The “Barn Find” Story Never Gets Old Every car enthusiast dreams of unearthing that classic gem stashed away in a junkyard. There have been stories for generations about all kinds of rare and iconic muscle cars just waiting around in old, abandoned barns and fields. Discoveries like these are thrilling not just because they’re often full of sheet metal they hold decades of memories, hard-earned craftsmanship and invaluable pieces of automotive history. Each car there, lost to the passage of time, has the potential of someone’s future restoration project.

No place better personifies that notion better than Oregon, Illinois’ Mo-Par City. It’s not just any scrap yard; it is quite arguably the largest concentration of vintage Chrysler, Dodge and Plymouths and parts. Over a period of 50 years, Larry Pontnack (the current owner), has systematically collected nothing but Mopars from complete projects, to hard-to-find parts, and powertrain parts to trim pieces. It’s from Larry’s years of dedication that this property became the Mopar lover’s Disneyland; this place a destination that people would just flock from all over the country.

Now, a Half-Century Later, the Legend Seeks a Steward However, there is now a turning point for the collection. After 50 years spent putting it all together, Larry is going to retire. And with Larry going into retirement, there is a need to find an individual who would be interested in carrying on this vast Mopar empire otherwise, this collection of amazing vehicles and parts, may well end up going to the shredder, turning each trip to Mo-Par City more meaningful and ultimately more important as there may be less of a opportunity like this ever again.

1. The B-Body Legends

B-bodies represent another major chunk of Mo-Par City’s collection. Chrysler hit its stride in the ’60s and this, their B-body platform, spawned some of the most memorable American muscle ever: the Dodge Charger, Plymouth Road Runner, Dodge Super Bee, and Plymouth GTX are just a few examples of the cars that represented the zenith of muscle’s glory days. All of the these classic B-body designs (even aged outside for many years) will still demand a double take or two.

Why the B-Body Collection Is Special:

• Home to legendary Mopar muscle cars
• Original factory body panels and components
• Highly desirable restoration projects
• Rare performance models and engine combinations
• Important part of Chrysler’s muscle car history

Many these cars have weathered through decades, but those who attend the show find a treasure of classic automotive history to be explored in their entirety with original panels, a multitude of original components and original mechanics with factory correct applications found along the entire span of this amazing lot. For automotive aficionados who dream of making them turn-key, this bunch can really speak to those ambitions as this list can go on for miles. 

One of the few of these very sought-after pieces that have already begun and show signs of excellent work include a well-preserved and nearly pristine 1969 Plymouth GTX with factory built440 ci V8 backed by the highly desired four-speed manual transmission, which is one extremely difficult to locate and as a result highly collectible item which enthusiasts will be willing to pay top dollar for at the show where it resides in one of, if not the premiere of many show features at Mo-Par City which is the B-Body showcase of unique.

2. The Rare E-Body Collection

Of course, the E-body range has to be claimed as the highlight of the lot, with some of the most coveted cars of any Mopar in the Mo-Par City museum being the Chrysler E-bodys that only ever graced public showrooms in 1969 and then for a year to ‘74, so not a great lifespan. Despite their brevity though, their cool looks and powerful engines carved them out a real niche in Automotive Legend lore, two distinct model lines sharing the stage namely, Plymouth Barracuda (‘Cuda) and Dodge Challenger.

Why the E-Body Collection Is So Valuable:

• Short production run from 1969-1974
• Includes legendary Plymouth ‘Cuda and Dodge Challenger models
• Rare original Mopar muscle cars
• Excellent restoration potential
• Highly sought-after by collectors

The other element that is truly surprising about this group of cars is the concentration of so many E-bodies all together. A substantial portion of the collection was accumulated by Larry Pontnack in the early ’80s when their values were relatively low compared to the present. Many people just saw the E-bodies as old, used cars and some were worth more as parts donors.

Larry saw the historical value though and decided to save them before most people were even aware that they had it. Now, thanks to reproduction panels and parts, restoring these cars has become a much more viable proposition and these survivors may have a chance of taking to the road once again. Added to this collection is quite a scattering of other classic muscle cars as well, including R/Ts, ’Cudas and even a good number of non-Mopar finds.

3. The Overlooked A and C-Bodies

At Mo-Par City, of course, most everyone knows about the high-profile B- and E-body muscle cars, but the facility is much bigger than just that category of performance vehicles. There are also hundreds of A and C-body cars that reside on its acres, a testament to just another equally valid part of Mopar’s past. Models like the Dart, Valiant, or Fury, while perhaps not as lust worthy as the iconic Challenger or Charger, faithfully transported millions across the nation for decades and still enjoy dedicated fans today.

Why the A- and C-Body Collection Matters:

• Preserves everyday Chrysler classics
• Includes Dodge Dart, Plymouth Valiant, and Plymouth Fury
• Great foundation for restoration and custom builds
• More affordable than rare muscle cars
• Showcases the diversity of Mopar history

These less obvious cars offer prime real estate for restorers and custom builders. As desirable two-door Mopar muscle cars rise in price and become harder to find, the spotlight has shifted to four-door sedans and other unique vehicles. More readily available, structurally solid, and more affordably priced, these vehicles are ideal canvases for inventive restorations, and provide an opportunity to preserve a forgotten chapter of the Mo-Par story.

Variety extends across this section, and shows off the immense scale of Larry Pontnack’s collection. From production sedans, to vans, trucks, and piles of half-finished projects just begging for a new life, any vehicle could represent a new dawn, and history proves it is so much more than the iconic muscle cars. Sometimes the most inspiring project cars are the ones others missed such as the A and C-bodies that make this collection a unique treasure of Mo-Par City.

4. Massive Engine and Drivetrain Hoard

However, there’s much more than just piles of classic Mopar metal and chrome at Mo-Par City; inside there’s also a staggering quantity of engine, transmissions, rear axle, and drivetrain parts. Stockpiled inside six storage buildings with over 30,000 square feet, these important pieces of mechanical history have been shielded from years of mother nature’s wrath. And unlike being dispersed throughout the yard, countless hundreds of components are neatly organized within, protecting and preserving decades of Mopar ingenuity for future builds.

What You’ll Find Inside the Storage Buildings:

• Original Mopar engines
• Factory transmissions
• Rear axles and drivetrain components
• Matching-number restoration parts
• Well-organized inventory spanning decades

The restored cars sitting in the lot may well belong to the parts and components languishing in the outbuildings. Many a donor engine, transmission, and drivetrain out of a long-deceased motorcar are among the factory original. And this makes possible the opportunity to marry truly matching numbers-correct parts back with the vehicles they left with decades ago.

Given that so much of the inherent value of a collector car comes down to its originality, finding factory original mechanically is extremely important in restoring a historically correct vehicle and ensuring its long-term desirability and value to collectors. What is truly fantastic, then, about Larry Pontnack’s legacy managing Mo-Par City for decades is that he often is fully aware and can recall, from his own labor, precisely where that spare Hemi, transmission or rear axle belongs, making this pile of scrap metal an unparalleled treasure for builders looking for authentic, running drivetrains.

5. The Ultra-Rare “Clutch-Flite” Transmissions

Inside Mo-Par City’s cavernous 8,000 square-foot storage building, the 4,000 parts on hand represent virtually the entire gamut of available Mopar components; however, some pieces are rarer and more unique than most, some relating to significant eras in Mopar racing history. This includes a Clutch-Flite transmission, an incredibly complex transmission that was developed exclusively for drag racing during the 1960s, and these days, incredibly scarce.

Why the Clutch-Flite Is So Special:

• Rare drag racing transmission
• Based on the legendary 727 TorqueFlite
• Uses a manual clutch instead of a torque converter
• Built for high-performance race launches
• Highly collectible among Mopar enthusiasts

The Clutch-Flite utilized Chrysler’s tough 727 Torque Flite automatic as a starting point, only performance parts specialists like B&M, Art Carr and C&O made the changes to create a purpose-built for drag racing unit. By replacing the fluid-filled torque converter with a manual clutch and clutch pedal assembly, drag racers were able to utilize their high-rpm engine launches and simultaneously benefit from the immense durability of the 727’s power train, offering an advantage in the middle-to-late ’60s as automatic transmissions were being rapidly developed. 

Finding an original example like this one in Mo-Par City is about as rare as they get and stands out as just one example of the insane breadth of Larry Pontnack’s collection. It’s not just muscle cars and donor parts down here-it’s hard-core rare racing hardware that the average Mopar enthusiast only gets to see in photographs or vintage magazines, another testament that Mo-Par City is far more than just another junkyard it’s a time capsule.

6. A Library of Induction Systems

Behind the doors of one of the many storage buildings of Mo-Par City there lies a room that resembles a time capsule of automotive history more than just a simple room filled with parts. Induction and carb pieces, intake and everything associated fill racks rather than piles up to the ceiling. This kind of organization does not come easily but instead takes decades of care as each part was individually preserved instead of being hauled away to be melted.

Why This Induction Collection Matters:

• Carburetors and intake systems for classic Mopars
• Date-coded and model-specific components
• Essential parts for authentic restorations
• Rare and hard-to-find factory setups
• Organized, reference-style storage system

A collector of old Mopar’s looking to keep things authentic will absolutely cherish these pieces. Trying to keep track of the right combination of carb or intake manifold on a classic Mopar engine can be very challenging on some restorations because of how many components can be date or even engine coded to the same year car. When you see so many of the right part numbers all together, making a complex restoration much more possible.

Even more special is the story behind what parts. The owners have said that many have come directly out of other cars already on the grounds, still on property so each part literally has a connecting family tie that takes a storage space and makes it a living museum on the mechanical history behind hundreds of cars here.

7. Goodies Hanging from the Rafters

Some of Mo-Par City’s most exciting treasures aren’t on the shelves or tucked away in the bins you’ll find parts suspended in the air above your head from the ceiling rafters waiting like mechanical museum pieces. Trans shift handles, link kits, hardware and more are hung from the rafters, giving a different sort of gallery atmosphere overhead.

What Makes These Hanging Parts Special:

• Rare shifter assemblies and linkage components
• Iconic pistol-grip and factory-style gear shifters
• Original interior and transmission hardware
• Hard-to-find trim and control parts
• Period-correct restoration components

Those elements add up to more of the visceral aspects of a classic performance driving style. Chrysler’s performance machines also offered particularly memorable transmission lever design approaches from plain, utilitarian sticks to such iconographic examples as the famous pistol-grip shifters which added visual and tactile emphasis to the muscle-car driving experience. 

Every lever variation expressed the relationship between a driver and their car for an age in which driver feedback was a prime attribute. For a restorers, it’s usually the inner trim elements, in addition to some transmission hardware components, that proves most difficult to track down in exact factory, package, and specific model detail unless a wide range is available in one location to simplify your quest.

8. The Trim and Stainless Steel Stash

Trim and detail are, for many, the most crucial component of a restored vehicle but it is one that many restorations neglect or under-emphasize. Mo-Par City houses an entire trim room filled with Stainless Steel mouldings, emblems, badges, and trim, even some exterior accent trim and decorative trim what it is you can do to really set off your vehicle, both interior and out. To most they might seem insignificant beside the engine or paint but this is what separates the ‘real’ restoration.

Why Trim Components Matter in Restoration:

• Factory emblems and badges
• Stainless steel exterior moldings
• Interior decorative trim pieces
• Hard-to-match factory finishes
• Critical for factory-correct restorations

Unlike much of the mechanical running gear found on vintage vehicles, reproduction trim pieces usually aren’t exact replicas of the originals. The originals often incorporate nuanced designs and specifications along with specific finishes that many aftermarket companies don’t always reproduce. Having authentic stainless trim parts readily available gives a restorer who insists on “correct” an obvious advantage over those sourcing parts out in the general marketplace.

The variety contained here certainly represents Mo-Par City’s forward-thinking strategy; they understood that smaller, often overlooked trim components would eventually be needed for restorations, so they were acquired, documented and saved for the day when a need arose, allowing a restore to get one of those rare finishing items years in advance or possibly never. This kind of detail work is ultimately what turns a stripped down vehicle into a finished automotive masterpiece.

9. The Turn-Key Retail Space

But there’s far more to the property than rows upon rows of stored cars and storage sheds. In the main building, there’s a complete retail shop which contains modern counter space, orderly display cases, and customer focused flow in its design. Clearly, a shop built by true professionals who loved the job at hand; a retail store within a salvage lot.

What Makes the Retail Space Valuable:

• Fully set up customer service area
• Organized parts display and storage system
• Ready-to-use transaction and sales environment
• Established business infrastructure
• Strong community reputation

Having retail space adds an whole other dimension of this particular property. The store can support customers today without much more than structural modifications, stock management and part. The future buyer/operator would not begin at a standstill but would simply insert themselves into a continuing enterprise structure with a framework that currently exists. The room includes over and above many years of confidence that was developed inside the auto group together.

Enthusiasts, restorers and also collectors have visited with Mo-Par Metropolis for numerous decades building a solid reputation that matters, and can serve as actual actual financial appreciate for a genuine buyer. This really is certainly significantly far more than a group of outdated vehicles, Mo-Par City is actually a automotive center community which blends company, automotive background and passion at this time all with in one destination.

10. The Ultimate Find: The Entire Business

The greatest opportunity at Mo-Par City isn’t an individual classic car or missing chrome piece-the biggest opportunity is the entire business itself. For 50 years, Larry Pontnack has not merely amassed a personal collection; he has built a comprehensive operating business comprising vehicles, inventory, expertise and storage facilities for those who share a lifelong fascination for Mopar lore.

Why the Entire Operation Matters:

• 50+ years of curated Mopar collection
• Thousands of vehicles and components
• Established storage and retail infrastructure
• Deep historical and mechanical knowledge base
• Fully functioning automotive preservation system

Now as the current owner heads to retirement, the future of his extraordinary hoard hinges on someone stepped forward to shoulder his burden. And, if no one does, some of this spectacular vehicle and parts stockpile are doomed to slowly disappear over the coming years. It is not a common circumstance for anyone’s great private automotive collection to enter the market as a single, running system and such ownership comes with great responsibility. To the correct new steward of Mo-Par City this purchase will represent more than merely a business; rather it is custodianship of a living repository of the Mopar’s enduring legacy; an ecosystem consisting of land, buildings, inventory, and a reputation for excellence the combination of which is unique.