Zeb's Salvage Yard
Zeb’s Salvage
Story Joe Sharretts / Images Mike Kasperek - June 07, 2012 10:00 AM
This is looking down the AMC row. If you look closely, you can also see a Kaiser and a few Nash examples.
1940s cars are plentiful at Zeb’s. On the left is a ’46 Hudson with a Pontiac on the right.
Looking to the right, there is a section full of ’20s to early ’40s cars. Straight ahead begins with the ’50s and goes into the muscle car era.
This 1927 Essex is currently the oldest complete car in the yard and will only be sold that way.
This row of cars contains the Dodge products from the ’50s and ’60s. All models are represented.
This 1969 Barracuda is a complete car that could be either restored or parted out.
Here’s another example of a Dodge (this one a Coronet) that would provide service as a complete project or donor car.
When makes and models are sectioned, it really saves time when shopping. Shown here is a row of late ’50s and early ’60s Fords.
Here is another photo of the ’60s Fords at Zeb’s. All models are represented.
As we move down the row, the Fords get older. These Fords are from the early-to-mid ’50s.
This row ends with a 1940 Chevy panel van which is in pretty rough shape and two 1941 Chevys that are in very good condition.
We catch a glimpse of three really nice GM cars. From left to right, we see a ’41 Chevy, a ’63 Pontiac Bonneville, and a ’73 Chevrolet Malibu.
In the middle of a GM row, we can see a ’71 Cutlass on the left and a ’53 Pontiac on the right.
At the end of a row, just before you hit the truck section, you will find a ’67 Impala and a ’66 Buick Special. Both are in decent shape.
One of the most unusual cars in the yard has to be this 1956 Cadillac limousine. The condition is really not that bad.
There isn’t really anything on this 1947 Ford that can’t be fixed. It is a complete car right down to the hubcaps.
This photo displays two early Chrysler products. On the left is a 1947 New Yorker and on the right is a 1949 that was obviously a restoration project at one time.
The ’58 Chevy is a favorite among collectors as this body style was only available for one year. Shown here is the bottom model: the Delray.
The always popular ’64 Impala leads this row of ’60s Chevys.
There are over 100 cars from the ’20s and ’30s currently in the yard. Shown here is a ’39 Chevy.
There are a lot of great parts left on this 1955 Pontiac Star Chief.
Recently, salvage yard owner Mike Kasperek of Tigerton, Wisconsin, told us all about his 2,000-plus vehicle salvage yard.
Upon receiving a few sample photos from him, we knew we had to give this place some coverage.
The yard was started in the early 1950s by a man named Henry Bernitt. (The street that the yard sits on still bears his name.) In 1983, the yard was sold to the Kasperek family (Zeb, Bev, and their son, Mike). Sadly, Zeb passed away about five years ago and Mike now runs the show. His mom Bev still helps out by answering phones as needed.
According to Mike, vintage vehicles have long since dried up in his part of Wisconsin. That news makes his collection quite valuable to collectors. Of the 2,000 cars, at least 1,500 of them range from the ’20s to the ’70s. There are over 100 cars from the ’30s alone in the collection.
Most makes and models are organized by sections and rows, making shopping much easier. Mike keeps the brush well managed where he can. Browsing is permitted, but only Mike can remove a part. Exceptions are made only with supervision. He will ship small parts on request. The last rule is that no children or pets may enter the yard.
Some cars have titles and can be sold complete. Mike is constantly travelling south to pick up more vintage pieces when he can.
About the Yard
Zeb’s Salvage is located at N. 3181 Bernitt Rd, Tigerton WI 54486. They can be reached by calling (715) 754-5885. Hours are: Monday-Friday 8 am to 5 pm, and Saturday 8 am to noon. The yard is located about an hour west of Green Bay, Wisconsin, off of Highway 45.