End of an era / Spot the D25

[bamfordsgarage]

We passed through Wetaskiwin, Alberta this afternoon and stopped at Reynolds Sales. The late Stan Reynolds had amassed an enormous agglomeration of fine old automobiles and much else — the bulk of the good stuff went to the provincial Reynolds Alberta Museum and the rest was slowly being sold off by Stan and then his nephew Byron.

Inevitably, development pressures and land values being what they are, that portion of the property was sold to the adjacent airport and, after plenty of notice to area car clubs etc., the crusher was called in this fall.

Here are some before and after photos of the southwest and southeast yards and a whole stack-'o-cars on their way to becoming shiny new toasters and such like.

Can you spot the D25 (maybe D24) in the stack? I'll post a close-up photo later.

[RobertKB]

Thanks, Chris, for posting that. It is interesting but sad. Too bad when so many old cars go to the crusher. Most of those were beyond reasonable restoration prospects but a lot of old parts are now no longer available. I understand why it had to happen, but it is still sad. There will soon be no parts cars left. D25......second row above the big centre cube????

Edited November 30, 2012 by RobertKB

[Don Jordan]

I agree. It is so very sad to see these pieces of art rusting away. Sometimes I believe that we just don't appreciate the past. I did my part but when I die someone will come in a question all that "junk" and toss it, sell it for scrap.

Of course I guess it doesn't really matter because the end is coming 12/21/12.

[40plyrod]

Oh no say it isn't so. I was planning a trip with my family this fall but due to circumstances had to postpone it. This is always one of the must stops. Too bad.

[T120]

My first visit to Stan Reynolds Museum was in 1974.An awesome collection of just about everything that was found on the prairies in years' past - farming equipment dating back to the early 20th century,furnishings of farm homes,including a few of the buildings, and of course vehicles of all descriptions ,vintage aircraft.He had it all...Stan kept a very good record of all the items he acquired. At that time,Stan was still acquiring items and I,somewhat envious,(ah yes,there were vehicles and parts I would loved to have had), but was given to understand nothing was for for sale...Although in retrospect,perhaps a deal could have been worked out if a person had something Stan had wanted in trade.;)A few years back,and some years after the deal with the Alberta government had been reached to establish the world class "Reynolds Alberta Museum",(definitely worth a visit if anywhere close) - my wife,daughter and I paid a visit to the "disposal" of some of the items Stan had collected over the years.My daughter got into the junk in a big way and came out dusty and dirty with a number of "finds" that she had selected - amongst them, for example was a simple lunch kit, not worth much.Inside that kit were notes of a garage sale where Stan had bought it,the date,the owner of the lunch kit,her job,her employer and so on - an impressive history of a local,simple, inexpensive and today an item that would be tossed aside destined for the landfill,yet Stan kept these notes...It impressed me....Sad that era has passed ,but I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to have met Stan before he passed and also seen his collection in it's heyday.

Edited November 30, 2012 by Ralph D25cpe

[Dan Hiebert]

I see a little piece of that egg-grate grill, fourth row up, center of the pile?

Its always a bit heart-breaking to see those older places go - especially in the name of "progress". Sounds like everyone got plenty of notice on that one, tho.

One of the simple pleasures in life is to wander through old yards like that and identify cars, features, innovations, and things like that. (Oh, yeah, and look for some parts you may need, too.) I have never been able to do an "in-and-out" trip to a good old fashioned salvage yard.

[bamfordsgarage]

D25......second row above the big centre cube????

Bingo!

Characteristic grill obvious in the close-up photo below. Dan, there could well have been another visible in the photo but I couldn't see it. The yard had been pretty much picked clean of Ford & GM stuff so there were a great many postwar Mopars left at the end. Ralph, thanks for the Stan story. I met him a couple times and he was quite a guy. Never liked to let anything go. I remember once I looking for a windshield frame for a brass car — was told I would have to describe what I needed and how much I was willing to pay and then someone would go to the windshield shed to have a look for me (I couldn't go with him) and if something was offered to me the price was not negotiable.

Second photo, send to me by the yard manager, is possibly Mopar — at least the bolt pattern on the wheel looks familiar... "We will NOT be crushed!"

Edited November 30, 2012 by bamfordsgarage

[RobertKB]

It pays to be a D25 owner when taking an important test like this! Never heard about the crushing down in Lethbridge or I would probably have gone up for some parts.......or were they only selling complete, well what was left, cars?

[Uncle-Pekka]

The second picture is heart breaking when you learn all this is crushed to cubes and taken to melting owens...

(I would like this on my wall enlarged)

Of course it is foolish to whine over something one can do absolutely nothing to help, but still...

I wonder why we have to be so effective these days. Why cannot afford to keep places like this just to remind of old times?

This field would have been an outdoor museum and place of worship for gearheads.

The form and shape of the 30's cars... All these roof lines, flowing fenders, long pointed hoods... Once made by our grandfathers by using long gone presses and weld machines. Will never return once crushed.

Yes, I am definitely a sentimental fool.

[bamfordsgarage]

...I would like this on my wall enlarged...I am definitely a sentimental fool.

PM me your e-mail address and I will send you the 1.2 MB original file. Same goes for anyone else and any of the photos I post.

Robert, one probably could have stripped parts from the hulks before they were crushed. Doubtless I will sometime regret not doing so. There were some decent parts cars crushed, but there was nothing restorable as such. Very few had wheels and they had been sitting floor-to-ground for years. You had to look long and hard to find decent interior pieces.

Photos show the parts car we bought in 2010 from a selection of over a dozen D25s. We pulled the engine and transmission, radiator, front springs, the good glass, doors, a bit of interior trim, trunk lid, bumper bolts, dash and heater and left the carcass behind. We also cut the roof off and took it back to Jerry's place as an aid to building and mounting our rooftop carrier. Probably should have taken the steering column and box as well.

[Labrauer]

It is ashame that this is happening to these old cars. Just will make it harder on people looking for parts for these old cars. Allthough around here if a car or truck is 8 years old they are done the same way so if you have a 9 year old car or truck you have to go to the dealer and pay the high price for a part. It take me to no end seeing this done.

[plymouthcranbrook]

For me the saddest part is that except for a few museums in a hundred years or so all of these old cars we love will most likely be gone and even sadder, forgetten.

[Plymouthy Adams]

yeah..so few Roman chariots exist today...can well see that event...but we got to get by the 12th first

[plymouthcranbrook]

yeah..so few Roman chariots exist today...can well see that event...but we got to get by the 12th first

I have 3 children, two Boy grandchildren, Married for 39 Years, and spent 40 years in the Printing Industry. What can the End of the World do to me that hasn't already been done?

[RobertKB]

yeah..so few Roman chariots exist today...can well see that event...but we got to get by the 12th first

Tim, you are clocking out 9 days too early. Stick around and make the last 9 days count...........work on the old cars, eat good food, drink whatever you like, have some afternoon delight. Then on December 22, when all the hype is over, you can carry on as usual!

I have 3 children, two Boy grandchildren, Married for 39 Years, and spent 40 years in the Printing Industry. What can the End of the World do to me that hasn't already been done?

Ain't that the truth!! I know when the end comes I will never go to purgatory. I spent 31 years teaching junior high and have already done my time there!!

[Plymouthy Adams]

what can I say...I'm dyslexic I guess..at least I got the right two numbers...lol..that ought to count for something...

doing a bit of welding so I guess if I run out of acetelyne I will wait till after the 22nd to replenish...I will also put off all my Christmas shopping till that date...no sense to waste money...

[40P10touring sedan]

I have 3 children, two Boy grandchildren, Married for 39 Years, and spent 40 years in the Printing Industry. What can the End of the World do to me that hasn't already been done?

...obamacare...sorry, had to........

[plymouthcranbrook]

Too Easy, try again