Beloved vintage cars unearthed in 'America's largest Volkswagen graveyard' – collector nabbed some vehicles for just $50 | 38694W5 | 2024-04-22 12:08:01
A COLLECTOR has amassed hundreds of Volkswagen vehicles, even rare models – and any can be bought for a reasonable fee.
One particular VW Beetle on the property is one of only 15,000 ever made and can be purchased for $500.
Parker, the host of YouTube channel Backyard Barn Finds (@backyardbarnfinds), explores a Pennsylvania salvage yard that's home to Volkswagens of all models from the 1950s to the early 1990s.
Larry, the current owner of the yard, was close with the original owner and would help him purchase cars to bring to the yard when he was just 13.
"Me and him would go out on the weekends and just pull Volkswagens back all weekend long," Larry said in the video.
"He'd pay around $50 to $100 for them, and the collection that's here is the collection he acquired from around 1974 until about three years ago."
Larry said that his longtime friend's love of collecting old cars came to an abrupt and unfortunate end.
"He got sick, unfortunately, and he passed away," he said.
As Larry and Parker walked the yard, it was organized by model – bus, Beetle, Rabbit, and even Karmann Ghias were all put in designated areas.
Cleverly, Larry and the owner used many of the VW buses as storage for parts of other cars, to keep vulnerable parts from rusting or becoming victims of the elements.
Larry couldn't help but notice one of only 15,000 neon green Beetles, which when fully restored, cost around $21,000 to $24,000 according to iSeeCars.com.
A Volkswagen 412 hatchback was also spotted, and they're rare in the United States due to their limited production.
<!-- End of Brightcove Player --> They were only produced between 1972 and 1974 and were not popular.
However, Larry's favorite vehicle was an old bus painted with Rasta colors and Grateful Dead stickers that had withstood decades of being in the elements.
When Larry and the original owner bought the vehicle and brought it to the yard, the original owner made his way back.
"I actually met the guy in the 1990s, he came back to the yard looking for a speaker he had built back in the 1970s," Larry said.
However, that wasn't the first time he'd run into the bus's owner.
"It's funny because I've actually seen this bus while [The Grateful Dead] were on tour, and me and him got to talking," he continued.
"It's just kind of funny how it works that way. This guy was a hippie, and he's still a hippie."
A Volkswagen Dasher was also on the property, which laid the groundwork for the future Passat.
Larrys favorite vehicle is a bus that was converted into a camper, was painted in Rasta colors, and had Grateful Dead stickers on the rear window[/caption]
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For enthusiasts, it was coined the "air-cooled Passat."
Larry told Parker to let his viewers know that all the vehicles on the property – even the rare ones and regardless of condition – can be bought for $500.
Viewers of the video were mixed about the massive collection rotting away.
"This old guy went around and bought all these cars then dragged them home just to watch them rot into the ground," they wrote.
One user responded that his habit effectively saved the vehicles.
"The guy is a hero, he saved them from the crusher. Regardless of the condition, even if you bought four of the same you could most likely come out with a complete car for restoration," their response read.
"You can't find one car in that condition for less than $1,500 these days!"
Many expressed worry about the condition of the metal frames due to the infamous East Coast winters.
"Too bad they weren't stored on blocks rather than sitting on the ground," one user wrote.
"The rust would have been far less severe on those stored there."
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