Did you know the price of new cars has been going up? Metal is more expensive and harder to come by add that to inflation and you have a one two punch that has driven up new vehicle pricing.
Shelbyville Auto Parts doesn’t sell new vehicles, so you may wonder how this affects our business. Well directly it doesn’t however indirectly there are two areas that impact our salvage yard here in Indiana on a daily basis.
Discontinued Parts Production from Manufacturers Drive Demand for Used Alternatives
For those who love their existing vehicles and don’t want to upgrade, especially given the high prices of new cars, trucks and vans, auto parts become an important lifeline. When manufacturers decide to end of life the parts for their vehicles, sometimes car owners can still buy new parts, from secondary sources in the aftermarket automotive industry. Even the secondary market for parts to keep a favorite vehicle can dry up. Why? Sometimes the cost of raw materials and tariffs lower the return on investment for the secondary market or demand for the parts is too low to justify extending the lifecycle of the parts in question.
What happens when the parts are no longer being made by anyone? Junkyards were born for this purpose and more! Of course, people can try and source another used vehicle and keep one for parts, however most will simply visit their favorite friendly car parts store, also called a salvage yard. Old cars in the yard are not useless or garbage. Vehicles sold to the junkyard are far from dead, instead they become like organ donors helping to keep other cars who haven’t given up the ghost yet, alive and running!
All Good Things Must Come to an End
Eventually ever vehicle’s time for being parted out comes to an end. Barebones frames are mostly for the scrap heap, the second and final phase of the vehicle’s journey at the salvage yard.
After the vehicle has been parted out to the satisfaction of the yard’s management, typically a vehicle will be gutted for any remaining valuable parts like the: catalytic converter, bumpers, air bags, gps, wheels, radiator, lights and car seats. Once the stripping of any remaining valuable items are cut off or removed it will almost always be crushed and sold by the ton.
In the end, ever possible part will be sold for reuse or recycled. Very little is disposed of and most of that is toxic fluids. Those are disposed of safely according to local, state and federal regulations of course.
Check out this video captured at SAP of a few of our vehicles being crushed up, in preparation for their final goodbye, as they are sold to be melted down for scrap metal.
For those in Central Indiana or anywhere within driving distance, Shelbyville Auto Parts is here and ready to help! Come and sell us your used vehicles buy the parts needed to keep a beloved vehicle running smooth on the roads and highways of the Hoosier State.