[Canuck]

I lived in Newfoundlandd up until 1975. In 1969 there was a auto-train derailment involving about 75 new GM cars. These were mostly 69 full size Pontiacs and Chevrolets,Biscaynes Impallas.
About 20 cars had major damage such as crushed roofs,the remainder were minor damage, yet all 75 cars were sent to a local wrecking yard and ordered destroyed by GM. Everybody panel was to be piered by a pickaxe,glass was smashed and upholstery was ripped with an ax,all transmissions were sledgehammered as were the blocks,bumpers were cut in two with a torch as were frame sections. The yard paid nothing for the cars as GM were satisfied there was nothing left to sell. I am sure GM insurance or CN insurance paid for the cars. I viewed the yard about a month after the cars were"destroyed" and saw a suprising number only had one or two axe marks on them. Rumor has it that the yard owner,after the insurance guys axed about a dozen cars,took the crew out for a few beers,got them real drunk and told they his guys would take care of the rest. A token axe hit on a few selected cars and the job got signed off as done.
A friend of mine bought one of the 350 blocks out of one of the full size Chevs and had it repaired. The damage was not bigger than a small quarter size piece near a water jacket. He ran that engine in a 67 Camaro for about 5 years.

Paul