Ryan's Garage

Click here to see some other car pics and Ryan & Scott's junkyard adventures

Back then, gas was 51 cents a gallon!

ENGINE: My feet ~~ TRANS: direct drive pedal-to-wheel

Bought 12/21/91 for $280. Was a transport car for Alameda Naval Air Station in California, therefore it lacked carpet, radio, clock, reclining seats, and exterior trim. GSA Auctioned it in 1980 for $700. I bought it from a lady in Jefferson, La. who used it to tow a U-Haul from San Francisco to New Orleans. Went 250,000+ miles before it burnt a couple of valves. Got $500 for it on trade for the Saturn.

ENGINE: 360-V8-175HP-2bbl ~~ TRANS: Torque-Command (727) 3-spd. automatic, column shifted

Dashboard view

Bought 10/2?/93 for $800 from the original owner, an 87 year old lady in Marrero, La. She still had the recipt from Star Chrysler in New Orelans, paid $3600 cash for it in January '66. Odometer stopped at 75,000 miles, and best guess is it had around 90,000 when I bought it, probably around 125,000 now. This monster came from the factory with manual brakes, power steering, AM radio, light package, and air conditioning. Burned a main bearing somewhere between Slidell, La. and Gulfport, Mississippi at 80mph. This wonder also ran half a mile without oil when the stabilizer bar creased and split the oil filter, plus went 25 miles with no water once when the water pump bearing disintegrated and the fan flew into the radiator in the middle of nowhere. My brother Scott has rebuilt the motor; Click Here to see what's been done.

Sold in 2012.

ENGINE: 383-V8-270HP-2bbl ~~ TRANS: Torqueflite (727) 3-spd. auto., column shifted

"Bought" 6/9/94 for $500 down plus the Ambassador from Saturn of Metairie (La.). Top speed 90mph downhill, had power steering (not a listed option for an SL), cassette, and air. Killed my back on drives more than an hour. Family circumstances forced me to turn her in to the bank 1/1/95. Only thing I regret is leaving a tape in the deck. Oh well.

ENGINE: Some GM (Garbage Motors) 4-banger with no torque ~~ TRANS: 5-spd. manual OD

Bought for $200 from Airline Auto Pawn in Metairie on 1/6/95 as a replacement for the Saturn. A much better car, I kid you not. Another factory freak, this one had a 3-on-the-tree, no power steering, and air. Did top speed (92mph) on Claiborne & I-10 from Tulane U. to Slidell (35-40 miles) when Scott's tonsilectomy hemmoraged. Not many cars can be run at full throttle for that long! Normally slow as all hell but could pull up a tree. While pulling the tranny to replace the clutch, I realized the car would sooner rust in half rather than die, so I parted it out in 3/97 and sold the motor, driveshaft, and tires to Tim George of the Media Darlings for $100. Rust in peace, old friend.

ENGINE: 225-Slant 6-100HP-1bbl ~~ TRANS: 3-spd. man. (A-250), column shifted

Click here for a lighter b&w shot

Bought 7/4/95 for $650 from a guy in Covington, La. who's "friend" told him it would cost $275 or so to fix the carburretor. I replaced the float & accelerator pump in his driveway and drove it home that evening. Beautiful car, champagne gold with light beige leather interior, the same exact one Alanis Morrisette romped around in in "Ironic". Typical Ford power windows were the only trouble this 140,000 mile beauty gave me. Sold it to a fishing buddy of my dad's for $900 in 7/97. This car perished in Hurricane Katrina at Dan's Muffler Shop in Slidell.

ENGINE: 400-V8-159HP-2bbl ~~ TRANS: 3-spd. Cruise-O-Matic (C6), column shifted

Bought in 9/95 from a friend of mine, G. K. Stevens, for $100. His father bought it new in Albert Lea, Minn. and he inherited it. Back in '93 some idiot rear ended the car & took off. I took it to a body shop and they said it couldn't be fixed. That's a damn shame, because she ran like a top and the a/c worked. Sold her for $150 in 11/95.

ENGINE: 156 (2.6) Mitsubishi-4cyl-101HP-2bbl ~~ TRANS: 3-spd. auto., coumn shifted

I wanted to drive it off the levee into the Mississippi River, but it wouldn't climb over. Biggest mistake I ever made. Wanted something economical to commute to work with, and a relative of mine worships Hondas, so I gave this one a try in 3/96 for $450. In the five weeks I drove it, third gear disappeared, power brake booster failed, ignition switch broke, and it wouldn't stay running unless you kept your foot on the gas (no idle adjustment on Honda carbs!). Try sitting in traffic working the clutch with your left foot, the no longer power brake with your right heel and the gas with your right toe. Gave to my stepbrother, he abandoned it somewhere in Mandeville, La.

ENGINE: 1500cc-4cyl-3bbl ~~ TRANS: 5-spd. man. minus 3rd

Nice van, bought 5/96 for $2200. Another freak, had no air conditioning and a factory 5-speed. Let my father's ex-girlfriend take over note in 7/96 when her '85 Crown Vic wagon, "The Knocker", quietly died one night. UPDATE: A few months ago the Voyager burned to the ground on a quiet Mandeville street, due to an oil fire.

ENGINE: 153 (2.5)-4cyl-FI ~~ TRANS: 5-spd. man. OD

Dashboard View

I didn't know when I laid down $300 for this no-option Rambler in 5/97 that she sat in someone's yard in Gentilly (N.O., La.) from 1975-1994. I replaced and rebuilt more parts on this car than on any others. Had her painted, put covers on the seats, treated her like a queen, even bought a parts car 4-door and transplanted a fender and the transmission, among other things. She made it up to Fargo, only to repeatedly leave me at the M&H filling station in Moorhead. Sold in 11/97 to a guy in St. Paul for $350 (I had $1200+ in her by that time). He plans to fully restore her, and it'll be a nice little car when he's done.

ENGINE: 199-6cyl-128HP-1bbl ~~ TRANS: 3-spd. man. (T-96), column shifted

Bought for $50 in 7/97. Parted it out, and when Knipper's Junkyard came to pick it up, the guy next door to where the car was at told the driver it was his car, and rats got in it and ate the title. White hillbilly trash only got $15 for it. He should have drank his fat hick unemployed ass to death by now. 

1974 Mercury Monterey Custom 4-door pillared hardtop

Dashboard view

Bought it from a guy near NDSU (11/97) who's mother-in-law bought it new in Langdon, No. Dak. This car is a champ. 28 hours to New Orleans straight and my back was fine. Amazing. Didn't had to fix a thing since I bought it in 11/97. I also discovered the a/c still works! Car had over 170,000 miles on it when I sold it to my brother Scott . Scott sold it for $450 in February/March 1999.

I saw it for sale in late July ('99) and the kid Scott sold her to trashed the car. It makes me sick that the car was well taken care of for 25 YEARS, and in 4 months it looked like a refugee from the projects.

Scott spotted the Monterey in a Slidell junkyard recently. Seems the kid he sold it to went to jail and the mother didn't want to bother selling it anymore.

ENGINE: 400-V8-172HP-2bbl ~~ TRANS: 3-spd. Merc-O-Matic (FMX), column shifted

1966 Rambler American 220 4-door station wagon

Dashboard view

Spotted it March 7th, 1998 in a driveway covered with snow in West Fargo. It needed a transmission, an old Warner T-96. 74,000 miles, little rust, needed a tailgate and interior, bumpers, paint job, etc. Sold to Mr. Paul Ford of Oklahoma Nov. 1998, who planned to make it a SC/Rambler wagon!

ENGINE: 199-6cyl-128HP-1bbl ~~ TRANS: 3-spd. manual, column shifted

Bought in June '98 for $550 in New Orleans to move the rest of my stuff up to Fargo-Moorhead.  Was an old Army van, then a carpenter had it. It was a real trying experience taking this loaded down slant-six van through the Ozarks in August. By the time I'd get to the top of an incline, the van was in 2nd doing 30-35mph. And that went on for 100 miles! Traded it in on the Chevette 10/01/98 at Muscatell Auto in Moorhead.

ENGINE: 225-6cyl-90HP-lbbl ~~ TRANS: 727 Torqueflite 3-spd. automatic

1982 Chevrolet Chevette 4-door hatchback

Bought for the van plus $250 at Muscatell Auto. Red, a/c, am/fm stereo, tilt steering and rear defroster. Was in nice shape. Sold in November 1998.

ENGINE: 98-4cyl-65HP-2bbl ~~ TRANS: 4-spd. manual

1978 AMC Concord D/L 4-door sedan

Bought from AMC-List member Steve Hannig Nov. 20, 1998. Red, a/c, cassette, tilt, cruise, rear defrost, black landau vinyl roof and nice black sport vinyl interior. A nice smooth & solid but slightly rusty Concord. UPDATE: In March 1999 she lost oil & threw a rod while my roommate was driving it on I-94. I managed to drive it the last four miles to an exit. Towed to Hazer's Junkyard in West Fargo, who gave me $5.00 for it.

ENGINE: 258-6cyl-120HP-2bbl ~~ TRANS: 3-spd. automatic

1964 Rambler Classic 660 4-door sedan

Dashboard view

Bought from Southern Iowa in December 1998. Light green metallic, the smoothest running motor I ever had, and shifted smooth as butter. Alas, it needed a paint job and new interior. Only had 66,500 original miles when I sold it in June 1999 for $450.

ENGINE: 196-6cyl-127HP-1bbl ~~ TRANS: 3-spd. manual column shift w/overdrive

1983 Renault Alliance DL 4-door sedan "The Frog"

Dashboard view

Bought in March 1999 for $300 with a new clutch and 70,700 miles. Originally from Aberdeen, S.D., then re-sold through Francis Peterson AMC in Moorhead, Minn. Runs great and has the best ride of any small car I've driven. Had no a/c or power steering, but factory tach, cruise control and digital clock. Even had an "Oil Level Gauge," which would be perfect for American drivers, especially women. Why that never caught on I can not understand. Sold it in July '99 in Slidell, La. for $300.

ENGINE: 85-4cyl-56HP-TBI ~~ TRANS: 5-spd. manual floor shift

1981 Ford Granada L 4-door sedan

Dashboard view

My grandmother's car for 11 years, she gave it to me in June 1999. My dad bought it new in 1981 from Norton-Lamarque Ford in Kenner, La. Had about 82,500 miles on it last I checked, and is no longer white, but beige. Now (4/00), the roof rust is coming through again. What a shame.
UPDATE: Disgusted by my failed attempts to stop the rust, I sold the Granada in December 2000 to a family friend for $500. It's since traveled from New Orleans to Austin, Tex. and Shawnee, Okla., where it was sold to a guy who abandoned it in Corpus Christi.

ENGINE: 200-6cyl-88HP-1bbl ~~ TRANS: 3-spd. Cruise-O-Matic (C3), column shifted

1983 Chrysler LeBaron Mark Cross 2-door convertible

Dashboard view

Bought in May 2001 for $1800. One of the many fine Chryslers built with Corinthian leather. In decent shape. On the dash is a small emblem that reads Computer Equipped, which means the car talks to you (i.e. "Your fuel is low;" "Don't forget your keys.")
UPDATE: The Mikuni carburetor and the early 80's AmeriJap emissions crap has been a continuing headache. The LeBaron was laid up from Sept. 2001 until Dec. 2002. I sold it in Gretna to a guy who painted it construction sign orange and put 12 spokes on it. A jealous neighbor smashed out all the glasses and it went to the junkyard by 2005.

ENGINE: 156 (2.6) Mitsubishi-4cyl-93HP-2bbl ~~ TRANS: 3-spd. auto., floor shifted

1982 Ford Granada L 4-door station wagon

Bought Oct. 22, 2001 for $150. Sold Aug. 30, 2002 for $350. Good old car, bought it from the Salvation Army on a whim. Moved a few times just using the Granada. The C5 shifted 10 times smoother than the C3 in the '81. Had to sell it when Louisiana car insurance rates increased.

ENGINE: 232-V6-112HP-2bbl ~~ TRANS: 3-spd. Cruise-O-Matic (C5), column shifted

1988 Plymouth Reliant LE 2-door sedan

Bought March 2002 for $300. Sold Sept. 4, 2002. Good car, only had 62,000 miles when sold. Sold it for the same reason as the Granada. Last I heard it was parked in Oklahoma with the windows down.

ENGINE: 153-L4-98HP-FI ~~ TRANS: 3-spd. automatic, floor shifted

1976 Mercury Marquis 4-door sedan

Bought June 18, 2003 for $300. 145,000 miles. Real bare bones black Merc, got an "FBI" personalized license plate for it. Another delivery job and rising gas prices forced me to sell her (she'd only run on premium.) Sold March 3, 2004 for $350.

ENGINE: 400-V8-180HP-2Bbl ~~ TRANS: 3-spd. automatic, column shifted

1977 Volvo 244 DL 4-door sedan

Dashboard view

Bought February 19, 2004 for $1050 with approx. 188,000 miles. In excellent condition. Sold summer 2006.

ENGINE: 2.1-4cyl-95HP-FI ~~ TRANS: 3-spd. automatic, floor shifted

Bought from Bridge House for $300 with 100,000 miles. Gets 45 m.p.g.! My friend Jason used it extensively after Katrina. In the shop after an engine and transmission overhaul, it was crushed by a large bulldozer Bigfoot style in 2007 when a "mechanic" couldn't figure the controls and it rolled forward.

ENGINE: 61 (1.0)-3cyl-48HP-2bbl ~~ TRANS: 5-spd. man., floor shifted

Bought from Carquest in 2005 for $300 with over 200,000 miles. Intended to be a temporary vehicle but Mandi liked it so much she's still driving it. Surprisingly, I found out after I bought it the a/c compressor and cylinder head were new! Sold in late 2006.

ENGINE: 134 (2.2)-4cyl-120HP-FI ~~ TRANS: 5-spd. man., floor shifted

Bought November 2005. Sold June 2006.

ENGINE: 360 (5.9)-V8-175HP-2bbl. ~~ TRANS: 3-spd. auto., column shifted

Bought June 2006 from Wade Ford in Smyrna, Georgia for $500. Everything works! Gets 20mpg on the highway. Had about 29,000 miles when bought. Sold 2008 with 55,000 miles. Car was parked not long after and as of 2022 is rusting away beside a body shop in Chalmette.

ENGINE: 307 (5.0)-V8-140HP-4bbl. ~~ TRANS: 4-spd. auto., column shifted

Bought January 13, 2007 off eBay for $562. Had 31,794 miles. Drove it back to New Orleans from Raynham, Massachusetts with side trips through Manhattan and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Sold April 2008 with 36,000 miles to a kid in Mandeville.

ENGINE: 105 (1.7)-4cyl-77.5HP-FI. ~~ TRANS: 3-spd. auto., floor shifted

Bought December 2007 off eBay for around $1175. Drove it back to New Orleans from Center Moriches, Long Island, NY with side trips through Manhattan and Washington D.C. Averages 29mpg. Sold in 2012 - spotted abandoned a couple of years later under the expressway at Claiborne & Ursulines.

ENGINE: 140 (2.3)-4cyl-150HP-FI. ~~ TRANS: 5-spd. man., floor shifted

Bought March 2008 for $550 from Colorado Springs, Colo. Found the ad on Craigslist and bought sight-unseen. Hadn't been on the road in almost 15 years. Had quite an adventure getting her home (mostly due to weather.) Sold in 2012.

ENGINE: 350 (5.7)-V8-240HP-2bbl. ~~ TRANS: 3-spd. auto., column shifted

Bought February 2009 for $200 because I needed a cheap truck fast for a side job. Had severe rust due to its many years in Chicago. Blew the head in April 2009 - served its purpose and will now be made into a piece of Chinese electronics or something.

ENGINE: 2.0-4cyl-not much HP-2bbl. ~~ TRANS: 4-spd. auto., column shifted

Bought for $700 in 2009 and used it on my service route for a coin machine company. Put about 60,000 miles on her in a year until the front transmission seal was leaking a case of Plus 4 a week and I had to park it over the storm drain next door. Sold it in 2010 to a kid for $200 who had no idea how to work on cars, and turned it in to the Pull A Part yard not long after.

ENGINE: 2.5-4cyl-FI ~~ TRANS: 3-spd. auto., column shifted

Bought in 2010, sold in 2013. Good little car, fun to drive, base model with manual steering. 41mpg on the highway.

ENGINE: 1.5-4cyl-FI ~~ TRANS: 5-spd. man., floor shifted

Bought 2011? Sold 2013. Former delivery van for Carquest, had a ton of miles but was a good runner.

ENGINE: 4.3-V6-TBI ~~ TRANS: 4-spd. auto., column shifted

Bought January 2014 for $1000 with 206,000 miles. Still driving it in May 2022 with 293,000 miles. Getting worn but extremely reliable.

ENGINE: 2.4-4cyl-FI ~~ TRANS: 5-spd. man., floor shifted

Bought ? Sold ? - coming soon....

ENGINE: 1.6-4cyl-2bbl. ~~ TRANS: 5-spd. man., floor shifted

Coming soon...

ENGINE: 2.4-4cyl-FI ~~ TRANS: 4-spd. auto., column shifted

Bought January 2019.

ENGINE: 1.0-3cyl-FI ~~ TRANS: 5-spd. man., floor shifted

Bought April 2021.

ENGINE: 5.0-V8-MFI. ~~ TRANS: 4-spd. auto., column shifted

My grandmother's car, green, bought in 1980, sold in 1988.

ENGINE: 350-V8-260HP-4bbl ~~ TRANS: Turbo-Hydramatic 3-spd. auto., column shifted

Maw Maw's other car, bought in 1968, sold in 1980 for $200. I remember her picking me up from school in it, and the neat round taillights. I believe it had a big block because it had a Hydramatic.

ENGINE: 396? ~~ TRANS: Hydramatic 3-spd. auto., column shifted

Couldn't pass 75,000 miles. Please don't buy one. You've been warned.

ENGINE: 173 (2.8)-V6-135HP-FI ~~ TRANS: 3-spd. auto., console shifted

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