Wallisville:
Death Row Capital for GM A-Bodies
The third installment of derelict GM A-Bodies in various Houston area
salvage facilities is based on several spy missions at the Pick-A-Part
Wallisvile Street salvage facility, where pre-1973 GM A-bodies often show
up as death row inmates. Since I first visited the Wallisville facility
back in 1994, I have seen approximately 20 pre-1973 GM A-bodies on death
row, and subsequently crushed/recycled.
Disclaimer: this page isn't
directed at any Houston-area salvage facility, but what is seen in the
yards is a reminder that economic chaos and the laws of supply/ demand
can affect marketing of classics, as well as vehicle appraisal. A
real 1970 Chevelle LS6 convertible is nearing the $100,000 mark, which
will be the pinnacle of collector vehicles when musclecars become museum
collections.
Earlier this year (2/00), these two death row A-bodies were the first on
display at Wallisville. These A-cars were featured in the previous
section "The Green Mile: GM A-Bodies". Three months later,
the inevitable occured: 6 pre-1973 A-Bodies on death row in a 2-month
period.
May 14, 2000: during a mission where I was locating a set of 6-lug
axleshafts for a 12-bolt, this was the first thing that I have came across:
a 1966 Oldsmobile F85 coupe. A Chevrolet six was the powerplant,
and pillared coupes are good candidates for street machines, instead of
resto projects. The Cutlass and 442 are sought after, and a lower
priced alternative was to purchase a "base" F85 and build a street machine.
Unfortunately, this is a sight for sore eyes, especially for restorers
of 1966 Chevelles, where the backlite fits like a glove. I wished
that I saved this timeless classic, and something must be done to eliminate
the brutalization of self-service salvage facilities.
A 1967 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme sedan, now a decaying hulk. Not
much is left, except for a 12-bolt rearend (Olds 12-bolt/10-bolt gear).
I have seen the Woody Harrelson flick White Men Can't Jump (1992), where
he drove a 1967 Cutlass Supreme convertible. I bet that he would
beat the Pick-A-Part owner and purchase the Olds for use in a movie.
This 1972 Chevelle hardtop was picked clean, and the pics seen detail the
arbitrary and capricious acts that salvage facilities do to their property.
When the carcass is on display, scavengers flock, and go home happy.
I hate to see a classic die, and end up in heaven, never in the hands of
a teenager for eternity, when he wants an ideal first car.
I came across this 1972 Cutlass Supreme sedan during the same day, and
at the time, 4 A-Bodies were on death row. A couple of more Oldsmobile
A-Bodies were later displayed, and the horrific sightings would make classic
car enthusiasts take action against sending derelict classics to death
row. It's best to send derelict classics to specialty facilities
or resto fanatics, where one would benefit.
When this 1971 Cutlass Supreme Holiday Coupe was placed on display, the
front discs were intact, and salvaged a few hours later. (9/25/00
update: an "independent source" stated that a Pick-A-Part Wallisville
employee has been known to pull the front discs from pre-1973 A-Bodies
before they end up on the Mile.) The pic seen was the 5th A-body displayed,
until a few days later:
A-body #6: a 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Holiday Coupe.
The previous owner wanted $150, and made a terrible choice about death
row. It's time to end the carnage, and face the virtualless reality.
A-body #9: a 1969 Chevelle Malibu 4-door sedan. To this day
(9/11/00), this has been the 12th 1969 Chevelle that I came across in every
self-service salvage facility. In the previous section, the first
two
A-bodies that were on death row at Wallisville this year (1971 LeMans and
a 1965 Cutlass), the Chevelle makes this the ninth A-body on the Mile.
A couple of weeks later, a 1972 Monte Carlo showed up 8 rows behind the
Chevelle. What I ended up with: the core support, RH fender,
rear header trim pieces, taillight wiring harness, glovebox door and liner,
and front light harness. Note: bottom pics detail The
Emissary's way of doing a professional hit, Reservoir
Dogs or Pulp Fiction style.
Ezekiel 25:17
"The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by
the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed
is he, who in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through
the valley of darkness, which he is truly his brother's keeper, and the
finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great
vengeance and furious anger those who attempt
to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know I am the Lord
when I lay my vengeance upon thee.
A-body #10: I have seen more than 11 first generation Monte Carlos
in the Houston area, on death row, and at Wallisville, this was the third
one that I came across. The console was vandalized (when I spotted
the MC, the console had rusted screw heads), and there was a 3-gauge dash,
floor shifter, front discs, and a 12-bolt. I ended up with the 12-bolt,
but during a return trip, some insider ended up with the dash, front discs,
and floor shifter. Like Jackie Chan stated, "All that for nothing."
Here's the holy grail, or the treasure of the Sierra Madre:
Indiana Jones would find lost treasure, and end up dodging bullets, and
here's my own version: locating a REAL 12-bolt from a 1968-72 A-car.
I have seen 3 housings in the salvage yard (one that ended in the trash
bin, and two others, in an El Camino, stripped), and the fourth one (seen
here) has been claimed by The
Emissary as a war trophy.
#11: I have seen over 20 Buick Skylarks sent to death row, and a
majority of them are 1972 models. Some gorilla decided to deny a
1968-72 Chevelle or Monte Carlo restorer of a decklid (note the keyhole,
mutilated with a screwdriver). Two 4-door sedans that I have seen
had crunched tops (one in a rollover, and another one that had damage like
if a dead corpse landed on it). I came across more than 5 hardtop
coupes, and a couple of 2-door pillared coupes, and several had front discs.
Before Christmas Day 2000, here's the 12th gift: a 1965 Cutlass.
It was cold that day when this death row A-car showed up, until the dawn
of an odyssey:
Before New Years Day 2001, the final (#13) A-body of the year was on display.
This El Camino spent it's life either flooded or under a tree, and all
that I took home was a couple of Bud Light cans, which haven't been opened
yet. Here's the hidden treasure:
The differential seen here is the Corporate 10-bolt, held with 3/4 hex
head bolts (7/16 - 20 LH threads). Notice the square lugs on the
bottom of the housing, and there is one rarity: the axles are held
with retainer plates and press-on bearings, similar to the Ford 9-inch.
Anyone want an alternative to the 12-bolt would consider this rearend as
a future upgrade from the 8.125" Chevrolet rearend. Keep in mind
that BOP rearend housings (type B or O) will look similar, except that
the square lugs are absent (note the bottom of the housing pictured above).
More to come later...
Copyright 1999, 2000, 2001
LSC Publications. Anyone
is welcome to "borrow" any of the images, and this page should serve as
a testament to the ongoing awareness of salvage yards and/or arbitrary
and capricious acts that are insurmountable. Contact COVA/CVAG
for more information, since they are here to educate the public about unfair
vehicular laws in all 50 states.
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