65bcoda Posted August 3, 2023 Report Posted August 3, 2023 (edited) During all the travel I do for my work, I have always wanted to stop in at French Lake Auto and check it out. I had the opportunity yesterday and I shall say if your ever near you need to give the wife your credit card and tell her to go shopping and you just go on out there and take a look for yourself. Other than one other yard I visited in Colorado years ago this has got to be one of the most organized and inventoried yards out there. Everything is not only organized by make but it seems they attempt to do it chronologically by year as well for the most part. I really wasn't expecting to make a purchase, just stopping in to wander the yard, but I did come across a full set of dash brightwork and gauge cluster in a 49 Royal that I just had to have, in better shape than what is currently in the Chrysler. Grabbed the gauge cluster as well for possible spare parts. Made an evening trip to Horrible freight to grab some minor hand tools and a tarp. The tarp was to lay in the floor on top of the assumed to be rat / mouse debris while I removed the pieces in question, left the tarp at their yard door next to their "selection" of loaner tools, IE: tools your wife keeps in the junk drawer, for the next poor soul that comes along. Returned this morning with tools and tarp in hand and they even let me in the yard an hour before opening so I could beat the heat. I have to say their pricing is more than fair and the fellas at the front desk are knowledgeable about their inventory and friendly. During my wanderings down the Oldsmobile aisle, I came across a '63 Starfire with the console tach laying in the floorboard. I have been looking for one for a while to incorporate into a console for the Chysler once I have the trans tunnel done. $50 bucks later it was mine and didn't even have to bloody a knuckle for it. Another item knocked off the ol' bucket list. Still alot of good stuff out there...... Edited August 3, 2023 by 65bcoda 2 Quote
65bcoda Posted August 3, 2023 Author Report Posted August 3, 2023 (edited) The 49 gauge cluster (No scratches on lenses, face finish still remains real nice) Dash brightwork with the radio delete plates, glove box, ashtrays, all knobs and the cigar lighter. Alot of shine under that dull finish. Trunk lid CHRYSLER emblem all for $200 and bloody knuckles and and a little mouse droppings down my back......... Grabbed a nice set of exterior door handles as well for $15 each...... Edited August 3, 2023 by 65bcoda 2 Quote
65bcoda Posted August 3, 2023 Author Report Posted August 3, 2023 And if you're wondering what a '63 Oldsmobile Starfire console tach looks like...... the as found condition and just a quick wipe down back at the hotel. 1 Quote
Young Ed Posted August 3, 2023 Report Posted August 3, 2023 Always a good time there but I sorta miss the old days when it wasn't so organized and you had to wander more. 2 Quote
Ivan_B Posted August 3, 2023 Report Posted August 3, 2023 10 hours ago, 65bcoda said: ...in better shape than what is currently in the Chrysler... It always made me sad to see a car on the yard in better condition than the one I drove in ? Looks like a good place... Did I saw a Minnesota tag in there? 1 Quote
Young Ed Posted August 3, 2023 Report Posted August 3, 2023 7 hours ago, Ivan_B said: It always made me sad to see a car on the yard in better condition than the one I drove in ? Looks like a good place... Did I saw a Minnesota tag in there? Probably the yard is in MN Quote
Ivan_B Posted August 4, 2023 Report Posted August 4, 2023 Oh yea, looked it up: Annandale, MN. For some reason I though it was in Colorado... Never mind Haven't been to Twin Cities in years. I used to go the U pull R parts in Rosemount, they had decent prices and good selection of vehicles. Quote
Young Ed Posted August 4, 2023 Report Posted August 4, 2023 28 minutes ago, Ivan_B said: Oh yea, looked it up: Annandale, MN. For some reason I though it was in Colorado... Never mind Haven't been to Twin Cities in years. I used to go the U pull R parts in Rosemount, they had decent prices and good selection of vehicles. They still do and they have a second location now too Quote
harmony Posted August 7, 2023 Report Posted August 7, 2023 (edited) A few years ago, I happened to come across a couple videos on Youtube of French Lake Auto Parts. I was pretty impressed with the layout and how organized it was, not to mention the huge amount of cars. As I was watching one of the videos low and behold I saw what I needed. My 48 Chrysler Windsor was missing the two rear fender trim pieces ( horizontal pieces above the rear fender well). I immediately sent them an email and included the video and the time slot of when the car was in the video. I asked them if they still had the car and those trim pieces. The video was over a year old at the time. The answer was yes, so I called them right away. I was concerned that the fastening studs going through the fender would be pretty fragile. I think they are 3/16" fine thread, and I asked them to be careful removing them. No problem they said. About 2 weeks later they arrived, clear across the continent. What they did was simply cut out around the trim pieces and shipped that section of the fender for both of them. After a few days of PB Blaster on the nuts they all came off with care. I can't remember what the shipping was, but it was peanuts. Plus the two trim pieces were a good deal as well. Great people to deal with, very professional. They didn't blink an eye that they were shipping them to BC Canada. Yes they had a few dings in them, but I've developed a method of getting dings out so you'd never know that they were there. I was a happy camper. Edited August 7, 2023 by harmony 2 Quote
capt den Posted October 1, 2023 Report Posted October 1, 2023 i know tis is an old post, but i have done business with them. i recommend them. good people, fair prices. they actually call you back. capt den 1 Quote
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