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Gold in Scrap Cars?

Q. Is there gold in scrap cars? We have a Towing and Auto Salvage Business. We scrap cars and trucks all the time. If there is gold in the cars where would it be? I know about Cats.
Just wondering. Thanks for any help.

Mary Lewis
tow company - Washago Canada
February 24, 2011

A. Hi, Mary.

To my knowledge, except for some possible thin gold plating on small areas of radio and other electronic connectors there is no gold in automobiles.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
February 25, 2011

A. I do not know about gold, but I believe that there is some platinum and palladium, around one to two grams used for the catalyst converter.

Khair Shishani
aircraft maintenance - Al Ain, UAE
February 28, 2011

A. The gold is on the connectors, pin and flat style, and is a thin coating. With the increase in computerization and advanced electronics, the gold in an automtobile has been rapidly increasing. Currently there is based on the current gold price of $1250 per ounce, approximately $75 worth of gold in a new car today. It is spread over about 300 connectors - even the thin plating on these connectors adds up quickly.

Ron Clark
- Meaford, Ontario, Canada
March 27, 2017

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