Colorado Car Yard - Crossing the USA 2023 - Ep 9: Classic Restos - Series 54
Fletch continues his journey across America, with stops at some of the most remarkable scenic locations, including Mt Rushmore outside Rapid City, South Dakota. The mountain sculpture is known as the 'Shrine of Democracy' and features 60-foot-high carvings of the faces of four of America's founding fathers: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. Sculptor Gutzon Borglum designed the sculpture and oversaw its execution from 1927 to 1941. It's definitely worth a stop to see this iconic landmark.
Fletch's journey continues to Denver, Colorado, where he visits a remote car yard deep in the Colorado Plains, South Park, 10,000 feet above sea level. Despite Fletch being a seasoned traveller, the height above sea level, the deafening silence, and the beautiful scenery leave him breathless. The car yard is situated on a 2,700-acre property and at one time, housed over 1,000 vehicles. The owners, Jim Gardiner and his wife Amanda aimed to preserve these vehicles from the scrap yard for future generations and provide a resource for others who wanted to restore or use the parts to build something rather than being scrapped.
Jim passed away recently, and Amanda has continued their legacy. All the cars on the site are for sale for around US$1,500, which Fletch thinks is very reasonable. The Colorado climate is very dry, so these cars are rust-free or have minimal rust, and their bodies are in remarkable condition, making them ideal for restoration. As Amanda put it, "They make sink into the ground, but they don't rust." many of her clients like the patina look that has developed over the years and just do a clear coating on them.
Fletch reflects on the 13,000 km journey across 18 states of America, the old friends revisited, and the new friends made. He thanks Shannons for making this 9-part series of Crossing the USA in 2024 possible.
Before returning to Australia, Fletch plans to visit San Francisco and LA.
