Harry Bucklands report

[lisbon_road]

On the way to Shitefest, I dropped into Harry Bucklands.  For those that don't know, this is a large car breakers near Cheltenham that still works on the principle of take bits off yourself.  It is a long established family concern and I've found their prices to be very good and they are always helpful.  Long may it last. 

Seemed an unusual number of what we might call 'classic' cars.  I photographed a few, but missed the Morris Minors and some others.  The condition of all of these was absolutely dreadful.  The Sierra had more rust than any I have ever seen and that's saying something.  Whilst they were all grim, be realistic - all these cars and you can get anything off them, where else would you find that 1970 Mercedes?  And an XJS in a breakers???

[bramz7]

I love Bucklands. The Sierra was out the front last time I went, along with the Mercedes. I'm sure there must be some valuable and rare parts on both, especially the latter. 

A few photos of my last trip. 

[lisbon_road]

According to the DVLA, the Merc has been off the road since 1987.  I did wonder why there were so many older cars and whether they'd cleared somewhere out - but they were spread round the yard so I don't know.

I didn't see that Cavalier though for sure.

[AnthonyG]

The yard serves quite a rural hinterland, as well as Cheltenham and Gloucester.

I imagine there’s all sorts of ruined tat in the Forest of Dean, for example, and Bucklands is known as the place to get shot of it. 

The rarest car I’ve ever seen there was a Borgward Big 6, about 25 years ago. 

They also keep the rarer, older stuff for quite a while, although not for ever. 

[mat_the_cat]

I used to live around 5 miles away 20 years ago, so regularly popped in. Agree that they were always very helpful - I remember when I was removing the engine from a 405 Mi16 4x4 (slightly more involved than a 2wd version) it took me longer than my lunch break from work. They offered to move the car into a non-public part of the yard so nobody pinched bits of the engine until I could return the following day. Great to know they are still going!

[IronStar]

Alfa and Brava on those alloys make me very sad.  

[Soundwave]

Wonder what the interior on that Rover 200 is like? Could use a few bits for my own...

[mk2_craig]

Is that an @Angrydicky-spec Austin in the first photo? 

[Peter C]

No Sapphire with a good nearside taillight?

[Lord Sterling]

Any Vectra Bs? Cheltenham/Gloucester ain't that far from me.

[lisbon_road]

1 hour ago, Peter C said:

No Sapphire with a good nearside taillight?

Sorry, just the one Sierra which as in the photos is a hatch.  I can't believe I just wrote 'just the one Sierra'!

I wasn't looking for Vectras, but give them a call, I've found them helpful over the phone before.  I needed some bits for a Zafira and the man who answered the phone went out into the yard to check what he had for me (he didn't have the parts but I didn't have a wasted journey so that's fine).