Arrow Auto Salvage would be a completely normal junkyard if the year were 1982. Located near Bonners Ferry, Idaho, this old-school junkyard is very unlike most of the rather sanitary high turnover operations currently in business.
There is no apparent layout or specialty at Arrow Auto Salvage. Cars are simply strewn about the hills and trees in vague rows as if they had fallen out of the sky one day. Let’s have a look, shall we?
Immediately, it’s the vastness that captures you. The rows of cars peeking out from the weeds seem to wind up all the way to the horizon. Some cars look like they could be resuscitated by the mere addition of a fresh battery while others are bare, cannibalized hulks awaiting death.
The ‘office’ is adorned with various items of junkyard kitsch and looks more like the front of an antique store than a salvage yard. Various corrugated metal annexes sprout from the humble log structure.
The salvage yard keeps a rotating assortment of odd and interesting cars near the front gate. On prominent display during the day of my visit was a sunburned, yet savable Fiat 850 Spider and an engine-less Karmann Ghia. The little Fiat was remarkably rust free and pulled on my heartstrings like a puppy in need of a home. Other notable residents included two-stroke SAAB’s, a pair of Lancia Scorpions and a few inter-war work trucks.
To contrast Arrow Auto Salvage with an average modern salvage yard, we need to think of these two as a neatly organized library and that crazy book shop run out of some guys house.
The modern salvage yard, like the library, has a refined catalog of their inventory making it easy to extract only what you want in an efficient manner. This junkyard, however, is more like the eccentric used book store with novels piled floor to ceiling; its stock might be eclectic and scattered about, but it’s a much more interesting place to browse and waste time in.
It’s almost hard to imagine anyone actually coming here for parts. (How many people near Bonners Ferry, Idaho need to pull parts for their Lancia Scorpion?) But most car enthusiasts are hardly interested in these operations for their utility in finding parts. These yards are waning in number and remain great sources of wonder for those of us who like to browse rows of junked vintage cars and dream of adopting one for our very own garage.
Cool i love old junkyards they are a dieing breed here with really only Horopito left operating, some good cars and trucks in there though I like the 55/56 F pickup that old dunger is worth big coin here.
Love the old Saab. But why does the truck in the top right of that picture look like it has back – to – back cabs?
Best as I remember, they didn’t have frames and were just bare cabs without mechanicals.
Places like this are hard to find in the UK now,health and safety regulations have closed many down or the owners have been made offers they can’t refuse by house building firms or local councils
The plate on that Saab looks very recent.
In 1982, between jobs and wives, I found a 1964 Grand Prix with 421 Tri-Power at this yard. Best unemployed summer I ever had. Car was driving in 3 weeks and met a beautiful girl in Sandpoint. (Darlene, I hope you’re doing well). When I tell my 20 year old how much fun I had on $96/week he thinks its another one of Dad’s “stories”. He cannot fathom something called the “drink and drown” for $1 admission at Riccardo’s Pizza, or renting a 2 bedroom house for $125. These gems are only possible in deeply rural America, like LaClede or Naples or Deep Creek – towns further into the woods than even Bonners. Northern Idaho was a wonderful place to grow up. Richard Butler and Ruby Ridge are not exemplars of the people I grew up with and know from my childhood.
I am familiar with a yard like this near my home town of Dodge City. The owner was a mechanic who was always working (slowly) on restoring something. I was over sixty years old when I last visited and remember seeing vehicles I knew from junior high and high school. One was a ford wagon woodie (49 or 50) with the commercial sign from a local florist shop. Was looking for my old 46 chevy as that was where I sent it. Didn’t find it but came close to pulling the trigger on a complete 49 or 50 studebaker pickup with (iirc) a flathead six.
The point is, I suppose, that to own a yard like this you must be patient and not need much turnover. I could see how you could get turnover in these days of internet commerce. Maybe today you have it. Didn’t then.
I can’t recall the last time I saw a Fiat 850 Spyder. Looks like a very tempting little money pit.
What a place! Good thing I don’t live near by as I’d be very tempted to take that Fiat 850 home with me.
This is a very cool find indeed.
I see an orange 850 Spider that has been restored and gets driven every so often near work. Saw it back in the spring if I recall.
Anyway, these are indeed a dying breed, though there are still a few around these parts, most out in the boonies, but not so far from civilization however.
With its “GFC” license plate, this 914 may have began its life here in the (SF) East Bay in mid-’72. I wish I had the room, finances, and physical ability to restore it. Hopefully, someone will save it – w/o flares, Fuchs and other such bling.
I’m going to be the dissenting voice here. Places like this are eyesores and toxic waste dumps waiting for the owners to pass on and leave their out of control hobbies for someone else to clean up. While these sots of yards might be quaint reminders of the past and great places to waste time, they are of no practical use for anyone actually looking for specific parts to keep their vehicle running. The modern salvage yard, for all of its problems, does a far better service to owners of curbside classics than places like these. There I said it.
The problem with modern, well-run salvage yards (like the one Murilee profiled over at TTAC) is that they turn over cars quickly. Which is fine if you are looking for common parts, but if you are looking for something rare you are unlikely to find it unless you happen to be looking for it during the couple week period it’s on the lot. And then it gets crushed.
It would be nice if someone could combine the efficiencies (inventory, responsible disposal of fluids, internet sales) of a modern operation with keeping rare vehicles a long time. I suspect part of the problem is that a lot of yards get a significant chunk of their money from scrap, not from parts sales, so if you aren’t crushing you aren’t earning.
This is Sam’s old salvage yard. I believe his dad had this yard. Old school yard lots of old cars. I haven t been there in 20yrs. But Sam passed away and his kids and wife got it. These were good people. Sam had a big family good kids. For all you envirmental types who are so offended by fluids polluting the planet. Get over it. This yard was sitting on a lot of sand. I got 2 57 olds and when we moved the cars the dirt under the cars was perfect. Pretty sure most fluids left the area in about 1972. Sam removed most if not all of the radiators over 25 yrs ago. Grease oil rust doesn t transfer to soil like antifreeze. And for us guys who love old cars this place is a wealth of parts. We car guys are the ultimate recylcers.
Having a bad day, sco?
Was driving from northern Alberta to Spokane Wa for my daughters baseball tournament, stumbled on this gem and almost missed the tournament ( too much to see too little time)
Don where is this located at? I would love to stop by and see it.
I live about 6 miles from this junkyard and the man who runs it is very honest and respectful, I always find myself getting lost in the small yard but there’s always something new to see.
Where is it located at? Cant seem to find it anywhere.
My dad knows the owner . Think they are old friends from way back. Been to this junk yard a handful of times. Junk yards are addicting to me growing up my dad ending up having his own personal junk yard off the side of high way 95 in Westmond.. I feel if I was able to stay at this place ,I might never leave. Lol. I’ve meant both his sons too long time ago. Nice boys.
Its located on hwy 2 before you get to bonners ferry from Spokane . Sam raised wolves and he had a dog on a chain as you came into the yard. That dog would have killed you if it could get to you. Only Sam could get near it. Thats what Sam told me anyway. . He had a bunch of old model t s and a s in the way back. Complete cars he would not parts them out. Sam offered me to buy the yard for 225000.oo back in 98. Should have taken him up on it.