Tucked away behind a beauty fence off the main street in Las Vegas, New Mexico, Ulibarri’s Used Parts & Towing is a ten-acre automotive treasure trove with a history stretching back to the late 1930s or early 1940s. Originally operated by Max Alitas, the property is now run by father-and-son team David Jr. and David III. Around 400 vehicles occupy the yard, with roughly 40 percent of the inventory made up of vintage iron. Rows of vehicles are organized by make across the gravel and dirt terrain, creating an unusual collection of mid-century American cars, trucks, and hard-to-find parts.

The facility combines the character of a traditional salvage yard with the passion of a family-run classic-car operation. Its dry northern New Mexico climate has helped many older vehicles retain body panels, brightwork, structural pieces, and other components that can be difficult to locate elsewhere. Alongside the vintage inventory, Ulibarri’s operates a 24-hour towing business serving the local community. From pre-war components and 1950s pickups to 1960s muscle cars and personal restoration projects, the property offers a look at how an old-fashioned automotive recycling business continues to preserve pieces of America’s motoring history.

1. Vintage Pickups and Domestic Cars from the 1950s and 1960s

A significant part of Ulibarri’s vintage inventory consists of trucks from the 1950s and 1960s, along with domestic passenger cars from the same period. Many of these vehicles are positioned on a rise toward the northern end of the ten-acre property. Their condition makes them particularly interesting to restorers because numerous examples retain original body panels, brightwork, and structural components. The dry climate of northern New Mexico has helped preserve these vehicles in ways that can be difficult to achieve in wetter areas. Farm and work trucks are especially useful for builders searching for authentic sheet metal, complete cabs, original beds, and factory grilles. The rows also contain four-door sedans and two-door family cars that show how American styling changed through the middle decades of the twentieth century.

Mid-Century Vehicle Highlights:

• 1950s trucks remain highly desirable
• 1960s pickups offer authentic parts
• Original beds attract restoration builders
• Complete cabs remain especially valuable
• Sedans showcase changing American styling

The upper rows provide more than complete vehicles. They also give restorers access to individual components that can be difficult to source for older projects. Original trim, body pieces, grilles, and structural hardware can make a major difference when someone is trying to preserve the character of a period vehicle rather than replace everything with reproduction parts. The survival of these vehicles is closely connected to the local environment, which has helped reduce some of the structural deterioration commonly seen on older cars and trucks stored in wetter climates. Visitors can walk through the organized rows and examine the vehicles directly while taking normal precautions around the property.

2. Loose Components for 1920s and 1930s Automobiles

Along the northern fence line, Ulibarri’s maintains a collection of loose components removed from automobiles dating to the 1920s and 1930s. These pre-war parts are increasingly difficult to encounter in modern salvage facilities, making this section particularly useful to owners and builders working on very early automobiles. The collection includes mechanical components, body panels, and structural hardware that originally belonged to vehicles from the brass and vintage eras. Some of the complete pre-war vehicles throughout the property have been picked over during the yard’s many decades of operation, but the north fence line continues to contain smaller pieces that can still solve difficult restoration problems.

Pre-War Parts Worth Finding:

• Parts date from early automobiles
• Northern fence holds loose components
• Mechanical pieces support restorations
• Body panels remain among discoveries
• Rare hardware helps period projects

The availability of these early components also reflects the unusually long history of the property itself. Ulibarri’s has operated as an auto wrecking site for more than eight decades, allowing generations of vehicles and parts to pass through the facility. David Jr. and David III continue adding to that inventory by traveling into surrounding hills and visiting local ranches. Their searches sometimes uncover old automobiles that have remained on private properties for years. Bringing those discoveries back to the yard helps preserve access to parts that might otherwise disappear. For historians, restorers, and builders interested in early American motoring, the loose components along the northern fence line represent a small but significant part of the property’s larger collection.

3. Classic 1960s Muscle Cars and Pony Cars

The 1960s section of Ulibarri’s connects the yard with one of the most recognizable periods in American performance-car history. During the era of high-output V8 engines, Chevrolet, Ford, and other manufacturers produced models that remain highly sought after by collectors and custom builders. Ulibarri’s has acquired and sold numerous examples over the years, including Chevrolet Camaros, Chevelles, and Novas. Early Ford Mustangs have also appeared in the inventory. Because popular performance cars often move quickly through a salvage yard, finding one still available can be particularly valuable for someone searching for original components. Even when a complete car is no longer practical as a restoration candidate, its subframes, rear ends, interior fittings, and other pieces can provide important parts for another project.

1960s Performance-Car Finds:

• Camaros remain highly sought-after
• Chevelles represent classic muscle
• Novas attract restoration builders
• Early Mustangs occasionally appear
• Original components support custom projects

The owners continue to prioritize 1960s muscle cars when opportunities arise across the surrounding region. This ongoing effort keeps the yard connected to a period of American automotive history that continues to attract strong interest. Collectors may be interested in complete vehicles, while custom builders can search for structural and mechanical components needed for their own projects. Interior trim can also be difficult to replace with authentic pieces, making older cars useful even when they are no longer complete. The constantly changing inventory means the selection of performance cars is not fixed, but the owners’ interest in acquiring these vehicles helps maintain a steady connection to the muscle-car era. For visitors interested in American V8 history, these cars form an important part of Ulibarri’s broader collection of mid-century automotive iron.

4. Rare Vintage Coupes and Personal Restoration Gems

Vintage coupes are among the most desirable vehicles found across Ulibarri’s ten-acre property. Their two-door body styles make them particularly attractive to classic-car restorers and custom builders searching for unusual project foundations. The yard organizes remaining vehicles by make, allowing visitors to explore the gravel and dirt rows in search of intact coupe bodies and usable structural components. Northern New Mexico’s relatively mild climate has helped many of these older shells retain structural integrity, adding to their appeal. Demand is strong enough that keeping desirable coupes in inventory can be difficult. Buyers regularly search the upper rows for bodies and parts that could form the foundation of future restorations. 

Vintage Coupe Appeal:

• Two-door bodies attract restorers
• Upper rows contain coupe projects
• Dry climate preserves structures
• Original sheet metal remains valuable
• Demand keeps coupes moving

The interest in these cars is also personal for co-owner David Jr., who shares the same enthusiasm as many of the customers visiting the property. He is currently restoring a 1934 Buick coupe for himself and plans to display it alongside his completed Ford T-bucket roadster. His own projects demonstrate how the yard serves not only as a commercial operation but also as a place where classic-car enthusiasm is part of everyday work. The challenge of finding desirable coupes means David Jr. can sometimes find himself competing with customers for particularly appealing discoveries. That shared enthusiasm gives the property a different character from a conventional recycling operation. The owners understand why builders search for these cars because they are actively involved in the same restoration culture themselves.

5. Custom Roadster Inspiration and Ranch-Found Treasures

Custom-car building is closely connected to the way Ulibarri’s continues to find new inventory. David Jr. and David III regularly travel through the surrounding hills and visit local ranches in search of forgotten automobiles. Rather than relying only on vehicles brought directly to the yard, they actively look for older cars that have been sitting on private properties. Their approach involves stopping at ranches and asking property owners whether they are willing to sell the old vehicles stored on their land. These trips can uncover unusual project candidates and authentic mid-century pieces that might otherwise remain hidden. Once brought into the yard, the vehicles become part of the broader selection available to restorers and custom builders.

Ranch-Found Vehicle Discoveries:

• Owners search surrounding ranches
• Forgotten cars become restoration candidates
• Mid-century pieces enter inventory
• Custom builders inspect project vehicles
• Local finds refresh yard inventory

The ranch discoveries also contribute to the hands-on character of the facility. Visitors exploring the upper portion of the property can inspect vehicles closely, while customers are permitted to bring their own tools and remove small parts from non-complete project cars. Complete vehicles remain preserved according to the yard’s rules, helping maintain the condition and value of usable inventory. Exploring the gravel and dirt terrain is part of the traditional wrecking-yard experience, although visitors need to remain aware of the surrounding environment. Black Widow and other poisonous spiders are present in the area, and avoiding blind holes is an important basic precaution. Rattlesnakes exist in the broader region, but according to the supplied information, they are not an issue inside the yard because local bull snakes help keep them away.

6. Full-Service 24-Hour Towing Operations and Vehicle Recovery

Ulibarri’s Used Parts & Towing is more than a classic-car salvage yard. The family-owned operation also provides 24-hour towing services to the Las Vegas, New Mexico, community. Operating from 601 S Grand Ave, Ulibarri’s Automotive and 24 Hour Towing LLC provides around-the-clock assistance for motorists who need vehicle recovery. Its experienced drivers use specialized tools and heavy-duty equipment designed to handle motor vehicles of different sizes and weights. The towing operation covers situations ranging from emergency roadside breakdowns to property owners needing unwanted vehicles removed. Incoming vehicles are processed when they arrive at the facility, and usable parts are inspected for safety and reliability before being offered to customers.

Towing and Recycling Services:

• Operates around the clock
• Provides emergency vehicle recovery
• Handles vehicles of varying sizes
• Removes unwanted junk vehicles
• Inspects usable replacement components

The two sides of the business complement each other. Towing brings vehicles into the operation, while decades of automotive recycling experience allow the owners to identify components that can still serve a useful purpose. Customers searching for used engines, transmissions, or other replacement parts can therefore rely on a business built around both vehicle recovery and parts recycling. At the same time, the towing operation provides a practical community service for motorists and property owners in the area. David Jr. and David III continue operating the family business while maintaining their interest in classic vehicles and restoration projects. That combination of everyday towing work, used-parts recycling, and classic-car preservation helps explain why Ulibarri’s remains closely connected to the automotive history of northern New Mexico.