Westman Salvage an auto treasure hunt

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This article was published 20/07/2018 (2816 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Hidden gems are sprinkled throughout Westman Salvage’s expansive yards at the eastern edge of Brandon, where approximately 4,000 vehicles fill out the landscape.

The family enterprise was started in the mid-1980s by the late Gerry Pelletier and three of his sons, of whom John and Gerry Jr. remain on board as co-owners today.

A third generation, John’s son Dave, has been in the fold since childhood and currently serves as manager.

Driving through the yards during a tour of the site on Thursday, Dave couldn’t help but spend some time in an area they call “Memory Lane,” where they keep their classic vehicles.

With their yards packed to capacity, Dave said that the least-profitable vehicles are continually cycled out, crushed and then shredded, with their components shipped by rail to either Regina or Winnipeg for recycling.

They haven’t had the heart to treat classic vehicles accordingly, with models dating as far back as the 1920s remaining parked on the property. Many of them have been around since the salvage yard started up more than 30 years ago, which explains the trees that have sprouted between them.

It’s a rare site, since most automotive salvage yards don’t have enough space to store these less-profitable vehicles, but Dave said that it adds a unique quality to their company, which draws people in from far and wide.

“There are guys who come out here and fill up carts with little chrome pieces and stuff like that,” he said, adding that some hobbyists make monthly visits to the site.

Fed by a combination of MPI write-offs and private sales, Dave said that the yard is always changing, with plenty for automotive enthusiasts to soak up. While he said the property might appear like a “big, scary place,” he added that people are always encouraged to stop by during their hours of operation to explore the yards.

“I just tell people that we have a friendly front office staff who will help anybody, even if they’re looking for a cupholder or something small for your car. Just come on down because we have a lot of cars,” he said.

A computer database is available to narrow in on specific items, though Dave said that some people visit the property with intentions outside of automotive repair.

Some people come to find parts to construct fire pits and other projects. Another popular draw are seatbelts, with people cutting them out for use as bag straps.

“Anything you can imagine you’ll find out here,” Dave said, adding that their vehicles range in age from the ’20s to brand new.

“If you want to keep your older car on the road, there’s definitely a cheap way to keep it going,” he said.

Dave said that his interests in anything automotive date back to when he was a kid, helping his family at the yards whenever he could.

“It’s all I’ve ever known and it was a natural thing for me to take over,” he said. “I was always interested in cars, so I was always in there, and just; we have a great group of guys here so it’s easy to come to work.”

He said that fellow auto enthusiasts seem to share in this mentality, with some seen spending hours scouring their collection of vehicles for parts and inspiration.

A tinkerer himself, Dave said that being at work tends to get his imagination going.

» tclarke@brandonsun.com

» Twitter: @TylerClarkeMB