TheSamba.com :: View topic - Motherload of Buses, bugs, etc in New Mexico

Thu May 24, 2007 7:36 am

I am an archaeologist/bus junky and travel throughout the southwest a lot and get into some pretty rural places. I am constantly on the lookout for VWs parked along the side of the road, poking out of barns, etc. I specifically look for buses. Weird but I swear that I can FEEL them when I get near. This happened to me yesterday and I nearly caused an accident crossing over two lanes to pull into the place where I think I found the motherload of old bugs and buses stashed away on a lot just east of Alamogordo, New Mexico. At least 15 buses, splits, 68-73s, and probably 80 bugs and weird type IV, etc. THe guy is older and has been there since 1967. He does not have a computer and has no idea how to deal his wares on line. I got his card and will try to work on him. Needless to say, many are sun-beaten but many are not. An incredible source of parts is possible from this guy. I did see one 1977 camper as well, green.

Thu May 24, 2007 7:38 am

Pics James?

Thu May 24, 2007 7:46 am

The guy was a little sun-beaten himself and (you wont believe this) very eccentric. He was pretty standofish at first and thought I was one of those people who show us and offer an offensive $200 per bus. Unfortunately, I was too excited running around his lot to take pics. I might have to return to the area (I am north of there in Socorro, New Mexico at the moment) and if so will definately stop by with camera. He did say something about selling the whole lot for $185,000.

Thu May 24, 2007 8:03 am

good luck with that guy. some people have succeeded getting vehicles and parts out of there, while the vast majority just leave empty handed.
he's been there forever, and there have been many other threads about that place over the years.

Thu May 24, 2007 10:18 am

Having been to his place a few times (lived in Las Cruces) saying he is eccentric is being too kind. He got nailed a back in the 90's for salvaging vehicles without a license. His mother fronted the money for all those goodies, he became a bugpack distributor (list price only) and literaly at one time had at least two of everything anybody could dream of in the line of parts. Never actually met anybody that has bought anything from him.

Many years have past since then, he may of mellowed a bit. Good luck.

Thu May 24, 2007 10:37 am

Oh James, if you had headed West on Hiway 70 to Las Cruces, as soon as you cross over the Organ Mountains there is town called Organ (fitting), on the North side of the road is another yard full of buses, T1's and T3's, New Mexico seems to attract these nut cases.

Just to add a little bit more, I was at an auction of a VW shop back in the middle 90's and standing beside me was the man from Alamogordo. We got into a little chat about his "collection" and that he plannned on having the largest stash of VW in the country. My response was "cool, we will all just wait till you die and buy them cheap when they are auctioned off". None the less after that I did not expect a Christmas card from him.

If you travel to Albuquerque at 4703 Broadway SE is Discount Auto Parts, they to have a rather large line up of buses. Course they are not like the other two places, they do sell parts, pieces and complete vehicles.

Thu May 24, 2007 11:35 am

I remember driving on past that place in my bus back in summer of 99.

Didnt look very inviting to visitors.........

Thu May 24, 2007 4:57 pm

James Moses wrote: I am an archaeologist/bus junky

Me Too!! Well not an archaeologist yet, but I am on my way to becoming one. I will be off to my first dig on Memorial Day. :)

Thu May 24, 2007 5:01 pm

ive found a couple of bays around here that i cant believe i never noticed before.

one is in a junkyard.

one is under a carport in front of a buisness thats kind of a junky place full of all kinds of crap in the front yard. im not sure if its a bay or a splittie though i only caught a glimpse of it from behind. i didnt get a good enough look at the taillights but they were definetly pre 73.

Thu May 24, 2007 6:07 pm

GotsaBerling, that would be 35 days of Clovis digging I presume?

Thu May 24, 2007 6:49 pm

Jim, I know of that yard and was there a few years ago. Actually made a road trip to see the place. Heard about it from a friend of a friend.

No one was around later on a Saturday afternoon. So we hopped the fence and checked it out for a while. I've got pictures, but none digital.

Really cool place and soooo many nice older vw's. Some old audi 100's and an audi fox gti.

If I remember correctly, the owner of the place does not have some kind of license to let him sell a whole car or parts. Not sure which. I could be wrong, but a friend who was with me called him at one point.

Thu May 24, 2007 7:39 pm

obieoberstar wrote: No one was around later on a Saturday afternoon. So we hopped the fence and checked it out for a while.

do that on my property and you're gonna get shot.
it's called "trespassing", and last time i checked, it was kinda illegal.

Thu May 24, 2007 8:22 pm

hazetguy wrote: obieoberstar wrote: No one was around later on a Saturday afternoon. So we hopped the fence and checked it out for a while.

do that on my property and you're gonna get shot.
it's called "trespassing", and last time i checked, it was kinda illegal.

Seriously. The owner of the 'Beetle Barn' in Las Vegas shot at a kid that jumped the fence of his boneyard.

Thu May 24, 2007 8:48 pm

Welcome to the gun toting, bus hording, oddballs of the Southwest. The desert does strange things to people.

Thu May 24, 2007 10:42 pm

Saw a sweet bumber sticker yesterday: "The day we lose our 2nd Amendment is the day we start the 2nd Revolution." Rad. Damn yellow plates.

Fri May 25, 2007 7:56 am

EZ Gruv wrote: hazetguy wrote: obieoberstar wrote: No one was around later on a Saturday afternoon. So we hopped the fence and checked it out for a while.

do that on my property and you're gonna get shot.
it's called "trespassing", and last time i checked, it was kinda illegal.

Seriously. The owner of the 'Beetle Barn' in Las Vegas shot at a kid that jumped the fence of his boneyard.

Yeah, seriously, haven't you ever heard of "junk yard dogs?" Those little bastards are mean!

Fri May 25, 2007 10:09 am

Always carry some Scooby snacks when you go on a junkyard expedition.
Seems like all car hoarders are weirdos regardless of area of the country. I love junkyards, but usually hate the owners of them.

Fri May 25, 2007 9:24 pm

So...this place near Alamogordo, New Mexico IS on the samba map. And the guy IS a little sun-beaten. Well, folks say that he won't deal in parts. Ever flash some money in front of him? His Mommy bought the place for him I hear? Well, I guess the old trustafarian tradition is well-established.

BTW: I will have a 1971 camper pop-top ready to part out here quickly. Interior is VERY nice, good rubber floor mats, very nice laminate on the cabinet pieces (Arizona Car)...and all glass is good ('cept the windshield). I will be putting pieces up here soon...It also has an original gas heater, good mirrors, dash, etc...sad to see her go this way but to rebuild engine ($1900), paint her ($1500), and fix recent tow damage ($1500), is just too much for me to handle. Although I am sure if I did all this it would be worth what I put in her...Vamos a ver...

Sat May 26, 2007 9:40 am

Earlier this year I put a wanted ad on the local VW Club's forum looking for a FREE bus. I got one for the low low price of "hauling it away"

A friend of mine and I drove to Monticello NM (Middle of NOWHERE) and met a VERY NICE family. Good thing we brought the Turbodiesel 4x4 truck and a tilt-deck trailer!

The bus had been sitting for 15 years and was shelter for all the rats in New Mexico. Can you say pneumonic plague or hanta virus?

Sat May 26, 2007 9:46 am

sillygringo wrote: Welcome to the gun toting, bus hording, oddballs of the Southwest. The desert does strange things to people.

Too much sun exposure makes them think its ok to trespass. Dumbasses who mess around with salvage yard owners deserve to get shot at.