A rare turd is still a turd!!

 Years ago I worked in an import / specialty / performance store. We sold stuff like Weber carbs and intakes for MGs and Triumphs, headers and cams for Datsun 510s and Z-cars, as well as VW and Porsche parts. The owner was a great guy and he and I remained friends long after he closed the shop and retired. However he had no patience for people who wanted to restore stuff that wasn't worth restoring, and were miffed if we couldn't find obscure parts for obscure cars. I remember him telling an offended Morris Minor owner "A rare turd is still a turd."  This applies to the musclecar era as well. As I've said before, their are a lot of cars out there that aren't collectible, their just weird, and you shouldn't waste your time and money on them. I talked to a guy the other day who was angry because the rural junkyard near his town was crushing a 1973 four-door Grand-Am. He was inscensed because according to his checking with Pontiac historical services, it was one of 187 400, 4-speed, 4-doors made that year. "Can you believe he sold the engine and trans and clutch linkage to someone restoring a 73 GTO?!"  He said, outraged. "Hello?" I said- "It may not be as valuable as a Ram Air IV Judge, but 73 was the last year of the LeMans based GTO, only 4,806 were built, and if he's going concours the 73 Grand Am engine and tranny are going to have the right date codes and vin codes, because Grand Am's were considered LeMans based- A-bodies too." "The GTO owner got lucky." "Good for him." "But why didn't someone want to restore the Grand Am?"  "Why didn't the junkyard owner try to sell the whole car to someone who'd appreciate it?" he whined. "Get a clue." I said. "Whether it's Grand Am, or a Malibu or a Cutlass, or a Regal, no one is fighting with machetes for 4-door 73-77 GM A-bodies." "And the junkyard owner is in business to make money." "The car was rusted and trashed anyway." "It's not like he's crushing a diamond."  "He probably charged the GTO guy ten times what he paid for the car for just the engine, tranny, bellhousing, and clutch linkage." "The GTO guy's happy, and the junkyard owner is happy." "Get over it." Another guy was pissed because the guy was crushing a 1986 Pontiac Gran Prix "2+2" that had a totalled front end. Back in the mid-80's Chevrolet had great sales and NASCAR racing success with the aero-nosed Monte Carlo SS. They experimented with a fastback rear window to make the cars more aerodynamic. Back then, automakers had to sell at least 500 of any bodystyle to the public if they wanted to race them. Chevy came out with the "big window" SS Monte, and Pontiac jumped on the bandwagon building a big window Gran Prix, and shamelessly putting the legendary 2+2 moniker on it. However, it was powered by a 305 Chevy, and it was ugly, as were the Big window Monte Carlos. The Nascar teams figured out the cars weren't any faster than the notchback models, and GM quit making them. They aren't worth anything, in fact collectors pay way more for the "Standard" Monte Carlo SS, and the Pontiac rip-offs are worth even less. But this idiot was offended that no one wanted to "save" this basket case from the crusher. "Hey, it's not like it's a Boss 302 Mustang body or Hemi Cuda body going to the crusher." I said. "Just because something's rare doesn't automatically make it cool." When he started talking about his 360 2bbl, 3-speed stick, 1972 AMC Hornet, I just walked away, my old friend's words ringing in my ears. "A rare turd is still a turd."  Mastermind