Not all motoring enthusiasts have a temperature-controlled collection of rotisserie-restored classics that are not only cleaner than original, but far more expensive just in paint. In fact, rural America’s highways and byways are just full of automotive corpses that have been sitting since those “highways and byways” were first paved.

If you’ve ever followed us in the past as we’ve explored off-the-wall collections of ever rusting antiques, then you know just how much time-lapsed abuse an old car can go through. Truthfully, the rides that we now consider “collectible” were not always so cherished, even muscle cars if you’ve ever listened to the stories of high school and college “motorama” from the late ’70s and early ’80s.

But the result of this lack of romance toward the American car by the “outsiders” is all too often sad, and for those of us who love vintage auto, there can’t be anything more depressing than watching a perfectly good ’50s-era Fairlane or an earlier DeSoto sit stagnant as it slowly collects what some would call “car cancer.”

Luckily for the community of vintage auto enthusiasts not all hope is lost, as many Americans have been informed enough to understand the importance of our nation’s rather rich and extensive automotive heritage, a heritage that’s bonded us as a people. No where else is the effort to hold tight to that heritage more evident than at Big Bob’s auto lot in Tempe, Arizona.

Currently, Big Bob’s is selling their entire collection of vintage auto and parts that the lot has accumulated over the last 40 years. Bob’s make selection ranges from old-school Chevys to Packards, and none of the cars in the private collection are restored as far as we can see.

All of us would love nothing more than to drive a clean classic that makes for an excellent conversation piece, but though untouched the Tempe car collection does include around 40 cars, all of which are project vehicles. So if a platform from which to build a cool street rod or classic cruiser is what you’re in the market for, than Big Bob’s is definitely a place that you want to consider for your next “window shopping” venture.

Currently posted on Craigslist, the antique auto collection features examples from the 1930s through the mid ’60s and prices range from $1500 and up depending on car. Big Bob’s is located on North Miller Road in Tempe, just south of the Miller and Curry intersection, and they would like all potential buyers to know that all cars will be sold with a Bill of Sales and no titles.

Big Bob’s collection of steel definitely is not within the reach of what we would consider “pristine,” but it is a collector’s auto playground and a great place to search for your next high performance or classic restoration endeavor!