|
DAVE'S
AUTO WRECKING
Located in Southern California, Dave’s Auto Wrecking was opened in 1977. The yard is just 30 miles south of Los Angeles, in the city of Westminster in the heart of Orange County, the center of the Muscle Car world. We started out as a muscle car wrecking yard. We catered to those who played hard, went fast and broke their cars regularly. CORVETTES, CAMAROS, MUSTANGS and CHARGERS were the cars of choice, for the Orange County crowd. Over the years we have accumulated a vast inventory of CORVETTE, CAMARO and MUSTANG parts, sorry no more CHARGER parts.
The original Dave's Auto Wrecking was located in Placentia CA about 15 miles north of the current location in Westminster. That yard specialized in Camaros Corvettes and any GM Muscle. We were involved back in those days with putting Chevy V8's into anything we could think of. We did many magazine articles in the late 70's and early 80's with the likes of Hot VW, Mini Truck Magazine and Super Chevy. In 1979 I built a VW truck that we put a Citation V6 auto fwd motor in the back of, the Truck would do wheelies all the way down the street. The project that changed everything for us back then was when Mini Truck magazine heard about me putting Buick V6 motors in my friends Toyota Pick ups. Those trucks would burn rubber to beat hell. A local off road racing shop, Downey Off Road, fabricated a bracket set and we supplied the motors for countless Toyota conversions shipped throughout the country. We were buying all the Regals, Cutlass and Monte Carlos we could get our hands on, for the drive trains. It was apparent very early on that the 1/2 acre wrecking yard, next to the Railroad track would need to expand. The next yard we opened was in Ontario CA about 30 miles east of the Placentia yard. This yard specialized in classic GM muscle cars. Next the yard in Westminster for American made Trucks and Vans. This allowed us the ability to store even larger quantities of cars and parts. We then opened a Yard in Pomona CA, that was the closest wrecking yard to the world famous Pomona Swap Meet. We spent many a night in the parking lot at the LA Fairgrounds jockying for position for the next days sale. The Name was Budget Auto Wrecking and we specialized in Ford and Chrysler products there. We had racks full of old Mustang parts that have been shipped to Goldenwest over the years. Dave's Auto Wrecking in San Diego, CA, specialized in transportation cars. Dave's Sacramento Truck Wrecking was American Trucks and Vans, and a second location in Placentia CA that specializes in Foreign Cars, Trucks and Vans. In the course of a work week I would travel the length of the State buying cars at live Salvage Auctions and coordinate their distribution and delivery. All the employees were partners, and we followed the practice of Good Service and Fair prices, life was good and we prospered.
As we entered the 90's Auto Wrecking became a "Hazardous Waste " Industry and no city wants an Automobile Wrecking Yard in their City. Cars became more complicated, Pick A Part Wrecking yards changed how business was done. It came to a point where even if you wanted to repair your own car at home most cities and their CC&Rs in Sothern California won't allow it. To even change your own oil it becomes a major hassle to get rid of the old oil and filter.
So as the 90's ended and the new environmental order of the new millenium was established in California, it became necessary to gracefully downsize. So over the years we have consolidated our operations to the yard in Westminster. This yard is what is known as a grandfathered use. The wrecking yard preceeds the City. So here in Westminster we are left alone by the city government and the powers that be, to pursue the Auto Wrecking profession. We are a dying breed here in Southern California, a customer said to me just the other day,"this is the last of the "FUN" old time wrecking yards."
We have had cars on the covers of magazines and I have contributed to many Tech artilcles in numerous Car magazines and newspapers. The Yard was on the cover of the July 2008, Super Chevy Magazine. We are in the middle of a couple of car projects that will be featured in several well known magazines in the near future.
Today the Dave's Goldenwest location in Westminster, CA is nationally known for its selection of Late model pick up truck parts. In addition to Trucks we now carry a full line of Car parts both Domestic and Foreign. Our used parts inventory is vast but we also carry, new, rebuilt, and reproduction parts. We have a nationwide parts locator service available, satellite connected with other wrecking yards throughout the country.
If you are in Southern California stop by for a visit.
David Lampert, owner since 1977
|
