The Ford Barn

trulyvintage · 11-22-2025, 01:16 PM

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.

My YouTube video is here …

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

Jim

GB SISSON · 11-22-2025, 10:37 PM

Very Cool. Mind boggling stuff!

big deuce · 11-22-2025, 11:18 PM

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

cas3 · 11-22-2025, 11:29 PM

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

cas3 · 11-22-2025, 11:51 PM

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?

trulyvintage · 11-23-2025, 10:00 AM

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Thanks for the comments !

Jim

38bill · 11-24-2025, 01:35 PM

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.

trulyvintage · 11-24-2025, 04:25 PM

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.

Jim

Newc · 11-25-2025, 07:39 PM

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

Ernstudet22 · 01-09-2026, 01:57 AM

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

11-22-2025, 01:16 PM	#1
trulyvintage Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Direct Enclosed Transport Since 2006 Posts: 5,078	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. My YouTube video is here … @ https://youtu.be/e1dMtdceayc?feature=shared Jim __________________ Click Here To See Where I Am Today What My Actual Customers Say Click Here Click Here To See Vehicles I Have Hauled

11-22-2025, 10:37 PM	#2
GB SISSON Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Orcas Island Washington Posts: 6,202	Re: Legendary French Lake Auto Parts Video Visit Very Cool. Mind boggling stuff! __________________ Owner/Operator of 'Jailbar Ranch' on the side of Mt. Pickett. Current stable consists of 1946 1/2 ton pickup turned woodie wagon with FH V8, 1946 Tonner Pickup with 226 H six, 1979 Toyota landcruiser wagon, now wearing 1947 Ford Jailbar sheet metal. 'Rusty ol' floorboards, hot on their feet' (Alan Jackson)

11-22-2025, 11:18 PM	#3
big deuce Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Kansas Posts: 734	Re: Legendary French Lake Auto Parts Video Visit Skip is the man... helped me out several times!

11-22-2025, 11:29 PM	#4
cas3 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Beverly Kansas Posts: 5,557	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

11-22-2025, 11:51 PM	#5
cas3 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Beverly Kansas Posts: 5,557	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?

11-24-2025, 01:35 PM	#7
38bill Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,207	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.

11-25-2025, 07:39 PM	#9
Newc Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 3,052	Re: Legendary French Lake Auto Parts Video Visit Someone needs to buyout Wescott's in Oregon. Carl wants to retire to Texas. Newc Last edited by Newc; 11-26-2025 at 02:42 PM.

01-09-2026, 01:57 AM	#10
Ernstudet22 Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2018 Posts: 21	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.