Gear heads Listen Up!
During Hot August Nights I always look forward to visiting the SWAP meeting, not just to dig around each booth for that one great bargain or hard to find part, but because I get the chance to visit with an old dear friend Melissa and husband John.
Melissa and I go back several years when we would cruise the old A&W together, what fun that was. I believe Melissa owned an Olds 442 two door (my memory could be misleading me, age you know) which she loved dearly. John, Melissa’s husband, has been into cars I think before he was born and Mopars are his specialty, so much so that he owns his own wrecking yard. They both moved to Williams, California several years ago to take ownership of this yard and I can tell you, John and Melissa were in heaven. Cars are their lives.
They attend each Hot August Nights (HAN) as vendors at the SWAP meet bringing with them many hard to find parts. Their booth may not be fancy or even that well organized, but I can tell you, once you meet them, if you’re a gearhead, you will keep their contact information.
I once took a body shop class through Truckee Meadows Community College in order to work on my 1954 Chevy Bel air two door Post because you were able to not only do your body work in the class, once you were ready to paint, yep, suit up and get her done. Which is what I did.
Melissa’s Sister Michelle also took the class with us and we always lent a hand to each other’s project to accomplish whatever we were working on in faster time. The three of us were quit a team. Melissa was never one to just talk cars; she too would get her hands dirty if need be. So when her and John became a couple, they definitely shared a similar passion, cars.
So if you’re in need of that one hard to find Mopar part, give John or Melissa Fowlie a call at BIG M Automotive 530-473-2225.
The story below is taken right from Big M Automotives website. So Gearheads Listen Up.
Here is a short history on Big M Automotive. http://bigmauto.com/
John Fowlie has had an interest in antiques since he was a boy. Upon reaching his teens, he wanted a car from the 1950’s, the bigger the fin the better! He finally settled on a 1956 Chevrolet and broadened his horizons afterwards.
After opening Advanced Automotive in 1985 he acquired a 1957 Mercury Convertible, and needed lots of parts to restore it. He cruised alleyways, junkyards, and by word of mouth, soon had 15 cars for parts. After restoring the Merc, many people wanted him to restore their vehicles. More parts cars were gathered and John began selling the spare parts in Hemmings Motor News.
In 1995, a decision was reached to sell the repair shop. The shop was sold in December of 1996.
John decided to open Big M Automotive in 1997 with Tom Indrieri, a friend he had met in Colusa, California while looking for parts cars. The two of them collected Mercury and Ford cars and parts, selling them and gathering more. Soon all cars from the 50’s and 60’s were being picked up and customers from around the world began buying them.
In 2000, John bought Tom’s share of the business, and more property was purchased. The main office and parts warehouse is located north of downtown Williams, California, while the main yard is 1.5 miles south of downtown.
Currently there are 800-1000 cars for parts and others available for restoration. Good Clean Western Metal – the best there is! Because of the amount of cars, please be patient when leaving messages. He is the one man yard owner, receptionist, picker and packer.
John still ships worldwide and local. He takes pride in the quality of the parts that he sells, and is very honest in his descriptions of what he sells!
Click on the mailbox above to inquire on any parts you need or ask any questions that you may have. You’ll always get a straight answer from him!
Big M Auto is located in Williams California, about 60 miles north of Sacramento and 100 miles south of Redding. You can see our yard from I-5. Yes, we are that Old Car Place off of I-5.
Here are the directions to find the office: From I-5 take the Williams exit. Turn west on to E Street for 0.4 miles. Turn right at the 3rd stop sign which will be 7th.St. Big M Automotive will be on your right about 0.5 miles up the street. To reach the yard from the office, go south on 7th Street for 1.5 miles. We will be on your left.
To find the yard from Sacramento, Take I-5 north to the Husted exit. Turn right on to Husted. At the stop sign turn left (north) for 0.8 miles. We will be on your right.
