Today was a sad day
 

I headed to a local junkyard this morning to look for some bits for my winter beater/toy 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee. I walk through the gate and spot a familiar looking rear end right at the front of a row of VWs. As I got closer and scrutinized some more details of the car my heart sunk a little bit as I realized it was a car I had saved from this fate a little over 10 years prior. The telltale that this was, indeed, my former car were the three perfectly round hammer marks down the right side of the car. One on the fender, one on the front door, and one on the c-pillar. I originally purchased this particular 1997 VW Golf for $100 as a non-runner with no seats, no exhaust, and some minor front end damage. I proceeded to scrounge junkyards and friends and put the car on the road for $630 total investment. Over the 5 years and 85k miles I owned the car it went through an evolution: 2 sets of seats, 3 or 4 suspension setups, 6 different sets of wheels, body modifications, etc. It's final summer season with me was spent on coilovers, wearing gold Porsche phone dials, cup mirrors, Hella dual round headlight setup, Kamei badgeless grille, Golf Sport "sport plaid" interior, and more. Everything that made it into the car I couldn't afford in high school. Then I sold it to a friend who put his own spin on it, and then he passed it along to his brother-in-law. It came up for sale again about two years ago and I was notified, but didn't have the time or money to take on another project, so I was an adult and passed. Rumor has it the most recent owner blew up the engine and that's what sent it to the junkyard. That's a shame as there were at least 6 more of those engines surrounding it the junkyard to be had for cheap. Oh, well. In the end I gave the car another 10 years of life and it travelled over 300k miles. Part of me is sad, but I know in my heart that I did right by it 10 years ago when I saved it. Here's a pic of it in its prime with me, and as it currently sits giving its parts so that others like it may live on.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nor...12ce61728e.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nor...c93ca026c7.jpg

That sucks. The last time I sent a vehicle to the junkyard it was a Chevy K1500 with frame rot. As far as I know the junkyard is still using it as a yard truck because it ran like a champ.

:sad: It sucks that you had to see it. I remember when I sold my 2 year old modified '96 Z28 after I bought a Vette. Found out two months later that the kid that bought it ate about 30 yards of guard rail with it. He didn't have a scratch but the car was toast. :mad:

I've only ever sent stripped out shells to the junkyard, I try to save them when I can. Sometimes it's better if they go far away so you don't have to see what happens to them.