I went and made one last junkyard run for the season, since I had a coupon for free yard entry, and my '93'* mirrors are still floppy ghetto Autozone units.

First I hit the Ford section. That'* depressing. Most of the vehicles aren't hit, just seized or whatever. I was looking for an AC clutch part though, and it had to fit a Ford.


Then I went to the GM section to begin my search for mirrors, an owner'* manual, some weatherstripping, and other bits and pieces.

I saw a boxy red Bonneville that looked a bit like my old '89 did, so I took a look at it. Huh, someone even installed a STB, and oh, wow, a Delco ignition... Oh. That IS my car (confirmed by looking at the underside of the hood for two non-factory screws). Bummer.

So that was probably the most depressing thing that'* ever happened to me in a junkyard run. There it was, up on rims. The wheels and tires were already gone, a good find for whoever took them. The brake fluid reservoir was off, and a TB sensor, and maybe a few other bits and pieces.

The new owners only put on about 500 miles since I sold it. From what I heard, the fuel pump never quite died, but the starter finally did from the extended cranking it took to fire it up. They tried to replace it (the starter), but things rounded off... and last I heard it was going to be donated somewhere. I had hope that it would still be on the road somewhere.

It was a bit unexpected to stumble upon it at the yard like that. Kind of like walking in on an autopsy, and recognizing the subject as your mom, who was alive last you knew.

So... I did the only thing that came to mind at the moment: I swiped the Bonneville badges from each door, and the Pontiac and Bonneville badges from the trunk lid, and the Bonneville badge from the dash. A little something to remember her by...

That happened to me about a year or so ago. I sold out of necessity my '91 Chrysler LeBaron GTC Turbo (had the 2.5 turbo AND a 5-speed manual trannie) for what amounted to 500 dollars. Ran flawlessly, had a new paint job so it looked great, but the interior was a work in progress.

5 months later, I go to the Pull-n-Save, and I see it sitting there in the Chrysler section. It got kissed in the rear quarter (it was quite repairable) but I assume insurance just totaled it out.

I miss that car.

WOW

That'* one way to put it

A sad day indeed.

on the other hand, I've a Merc Sable about to get sent to the scrap yard so you are more than welcome to the ac parts. It has the 3.0 vulcan engine.

pm me with what you might want.

Thanks for the condolences.

I feel bad for the poor folks I sold it to, too. $700 for 500 miles is a raw deal. They knew what they were buying, but I really hoped/thought it would last longer for them. Hopefully they got something out of it from the yard. It was in excellent shape inside, and the body was straight. Really, it was near perfect, except for the cancerous rust and the fuel pump.

:(

PM sent on the Ford parts.

Aww DAMN Jon! thats really sad :(

I have a feeling that mine is probably in a junk yard now too. I have emailed the current owner about 3 times asking how its going, with no response :(

Wow, I think thats the first time thats happened to anyone here (referring to their Bonnevilles)

Really? Well, I suppose not everyone goes on yard trips, and not everyone sells their car locally...

I have seen cars there that I had already picked parts off of (via Craigslist, etc.), but that is more amusing than sad.

I was attached to the '89. Still easily my favorite car out of what I've owned thus far.

I know the feeling of attachment to an '89. That was my first Bonneville, and I STILL miss that thing sooo bad

Me too, what is UP with that? :? They just offer something...that no other car can even come CLOSE to.