Legendary French Lake Auto Parts Video Visit
 

My visit to French Lake Auto Parts
started with a delivery to
second generation owner
Skip Nolan which led to an
interview with Mr. Floyd Nolan
who started the business with
a dime in his pocket and a
business partner.
What began as a scrap metal
business in 1956 has turned
into a third generation family
business known worldwide as
being one of the finest vehicle
and part sources for collectors.


https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...1&d=1763835165


My YouTube video is here …

@ https://youtu.be/e1dMtdceayc?feature=shared


Jim

Re: Legendary French Lake Auto Parts Video Visit
 

Very Cool. Mind boggling stuff!

Re: Legendary French Lake Auto Parts Video Visit
 

Skip is the man... helped me out several times!

Re: Legendary French Lake Auto Parts Video Visit
 

Not far away, is Windy Hill auto parts, New London Mn.
The story is...the guy that owned French Lake, lived in New London, And the guy that owned Windy Hill lived in French Lake. So...they decided to just trade properties instead of driving 30-40 miles to work every day.

Not sure when this happened, First time I was at windy hill was about 71, to get a NOS 36 chevy engine still in the crate for my 1st car, a 36 2 door standard.

That story is, They told me, a local guy bought a new 36, figured it would be his last car, so he bought a spare motor.

My friend who had a drivers license and access to his dads 64 plymouth valient agreed to the road trip. We put the motor in the trunk! can't remember how we got it out, but thats how things were done in those days.

Windy hill at that time was a huge place, you could hardly walk thru it in a day. 20's to modern stuff, big trucks, military, you name it.

At some point, as usual, the old man wanted to retire, the kids took over and crushed most of the old stuff. Much of it was really pretty picked over, but still sad to see the end of the stash of good junk. about mid 90's, I think, which was also the all time high for scrap iron if I remember correctly

Re: Legendary French Lake Auto Parts Video Visit
 

Reminiscing some more....one of em, I think French lake used to have a ww1 cannon at the front gate. Long gone now as they are so valuable, but...Who the hell would scrap a cannon?

Legendary French Lake Auto Parts Video Visit
 

Thanks for the comments !


https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...1&d=1763909964


Jim

Re: Legendary French Lake Auto Parts Video Visit
 

Sadly Floyd passed away last January. I'm not far from FLAP and I spent a lot of time wandering the acres of cars and trucks. When I started to build my '38 pickup in 2000 I was lucky to have them nearby. They had 7 basically complete parts trucks in stock and I found every part I needed. Now the place has been cleaned up and many of the parts and cars are going oversea.

Legendary French Lake Auto Parts Video Visit
 

The passing of Mr. Floyd is sad
to hear about, he lived a full life
and built a business that could
be passed along to his family.

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...1&d=1764027264


Jim

Re: Legendary French Lake Auto Parts Video Visit
 

Someone needs to buyout Wescott's in Oregon. Carl wants to retire to Texas. Newc

Re: Legendary French Lake Auto Parts Video Visit
 

Sad about Floyd, but it's awesome that he was able to pass his passion on to his family.