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Minakers Vintage Auto Wrecking Yard. June 29, 1988.

Milford, Ontario, Canada.

Rows upon rows of 20's 30's 40's 50's 60's and 70's cars. It would just boggle my mind every time I went there.

1956 Chevrolet Sedan Delivery.

1957 Chevrolet 150 sedan and 1960 Pontiac.

1956 Chevrolet with 1956 Buick Special sport coupe in the background.

1959 Chevrolet Bel Air sedan.

1959 Chevrolet Biscayne coupe.

Endless rows of 20's, 30's, 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's cars.

1956 Chevrolet 210 coupe.

1956 Chevrolet Bel Air sedan.

1959 Plymouth, 1951 Chevrolet and 1950 Ford.

1958 Chevrolet Biscayne sedan and 1961 Chrysler next to it.

1957 Chevrolet 210 sedan.

1957 Chevrolet 150 sedan.

1957 Oldsmobile 88 sedan and 1955 Pontiac Pathfinder Deluxe sedan (Canadian model).

Two 1962 Chevrolet Impala convertibles.

1957 Chevrolet 150 sedan.

1957 Chevrolet Bel Air four door hardtop (Sport sedan).

1952 Chevrolet Sedan Delivery and 1968 Buick Special sedan. Those teeth give it away that it is a 52 and not a 51.

1957 Chevrolet Bel Air sport coupe and 1960 Pontiac sedan (Canadian model).

1957 Chevrolet Bel Air sport coupe.

1957 Pontiac Pathfinder Deluxe sedan (Canadian model).

1956 Chevrolet Bel Air four door hardtop (Sport sedan).

1957 Pontiac Pathfinder Deluxe coupe (Canadian model).

1961-1964 Chevrolet Corvair van with 1958 Oldsmobile 88 coupe and 1961 Valiant next to it.

1957 Pontiac Safari two door wagon (Canadian model). Rare, rare, rare.

1961-1964 Chevrolet Corvair van, 1961 Valiant and 1958 Oldsmobile 88 next to it.

1956 Chevrolet 150 sedan.

1957 Pontiac Pathfinder Deluxe sedan (Canadian model). This 57 Pontiac gave up its original 261 inline six cylinder motor to me. The motor was not seized and it was complete. I bought the motor as an extra motor just in case my 57 Pontiac motor ever failed. I kept it for about fifteen years and then decided to sell it. An American gentleman from Chicago drove all the way to Ontario, Canada to get my 57 261 six banger. He was building a 52 Chevy rag top and wanted to soup up a 261 six to go in it. Cheers.

1957 Chevrolet 150 sedan. Major front end collision damage.

1960 Dodge, 1956 Dodge and 1957 Pontiac.

1953 Cadillac sedan.

1953 Pontiac and 1958 Plymouth.

1959 Ford and 1958 Ford.

1956 Dodge.

1956 Chevrolet 210 coupe.

1949-1950 Ford and two 1941 Chevrolets next to it.

1956 Chevrolet Bel Air sedan and 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air sport coupe.

1959 Buick LeSabre sedan, 1971 Chevrolet Vega and 1959 Pontiac.

1958 Oldsmobile 88 sedan.

1961 Chevrolet Bel Air hardtop, 1961 Ford hardtop, 1959 Buick four door hardtop.

1957 Pontiac Pathfinder Deluxe sedan (Canadian model).

My very favorite vintage car resting place of all time. I have been here numerous times from 1986 to 2015. The yard has been run by three generations of the family that own the yard. The yard is in Milford, Ontario, Canada and is so far off the beaten track that it is almost impossible to find. The oldest cars in the yard are from the 1920's,the newest cars are from the 1970's with a few from the 80's. The vast majority of cars are from the 1950's, with the 1960's coming second. It is so obvious in looking at most of the cars there from the 1950's to the 1970's, that the cars were in fairly good condition when they came into the yard. Collision damage or mechanical failures of some sort brought these cars in. It is such a shame that these cars were allowed to rot. Obviously many cars were used for parts over the years. It is so easy to spend an entire day there and I have gone so many times on my own, twice with my gal and I have loved it every time. Over the years I have bought many parts from there, including a complete 1957 Pontiac 261 inline six motor for an extra. Sadly all these cars were scraped a few years ago by the family because they got tired of running it and the price of scrap metal was high at the time. I am thankful that I have many photo memories of this amazing vintage car yard. Cheers.

Taking a carb part off a 56 Chev for a buddy of mine.

Another view of that 57 Pontiac that I stole the motor from.

Poor 56 Chev getting no respect.

This was at a different visit. Ah to be young again. By the way this was a 57 Chev 210 wagon.

Goofing around in a 57 Plymouth.

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Comments

azmusclecar on Jan 23, 2022 said:

That 58 Olds 88 sedan brought back memories. My grandfather had one and he allowed me to drive it to school and work. All I needed to do was keep the tank full in case he needed it. Well that Olds did drink gas. The best part was the fuel filler cap being in front of the taillight you'd flip open and there was the cap.

God rest and bless my grandfather for all he did for me. He made sure I had money for school lunches and a car to use to get to school and work.

He tried to make up for my real Dad's abandonment even before I was born. Like the Temptations sang in the song: "Papa was a rolling stone". The line is 'all he ever left us was ALONE'.

God had my grandfather there to fill his place. AMEN..........and AMEN.........

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Mario on Jan 25, 2022 said:

Awesome cars George! So many Tri Five Chevys to pick from! I guess because so many were built in those 3 years that you would find so many at the yard.

Too bad they're long gone but the pictures keep the memories alive for you to share.

The 59 Chevy in coral paint reminds me of my Dad's 59 Chevy same color. He had the wagon but front end is the same and brings back many joyful memories.

Thank you for sharing, cheers.

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57timemachine on Aug 20, 2022 said:

I really miss this antique recycling yard. I have so many wonderful memories of it and luckily many photos of it as well. Cheers.

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Mario on Aug 21, 2022 said:

George, I counted 41 pictures in total and you say you have more? Please post more for us to see and reminisce! My favorites are the 50's cars going into the 60's. Cheers!

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azmusclecar on Aug 20, 2022 said:

Hang on to the photos forever and your memories as long as you can. I could spend a vacation in that field. Sad to think, OUR idea of recycling is bringing these cars back to life. To others, it's just a source to be turned into something thrown away after it's use.

I'd be in there with chest waders on with all that tall grass and slithery residents just waiting.

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Mario on Aug 21, 2022 said:

Exactly right Rob, our idea of recycling is to RESTORE them not CRUSH them!

So sad the family sold them off for scrap but they did have the yard open for decades.

Think about how many parts and motors are in restored cars today from this yard, so it continues and lives on! Cheers!

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57timemachine on Aug 22, 2022 said:

Like I mentioned, four generations of the Minaker family ran this amazing yard.

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Mario on Aug 23, 2022 said:

George can you post any more pictures if you can? This reminds me of walking through "junk yards" when I was a teenager and naming as many cars by year and make with my friends! I picked up a lot of parts for my earlier cars that way. Cheers!

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57timemachine on Aug 23, 2022 said:

Mario, I would have to transfer them from old school photos to j peg format.

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Mario on Aug 25, 2022 said:

Yes it's tedious work scanning photos to digital. Another quick way is to use your cell phone and take a picture of the picture. Then you can email yourself the pictures and copy on to a new folder on your desktop if you have a PC or Laptop. Either way it's work but you're also preserving the pictures. Cheers!

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57timemachine on Sep 2, 2022 said:

I added a few more photos. The ones of me as a very young man are painful to look at because it does not seem that long ago. Cheers.

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Mario on Sep 2, 2022 said:

Thank you for adding more pictures George. I really enjoy seeing them. Especially the one of you in your youth.

We were all young once inspite of what our children may think! You looked good taking that carb off a 56 Chevy!

Keep adding these great pictures to your post when you can, I really enjoy seeing them! Cheers, Mario

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azmusclecar on Sep 2, 2022 said:

So George, what Rock Band were you with back then?

Grateful Dead? ZZ TOP? Benny Goodman Tour? KISS? AC/DC? Quiet Riot? Bad Company? Lawrence Welk?

Name the group, I may have the album and like a FREE autograph......note FREE....

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57timemachine on Sep 2, 2022 said:

Rob, I know all the bands you mentioned but I am more partial to ZZ Top and I have the big beard to prove it. I am 64 in November so maybe Lawrence Welk is around the turn pike. Cheers.

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azmusclecar on Sep 6, 2022 said:

George, I was introduced to Lawrence Welk EVERY Saturday night living with my grandmother. And uh-one and uh two and uh....

That was uh Sissy and uh Bobby dancing like they uh were on uh fire.....

And now..uh...The Lennon Sisters.

I sat on the sofa watching as my grandmother's eyes would slowly close and I'd try to sneak up on the TV and change the channel.

Then I'd hear this voice: "HEY I Was watching THAT!!!". I was just resting my eyes she'd say.

And so back to the sofa I went waiting to hear another snort, or heavy breathing and try my sleuth techniques again.

Usually with the same results. How she would come out of a sound sleep knowing Lawrence wasn't on was beyond me.

I have what they call a FOOTBALL BEARD George.

There's 11 hairs on one side and 11 on the other.

They made some great cars 64 years ago, probably because of you being born. Wow, what a tribute.

Just remember, She's got legs, and she's know how to use them.........but I know, George, YOU'RE A SHARP DRESSED MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-)

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57timemachine on Sep 6, 2022 said:

Rob, I grew up on good ole Lawrence as well because both my mom and granny watched it every week. Rob, thanks for kind words and you sure know ole ZZ Top. Just judging by your ZZ references, you must like them as well. Cheers.

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57timemachine on May 4, 2023 said:

I felt the need to bump the story on this amazing vintage car "wrecking yard". This place is haloed ground for me. Cheers.

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Mario on May 5, 2023 said:

What an amazing place George! I cannot imagine what a treat it was to just walk around naming all the cars!

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57timemachine on May 13, 2023 said:

It is very sad that this yard is gone and has been gone for a number of years now. Times are changing and mostly in a bad way as far as I am concerned. That is life and there little you can do about it.

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Mario on May 14, 2023 said:

I certainly agree with you George, Times are changing and mostly in a bad way. I get solace from looking at the old classic cars from when times were much better!

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