Jeff and Karen Underwood have a love for saving old cars. A few years ago, Jeff heard that a salvage yard filled with old cars in a city about 25 miles away was closing and going to send a bunch of vehicles to the crusher. City officials had received many complaints about the yard, and its owner was finally giving up the battle against the community. Housing sub-divisions were getting closer, and the value of the land had skyrocketed. Jeff leapt into action and contacted the owner of the yard and made a deal to save some of the old vehicles, including an impressive number of “Tri-Five” Chevys and several 1960s Pontiacs. Using his trailers, Jeff began hauling the at-risk old vehicles to his property.
Jeff says he has been interested in early Pontiac Firebirds and Chevrolet Camaros for a long time and has probably owned several dozen through the years, including “Bandit” Trans Ams and a couple of NASCAR IROC Trans Ams. Knowing this bit of information, it’s not surprising that Jeff’s first car was a 1967 Pontiac Firebird. While photographing Jeff and Karen’s collection, we also toured their home shop where, on a lift, Jeff works on his beautifully restored ’68 Camaro. Also in their home shop is stored a collection of at least eight or so Chevy small-block engines, including 265s, 283s, and 327s, plus an Oldsmobile Starfire engine and a Ford tractor engine, which Jeff says is probably from an 8N. In a pile nearby are a bunch of Chevrolet standard transmissions, including some with overdrive. All of the engines and transmissions are for sale.
Since saving the old salvage vehicles, Jeff and Karen have turned them into a hobby business of sorts. They do not have a salvage yard, but the couple will sell the vehicles or parts off of them to other collectors. It’s a part-time business since Jeff has a full-time gig as a machining and fabrication specialist at a shop he owns in nearby Conway, Ark. Karen also has a business selling items on eBay and has recently included some smaller auto parts from these vehicles in her listings.
The collection is parked in neat rows, and there are no loose parts to stumble over. We saw no oil spills, and there is enough room between vehicles to allow mowing between them, which is done regularly. The collection is not open for unescorted browsing, and if parts are needed, Jeff will remove them as time permits. Jeff and Karen say they will ship parts. Since he has a full-time job, Jeff may not be able to answer the phone, but he will return messages for parts inquiries.
More Info: Jeff & Karen Underwood 581 Highway 25 Wooster, AR 72181 501-269-0375
Many times in the last few years, we’ve had occasions to drive on a secondary Arkansas state highway and see this 1946 Chevy truck sitting in a pasture. It caught our eye, along with a couple of other older vehicles nearby. Recently we saw a man and a woman working outside, so we decided to stop and inquire about the vehicles. Jeff and Karen Underwood were cutting up some old tires to eliminate mosquito nesting areas, and after talking with them, we found that they had many more old vehicles parked nearby and out of sight. This truck is restorable or would make great yard art or an eye-catcher of a business sign.
Leroy Drittler
Although missing both doors, this 1962 International B160 has other parts available, including a decent hood, good seat and dash parts.
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This Z28 Camaro body is available. Most of the interior is gone, along with its engine and transmission. The Nova behind it is not for sale.
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The floors are rusty on this Chevy 60, but it has a good seat, a straight grille and a V-8 engine.
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The grille is straight but rusted and needs new chrome on this ’56 Bel Air. It has an automatic transmission and good dash parts. Several other ’56s are parked nearby.
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A pair of Chevrolet truck front clips are available. Both appear to be from school buses. The one on the right has an engine block between the fenders.
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There are a few good trim pieces left on this ’57 Chevy Bel Air. It came from the factory with air conditioning, as evidenced by the vent holes in the dash and “AC” marked on its trim tag.
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The trunk lid and some other parts are gone from this 1947 Pontiac Streamliner.
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An unusual find in any yard is a 1957 Packard Clipper Town Sedan. Slightly more than 3,900 were built. Packard offered only two models in 1957, the other being a station wagon.
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This 1955 Packard Patrician would make someone a great parts car.
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It is rough on the outside, but this 1950 Pontiac Silver Streak hardtop still has all dash parts remaining.
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Last licensed in 1967, this 1953 Ford Customline comes equipped with a standard transmission and V-8 engine. The Seafoam Green and Timberline Green paint combination was popular among Fords this model year.
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This Cherokee Red 1960 Mercury Comet has many usable parts remaining inside and out.
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A great seat remains inside this 1962 Chevy truck, plus its dash is complete.
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India Ivory and Regal Turquoise was a very popular color combination for the 1955 Chevrolet. Everything ahead of the firewall, plus all dash parts, are gone from this Bel Air sedan.
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The engine and wheels have been removed from this 1970 Chevrolet Kingswood Estate Wagon. The simulated wood-grain paneling on the sides is badly faded. It has retained its $ 52-optional roof rack and standard dual-action tailgate.
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The grille may be the best part remaining on this 1964 Pontiac Bonneville. The interior is a bit musty, but complete.
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This 1963 Pontiac Star Chief has factory air, a complete interior and a good grille.
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The Underwoods have the title for this retired Chevy Blue Bird school bus. It has been converted to a camping rig with bunk beds, and it ran when it was parked.
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The engine is gone and the interior has been gutted on this 1980 Camaro.
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There is not a whole lot left to harvest on this mid-1960s four-door Pontiac Catalina except miscellaneous trim parts.
Leroy Drittler
This 1965 Bel Air was delivered from the factory with air conditioning and a 327-cid V-8 engine. All dash parts are there, plus it has driver-quality taillamps.
Leroy Drittler
Very seldom do we find Pontiac two-door sedans from the 1960s in salvage yards. This 1965 Catalina is missing its engine.
Leroy Drittler
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