (I’m sure we all have seen the type.) He has had it parked out in front of his house forever. It has been through a tornado back in 92, that rocked the small town I live in (See the dent in hood), Plus many other severe Texas storms. The car at one time was very nice and solid! But I’m afraid it is too far gone for any reasonable restoration now. From the rust and all the hail dents, it now turns my head the other way.

'68 GT500 SHELBY

How NOT to store your Shelby!

This 1968 GT500 Shelby Mustang was once driven until it's owner parked it about 15 years ago. It has been waiting intact for it's turn at a total restoration. Of course even mother nature knows the value of a rare GT500 and is trying to claim it as her own. Which accounts for the saplings growing up through the louvers in the hood and through a bolt hole on the inside.

GTO CONV.

This GTO convertible has sat stored for many years in the harsh elements, rusting to the ground. Fortunately, someone rescued the old goat from the pasture and hopefully it is in a better location than out in the weather with its top down

68 TORINO

This 1968 Torino GT 390 had been buried in the weeds in Rego, Indiana for several years until found by Bill and Andrew Lickteig. The weeds had been cleared out before the photo was taken as it had been prepared for its trip to a new home. As unusual as it may be to find a Torino rusting in the back forty, none are more unusual than this. Having originated in Utah, this Torino was special ordered with a two-barrel (That’s right…a two barrel), 4 speed, and 3.50:1 rear end. So far they have been able to track down the original owner, but haven’t found any two-barrel GT 390’s that were produced. Which makes it not the highest performer in the lineup, but it may be a one of a kind!

Thankfully this old Ford is now in a body shop undergoing a full restoration and will be pulling hard to get what it needs out of the old two barrel. It would be easy to drop a four barrel on top to boost its performance, but what if it is “The Only One”?

74 CORVETTE

Here’s a 74 Corvette 454 I bought a couple months ago. It had been sitting (decomposing) in the guy’s driveway since 1980. The neat thing about this car is the 45K actual miles, and it has NO PAINT CODE. Delivered to the original dealer in primer. Virtually unheard of since the sixties. It sat uncovered (with a window cracked) so long, the bumper covers rotted off it, and the steering box froze up. Other than that, it’s in decent shape.Sorry I didn’t get a pic in his driveway, but we wanted to get the He!! out of  there before he changed his mind.

67 SS 396 CHEVELLE

I acquired this 67 SS 396 convertible from a neighbor that just couldn’t sell it because it was Dad’s, so she let it sit in her backyard and rust for ten years. It is not restorable and is being parted out. Thought you might like the photos for Rusting in Peace. Mike Holleman

Parting it out? I think I’m going to be sick!!   J. Gaddie

TORINO COBRA

This Torino Cobra has been there for a long time.  There is quite a bit of rust on the car, but everything is there, Cobra signs and all.  It is a 428 CJ engine to boot.  It is in a storage lot and I have been unable to get a hold of the person in charge of the lot. I thought that all cars that were Cobra’s were automatically fastbacks. If anyone has any info on these types of cars or how rare they are, please let me know. 
Sent in by:  Ryan Brutt

69 CHARGER R/T

Thought I’d drop you some pictures of a 1969 Dodge Charger R/T that should be on its way for a basic restore to make a daily driver due to its missing engine and tranny. So you can see I’ve got my work cut out for me! Right now it’s buying for time, and a little luck. Joe Cramer

79 CAMARO

This ‘79 Camaro has waited for seven long years for some much needed attention. Its future is looking very gloomy at this point.