GI Auto Salvage - fail - NJFBOA - Home of New Jersey's Camaros and Firebirds

Untamed · 05-29-2009, 12:39 PM

I visited GI Auto Salvage last weekend to see if they bolstered their inventory after the great purge of 2007-2008. For those who haven't been there in a while, they cleaned out a lot of the rusting stuff they had lying around for years, that had been picked clean long ago, then brought in tons of dirt in an attempt to fill in the lakes and puddles that formed around and under the cars. I was happy to see a more level lot to walk through, but the purge left the place looking pretty empty.

A few other changes have taken place that may or may not have been there for the last few months.

1. There is a fenced in area now where scrap cars are brought to wait for the engine / trans strip that all go through. Employee only area. But what's different is...

2. The fenced area is part of a new entranceway into the yard. Instead of walking past the gate and straight out onto the lot, you have to go through the office to enter / leave. This is both a loss-prevention method, and...

3. There appears to be an attempt to move from a u-pick-it place, to a parts service business. I saw employees stripping more than engines from the cars in the fenced area. I think they are inventorying as much as possible, then dropping frame, sheet metal and seats out onto the lot. I could be wrong, but it looks like they want to provide that parts service portion that they can mark up since they are doing the work.

All of the above comes from observation. I don't speak spanish so I couldn't ask the two guys wearing the GI overalls, pulling parts.

I was left disappointed that there was very little to actually peruse on the lot. One second gen Firebird frame, and one third gen Camaro that was picked clean long ago. They still group cars by manufacturer, but last years purge left the place really empty with plenty of real estate between car groups.

If I get more time I may try to chat up the guys in the office and see what their plans are for the business. But right now, my opinion from what I saw, suggests we're loosing yet another u-pick-it in NJ.

maroman88 · 05-30-2009, 08:40 AM

yea i posted the same thing last time i went there.... there were so few cars i didnt even go into the office to go out there and walk around

97slpss · 05-30-2009, 04:56 PM

from what ive heard they are trying to cleanup the lot for condos...bt with all the oil in the soil i dont see it happening

myfoot2020 · 06-01-2009, 09:36 PM

yea, I hear 50+ retirement condos. who in there mind would want to live on top of a 50 year old toxic mess. back in the '80's you could smell oil a 1/2 mile away.
try colombia too off 57 or harry's u-pull it- hazelton, PA 2 hr drive...but worth it.

Iroc-z86 · 06-04-2009, 09:51 PM

columbia 2 is not a u pick it anymore. I went there for a heater motor from an s-10 and had to wait while they pulled it for me. it was only $20 so i wasnt complaining but still. how much more business would they have gotten if i could have walked around. maybe they had a camaro or two? who knows.

Teds89IROC · 06-08-2009, 10:12 AM

It sucks, I loved walking around there years ago. Definitely felt like a kid in a candy store

myfoot2020 · 06-08-2009, 09:47 PM

I remember in the late 80's seeing a 70-73 Camaro RS (split bumper car) in that yard, it was pretty far gone, but I can still see it in my head.Also a few fastback Mustangs and a bunch of Trans Ams. The turnover was pretty quick, if you saw somthing you might need better grab it 'casue the car would be long gone only a couple of weeks later.

NJLT1SS · 06-15-2009, 04:31 AM

The GI site has been approved for the construction of a Lowes, Modells, and a few other stores.

Nick

maroman88 · 06-15-2009, 11:57 AM

great more useless stores

myfoot2020 · 06-17-2009, 09:38 PM

ha, that figures there's a home depot across the street (the old pine brook speedway?), just like a bank or CVS on every corner in everytown

The Fixer · 06-17-2009, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by myfoot2020

yea, I hear 50+ retirement condos. who in there mind would want to live on top of a 50 year old toxic mess.

Well, most of Edgewater along the Hudson River was a landfill/garbage dump 20-30 years ago, and now there's million-dollar condos sitting on top of it. I wonder how they will be years down the road?

Teds89IROC · 06-19-2009, 10:32 AM

Hoboken was trash too, now look at it. Sure it still smells at times but...

zuuhlsT/A · 06-20-2009, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by myfoot2020

ha, that figures there's a home depot across the street (the old pine brook speedway?), just like a bank or CVS on every corner in everytown

Yep that was the Pinebrook Speedway. My Dad used to take me there when I was like 10. GIs' used to be so cool. It was like a treasure hunt in that yard. I used to spend hours there getting parts for my Firebirds and T/As. It's just a damn shame..