Parts & Projects: Prout Auto Parts & Garage

There are small rust holes under the vinyl top on this 1976 Pontiac Grand Prix Landau. The car is complete with its engine still under the hood. Leroy Drittler

Upon pulling onto the paved parking apron in front of Prout Auto Parts & Garage, the first thing you might notice is a rusty, steel-wheeled Fordson tractor parked in the side yard, partly obscured by vegetation. The old Fordson is not for sale, but hints at the vintage vehicles that comprise Prout Auto Parts & Garage’s inventory.

The property was purchased in 1946 by Herb and Hannah Prout and Prout Auto Parts & Garage opened for business in 1950. Herb passed away in 2012 and the business is now operated by Hannah and their son, Tom, who’s a soft-spoken, friendly southern gentleman who makes you feel welcome when you walk through the door.

The garage and salvage yard are located in an agricultural area of Van Buren County, Arkansas. The nearest town is Clinton, located 12 miles away. The population of Clinton is slightly more than 2,600 people according to the 2020 census. The friendly customer service of Prout Auto Parts & Garage, along with its mechanical skills and reasonable prices, have people driving from afar to get repair work done and to purchase parts. The garage also has a machine shop where custom drive shafts and other parts are made.

The front bucket seats are still in this 1966 Ford Econoline panel van. Someone has removed the gauge cluster from the dashboard. Leroy Drittler

To access most of the salvage vehicles, customers must get back on the highway for a couple hundred feet or so, then turn on a gated downhill dirt road that is rather steep. The access road is about a quarter-mile long and leads to a rolling area of about 40 acres. Some of the area is wooded and part is lush with sage grass, briars and vines. Prout mentioned during our visit that it was about time to do some brush-hogging and clean-up of the vegetation around the vehicles. Walking back uphill to the gate upon leaving is quite a chore if you did not drive your vehicle down that hill.

A few treasures were lurking in the yard during our visit. Lined up together in a brushy area were three complete Dodge Rampage car-based pickups. Prout says they have been sold, and he is waiting for the ground to dry up to get them out. We also found a complete Firebird that has also been sold, plus a first-generation Buick Skyhawk S that had a potential buyer. Being the agriculture area where Prout is located, many of the vehicles are trucks, with GM and Ford being the most common. However, we did find a few Dodge and IHC trucks.

Prout is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Unescorted browsing is not allowed, so appointments are best made in advance. All parts are removed by yard personnel, and parts shipping is not available.

Prout Auto Parts & Garage
2781 Highway 110
Clinton, AR 72031
501-745-2913

This 1975-’76 Ford Gran Torino station wagon has a good nose, front bumper and tailgate. It is currently being used to store parts. Leroy Drittler

The broad sides of this delivery van would make an ideal signboard for a business, although the side panels are rusted through in a few places. Inside are engines and transmissions available for purchase. Leroy Drittler

This 1968 F-250 Ford with the Camper Special Package is loaded with options. It has the Custom Cab interior, a four-speed transmission and an under-bed toolbox on the passenger side. Leroy Drittler

Another F-250 Ford on the premises is this 1967 model with a four-speed transmission. It has rusty floors. Leroy Drittler

The woodgrain applique side trim has faded badly on this 1953 Ford Crestline Country Squire. At $2,403, it was the priciest and rarest Ford in 1953, and there were only 11,001 built. This one is loaded to the windows with hundreds of carburetors and distributors. Leroy Drittler

There are several Internationals in the yard, including this 1965 Custom Cab pickup with the long stepside bed. Most of its body panels are either rusted or wrinkled. Leroy Drittler

Wrecked in the front and sitting on the ground is a 1976 Chevrolet Malibu Classic El Camino with some trim parts available. Leroy Drittler

It appears this Jeep Wagoneer 4x4 has been in the yard for many years due to the trees and saplings grown up around it. It has a standard-shift transmission and locking hubs, and still has its front seat. Leroy Drittler

A 1979 Pontiac Bonneville two-door coupe is available for parts or as a complete unit. Leroy Drittler

Another complete car available is this 1970 Chrysler Newport with the standard 383-cid V-8 engine. However, it does have rusty floors. Leroy Drittler

This 1976 Pontiac Grand Prix has a decent grille and trim parts. Leroy Drittler

The interior of this 1971 AMC Matador is intact. The car has a six-cylinder engine and automatic transmission. Leroy Drittler

Complete 1978 AMC Concord D/L two-door sedan has a very nice interior. It is well equipped with air conditioning and automatic transmission Leroy Drittler

Dismantling has begun on this IHC Scout. Despite being exposed for a long time, its gauges still look great. Leroy Drittler

If you need International Travelall parts, there are four of them grouped together, including this yellow 1973 model. Leroy Drittler

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