NJ Turnpike Surplus Sale: A Handyman's Paradise

Dan Dames arrived at the NJ Turnpike's Surplus Sale in Holmdel around 1 p.m. Monday, ready to kick a few tires. He and his business partner, Bruce Clark, run Brick Refurbishing, and they are always on the prowl for cheap Crown Victorias. 

The twice-yearly NJ Turnpike/Garden State Parkway sale is a treasure trove of worn, but mostly maintained, state police vehicles. All of them need more-or-less TLC to get back on the road. Some have accident damage, some bad engines, some transmission woes. The unwanted cars are sold off by silent bid.

"This is one of the sales I go to," said Dames, outside the chain-link fenced lot. "But it's actually very hard to buy here. It's very competitive. You have to put 10 percent down in certified funds, and then wait two weeks for a decision." If you don't have the winning bid, Dames said, "Then you have to get a voucher to get your money back."

Last fall Dames said he bid on 111 cars, but won only six. In June, he bid on 70, but got title to only two.

According to published NJ Turnpike documents, Grace Quality, Best Cars and Al's Auto Body were some of the low bidders who won 2000-2006 Crown Vics on June 24 for prices between $1,388 to $4,451. Metal Management picked up the clunkers with bad engines for $611 each.

The June sale also featured an unusual treat: Harley Davidson police motorcycles, which had minimum bids of $3,500. The 2003 versions were sold to Devino Trucks & Parts and A & Silver Auto Sales for around $4,200. Asia Motors picked up the 2010 models for $14,379 each. (See our June story previewing the sale here.)

Prospective bidders may examine the items for sale from 8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. through Thursday, Oct. 27. Bids are due Friday, Oct. 28. The lot is located across from the Holmdel DPW yard on the Parkway access road, at Exit 116. Just look for the huge cell phone tower. It's next door. See the NJ Turnpike webpage for a listing of advertised bids.