Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

98 Auto Recyclers has been reprocessing used motor vehicles for almost 50 years. Considering the millions of cars, trucks and recreational vehicles sold in the U.S. since the early 1900s, auto recycling is a very big business.

Dan and Lisa Coleman bought the business 10 years ago. Dan had worked for the previous owner for 15 years prior to that. Lisa left her nursing assistant job to help manage the shop.

The Colemans said although business was better then, they're still keeping the lights on and employing three other people.

The company buys vehicles for salvage and sells used parts to auto body and mechanic shops, dealerships, car lots, racecar builders, four-wheeler enthusiasts ("mudders") and "backyard fixer-uppers." In winter, snowbirds buy body parts "because they aren't corroded from road salt and snow."

Regrettably, they see an increase in sales when it's rainy.

"There's more slipping and sliding, lots of small accidents," Dan said. People need to replace dented panels or fenders.

The vehicles they buy may be damaged from collisions, need repairs that outweigh the value of the vehicle, or are just old. Most come from insurance companies, auto auctions or individuals.

"We also trade with other yards," added Linda. "We all have computer systems. They know right away if they have what we need."

Vehicles arriving at 98 Auto Recyclers are issued a stock number and carefully inventoried; tires, wheels, and drive shafts are removed; all fluids are extracted; and gas tanks are drained and removed.

They're then placed in the yard, waiting for employee Tom Johnson. Johnson uses "Big Joe," a heavy-duty walk behind forklift, to move cars and pull motors, transmissions and other parts to be racked for future sales.

Inside the shop, the sales area is lined with full sets of rims, car stereos, and sets of seats.

Behind the front counter, Travis Yohn uses the computerized inventory system to find what customers need. Vehicles are also itemized on an inventory sheet that includes photographs.

Information includes the year a car was bought. Linda explained, "After about two years, a vehicle is no longer 'fresh.' It's been in the elements rusting, so it's stripped and crushed."

Crushed chassis and other metals are usually melted down at a steel mill and reused. That old clunker you recycled may become somebody's new hotrod.

The company makes the most of their eight and a half acres. The front entrance is lined with "front clips" (a front grill with two front quarter panels).

A warehouse has aisles of every imaginable part, and hubcaps galore peek out from bins.

The well-kept grounds are a point of pride for the owners. "We're often told we have the cleanest lot people have ever seen," Lisa stated. "We don't stack our cars. That makes it impossible to get parts off or move them easily."

There's space for customers to install items they've purchased. Other covered areas contain more accessories.

The Colemans don't think today's economy is leading more people to buy recycled parts.

"Money's so tight," commented Lisa, "that people aren't fixing-up their vehicles if they can help it. They just don't have the money, period."

Dan agreed. "This past month has been better, but people might be using tax refunds to make those really necessary repairs."

"We'll have to wait another couple months to see if the upward sales trend is for real," added Linda. "Also, 'Cash for Clunkers' didn't work as well as some expected. People traded perfectly good cars for new ones. Now, they can't afford the payments. They could have come here and fixed-up their old ones."

They also see competition from after-market goods. Dan explained, "There's a lot of sheet metal and body parts coming from Taiwan. It's not good quality, but it's cheap. Some people buy it instead of buying used.

"A lot of auto parts stores carry after-market headlights, fenders, doors and such. The prices are real close to ours. Unfortunately, very often the stuff doesn't match-up or fit properly."

Dan said 98 Auto Recyclers' prices range from $5 door handles, mirrors or lights to transmissions or motor engines that sell for up to $1,500. A late model diesel engine sells for around $1,000.

The Colemans say buying from an auto recycler saves consumers a lot of money. A manufacturer's price for a new transmission or engine is typically about double what 98 Auto Recyclers sells theirs for.

98 Auto Recyclers is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

BIZ AT A GLANCE

Name: 98 Auto Recyclers Inc.

Location: 29119 Cortez Boulevard (U.S. 98), Brooksville

Telephone: 352-796-2492 or 1-800-342-2060