Once again our island heritage is being demonized and sold out beneath us for “the benefit of the environment.” I am talking about the many classic vehicles such as the fine old chevy shown in last week’s paper. Any volume of pollutants that would impact the surrounding area have long ago become a part of the soil makeup.

I just so happen to be a classic car enthusiast and I find it offensive that the call is being made against “classic yard art,” thereby crushing a dwindling supply of obsolete engines and unavailable replacement body panels and trim pieces. Anyone who is struggling for money should take anything made before Kennedy was shot and part it out over CraigsList or Ebay Motors or any other number of sites which deal with such things. Parting out the vintage vehicles will bring triple the amount of money, but it will most likely take a bit of time like anything worth doing.

I have actually taken to having classic yard art dropped off at my house to preserve some cars that would otherwise have been crushed. Older field classics add a nice “sincere patina” to the ambiance of a rural property and I suspect that the act of acquiring an old car or tractor to spruce up a garden or the entry to a driveway may catch on sooner than most think.

Bottom line is, if it’s a true classic leave it, or make sure someone else gets use of the parts to assist the collector hobbyists in putting these classic vehicles back on the great open road again for future generations to enjoy and learn from.

Dave Dunlap