Junkyard Discoveries from Cooley’s Statewide Scrap & Salvage in Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Slide of With half a century of operation, this establishment has curated an extraordinary array of classic and vintage automobiles and trucks. Our four-hour odyssey through this automotive sanctuary merely scratched the surface, leaving us to wonder about the gems we may have overlooked. Slide of Entrance This is the captivating sight that welcomes visitors to Cooley’s Statewide Scrap and Salvage of Eau Claire, Wisconsin – an enticing preview of the automotive treasures that lie within. Slide of CADILLAC - 1955 The three chrome mouldings either side of the license plate identify this as a 1955 Cadillac Series 62. It’s located in an overgrown section of the yard, where it has presumably sat for a long time. Incredibly it appears to be complete, right down to its taillights. With 140,777 sales, this was a record year for Cadillac, making it the 10th best-selling automobile marque in the US. Slide of CHEVROLET SEDAN DELIVERY - 1953 According to the ghost signwriting on the side of this wonderful 1953 Chevrolet Sedan Delivery, it once belonged to Peterson’s Pies. We wonder if this was a local firm. There’s no trace of it online today, sad to say. Today these are highly desirable vans, but unfortunately the front half of this one is missing.   Slide of FORD GALAXIE - 1959 There’s quite a bit of space around this 1959 Ford Galaxie two-door hardtop, which makes us think Cooley’s must have had a cull at some point. The yard has its own crusher, and has a thriving scrap metal business. It appears that someone has had the foresight to cover the engine, but we wonder whether it’s the 3.7-liter V6 or the 4.8-liter V8 under the blue tarpaulin. Slide of AMC PACER You’re looking at the passenger side door of an AMC Pacer, which interestingly was 4 inches (102mm) longer than the driver’s door. This was to make it easier for passengers to access the rear seat. However, when the Pacer was exported to right-hand-drive markets, such as the UK, the doors weren’t reversed. This oversight meant the driver’s side had the larger opening.  Slide of BUICK RIVIERA - 1966 In the 1960s US automobile manufacturers went to great lengths to hide headlamps, and the 1966 Buick Riviera was a great example. They flipped down from above the grille and were left hanging in front of it. While the headlamps were hiding, car buyers weren’t, and a record 45,308 Rivieras were sold that year. Slide of FORD CONVERTIBLE - 1963 As a rule, ragtops tend to have a better survival than their tin-topped counterparts on account of them often being worth slightly more. However, from our experience, when they do arrive in junkyards, their chances of making it out alive are slim. Their canvas roofs are invariably torn, or in the case of this 1963 Ford missing, meaning the interiors are ravished by the elements. Slide of NASH AIRFLYTE STATESMAN - 1950 When it was launched in 1949, the Nash ‘Bathtub’ Airflyte looked like nothing else on the road. Crafted in a wind tunnel, aerodynamics dictated its distinctive appearance. Those large, rounded fenders, enclosed wheel arches and sleek teardrop rear-end all helped to minimize drag. They sat low to the ground, although not quite as low as this 1950 Statesman Super four-door sedan. Slide of FORD BRONCO EDDIE BAUER Renowned sportsman and entrepreneur Eddie Bauer (1899-1986) is famously credited with the invention of the Bomber Jacket, widely worn by US pilots during World War II. However, his legacy extends beyond fashion to the automotive realm. In 1983, Bauer lent his name to a limited-edition Ford Bronco II. These top-trim cars had distinctive two-tone exteriors, and a host of creature comforts inside, such as power seats and cruise control. This example probably hails from about 1986. Slide of PLYMOUTH - 1952 Nestled in a neglected corner of Cooley’s yard lies a 1952 Plymouth, seemingly frozen in time amidst the overgrowth. Remarkably untouched by parts scavengers, it begs the question of how long it has rested undisturbed. In 1952, Plymouth claimed the third spot in popularity among car brands, trailing only Chevrolet and Ford—a ranking it had maintained since 1932. Slide of PACKARD CLIPPER - 1954 This 1954 Clipper rolled off the assembly line during a tumultuous period for Packard. Sales plummeted to 31,291 units, a mere third of the previous year's figures. This decline caused Packard's ranking to plummet to 16th place among the most popular US automakers, prompting the company to merge with struggling Studebaker. Although Packard experienced a modest recovery in 1955, it proved insufficient to reverse its fortunes. Slide of PLYMOUTH DUSTER Whoever created this unusual Plymouth Duster 4x4 has christened it the Trail Duster. It’s a great name, but it’s not original, as between 1974 and 1981 Plymouth used it for a badge-engineered Dodge R