Abandoned Misc

A Dodge delivery van (far left) and a Ford panel van sit atop what look like 1950s vintage Ford vehicles in this "street of dreams" for old car junkies in an Arizona salvage yard. The Dodge van appears to be from the mid-50s. Also seen are the front end of a VW Beetle (far left) and an assortment of bicycles. (Photo by Jim Prueter)

Mazda built the RX-7 sports car through three generations from 1978 through 2002. It came with a compact, lightweight Wankel rotary engine. More than 800,000 RX-7s were manufactured over its lifetime. This field of used-up RX-7s is located in eastern North Carolina. (Photos by Ralph Gable)

These three abandoned cars adorn the front yard of an equally abandoned house in upstate Vermont. The car lineup includes, from left, a 1979 Chrysler LeBaron, a 1982 Chrysler LeBaron station wagon and a circa 1978-1982 Honda Prelude. (Photo by Jim Meachen)

A circa 1990 Volkswagen Golf lives next to a 1957 Chevrolet in abandoned retirement in an eastern North Carolina yard. Even though the iconic '57 Chevy is a great car to restore, there are ample numbers in an abandoned state across the country because more than 1.5 million copies were sold by General Motors. (Photo by Jim Meachen)

A third-generation (1974-1976) Mercury Cougar lives in retirement behind a circa. 1970 Ford F-150 Custom pickup in eastern North Carolina. The third-generation Cougar was also reworked as a Ford Torino and a Mercury Montego. There were five engine options ranging from a 5.8-liter to a 7.5-liter V-8. All were mated to a three-speed automatic transmission. The F-150 appears to be from the fifth generation (1967-1972). (Photos by Jim Meachen)

It's time to consider car doors. A Christmas gift, perhaps? All cars all have them — even the Jeeps of the world where an owner can actually remove the doors for short drives. But what happens if you need a replacement door after a nasty "fender bender?" Or you need to replace one while restoring a car. Perhaps you scour a salvage yard such as this one in Arizona. (Photo by Jim Prueter)

This abandoned truck lineup in Nevada consists of (from left) a 1941Chevrolet, a circa 1940 International, and a post-war snub nose GMC. (Photo by Jim Prueter)

We discovered an old abandoned car graveyard near Erick, Okla., along Route 66. The problem with getting up-close pictures was an outgrowth of plants with very sticky burrs, which took 30 minutes to pull off socks and pants. See how many vehicles you can identify. (Photos by Jim Meachen)

This camper built on the GMC/Chevrolet Vandura platform was abandoned at some point in Duplin County, N.C., and sits forlorn on the side of the road. The Vandura was sold over three generations (1964-1996). This third-generation model has the engine up front. (Photos by Jim Meachen)

A circa 1940 snub nose GMC truck lives next to a circa 1940 International truck in a wintery Nevada. Both truck cabs appear to be in decent shape and might be good candidates for restorations. (Photo by Jim Prueter)

This conglomeration of Edsels was found in an Arizona salvage yard. If anyone is restoring an Edsel, this may be a treasure drove of parts. Built by Ford, Edsel was designed to range above Ford and Mercury and below Lincoln in the Ford lineup. The sedan was sold for just three years — 1958-1960 — before it was discontinued because of anemic sales. (Photo by Jim Prueter)

A Ford and a Dodge van occupy space with a step van (right). The three trucks were found in retirement near Sims. N.C. (Photo by Jim Meachen)

The McCormick Deering steel-wheeled tractor was popular for use on the nation's farms in the '20s and '30s. Manufactured by the International Harvester Co., the McCormick Deering name was used until 1948, when this line of tractors became McCormick. This McCormick Deering tractor serves as yard art in a southern Virginia farmyard. (Photo by Jim Meachen)

Someone looking for a couple of Jeep lookalikes for the purpose of restoration might consider these two candidates from an Arizona salvage yard. The vehicle on the left looks like a Jeep — we are fairly sure it is not — and on the right, an early 1980s Suzuki SJ30. We think they would make a handsome restored pair in someone's collection of unusual vehicles. (Photo by Jim Prueter)

A big automobile junkyard can yield some interesting finds for the abandoned car photographer as exemplified by Jim Prueter's Arizona discovery. He encountered a very unusual hood prop being used on a mid-1950s Oldsmobile and some interesting pieces from a 1958 Buick including a mostly intact rear fin. Above is an advertisement for a 1958 Buick. (Photos byJim Prueter)

This piece of Caterpillar heavy equipment was found in an abandoned state in Kinston, N.C, a couple of years ago. Later we noticed it had been removed, probably to be used for parts or perhaps even refurbished for continued use. Caterpillar Inc. traces its origins to the 1925 merger of the Holt Manufacturing Company and the C. L. Best Tractor Company, creating a new entity, California-based Caterpillar Tractor Company. In 1986, the company reorganized itself as a Delaware corporation under the current name, Caterpillar Inc. It is one of the world's largest heavy equipment companies. (Photos by Jim Meachen)

A circa 1934 Ford pickup and a 1954 Chevrolet two door is one of the attractions at the Rusty Bolt shop on Route 66 in Seligman, Ariz. It's possible to see numerous old and abandoned cars in the small Arizona town. The Seligman Commercial Historic District was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005. (Photos by Jim Meachen)

A mid 80s Chevrolet wagon, a 1954 Ford pickup and two early 1960s Ford trucks make up this abandoned parking lot in North Carolina. We wonder how the Chevy got mixed up with the Ford haulers? (Photo by Ralph Gable)

Warning and instruction labels dominate the cab of this mid-20th Century wrecker (upper left). It must have been overwhelming for the novice truck driver. We weren't able to identify the make of the truck, found in retirement in eastern North Carolina, but we think it's either a Mack or an International. (Photos by Jim Meachen)

Case has made construction equipment since the late 1800s and continues to this day. This Case 880R excavator, built since 1977, may have seen the last of its working life as it sits idled and rusting in an eastern North Carolina field. (Photo by Jim Meachen)


This "stylish" driveway in Utah includes two automotive oddities — a Yugo (once called the "worst car in history"), and a modified Subaru BRAT — that are hard to find out in the wild let alone as a pair in one driveway. The BRAT — short for Bi-drive Recreational All-terrain Transporter — was sold from 1978 to 1994 in the U.S. It was motivated by a 1.8-liter four-cylinder making 67 horsepower. It was increased to 73 hp in later years. And Subaru made a turbocharged 93 hp variant available in its final years. The Yugo was built in communist Yugoslavia and marketed in the U.S. from 1985 to 1992 by Malcolm Bricklin. Its 55 hp engine could take the little car from 0-to-60 in 14 seconds. Its ultimate downfall came in the early 90s when it performed poorly in government crash tests. (Photos by Jim Prueter)

CHEVROLET — This retired late-1940s-early '50s  Chevrolet-powered fire truck from the American Fire Apparatus Company of Battle Creek, Mich., was found in the small town of San Isidro, N.M. The American Fire Apparatus Co. dates back to 1937 and was closed in 1993. (Photos by Jim Meachen)

Two relics of the decade of the '70s were found in Superior, Ariz., by Jim Prueter. At top is a 1975 Datsun B210 hatchback, which provided entry-level transportation. It was outfitted with a 70-horsepower 4-cylinder engine mated to a 4-speed manual, and with rear-wheel drive. A sub-compact by today's standards, it measured 162 inches long with a 92-inch wheelbase. Zero to 60: 13 seconds. At the bottom, is a circa 1975-79 AMC Pacer, described by AMC at the time of inception as "the first wide small car." It featured a rounded shape with a large glass area comprising 37 percent of the body surface. It was powered by two inline 6-cylinder engines and a 5.0-liter V-8. A total of 280,000 Pacers were built before production ended in 1980. (Photos by Jim Prueter)

An old Sinclair gas station has been restored and turned into a Route 66 attraction in the village of Paris Springs Junction, Mo. The gas station, which was established in 1926 on the Chicago to Los Angeles highway, is now a tourist stop on the old route and contains some artful displays of old cars. One of those displays features a 1952 Packard that is being worked on by a "thirsty" mechanic. (Photos by Jim Meachen)

The Farmall tractor was part of the brand architecture of International Harvester (IH), first introduced in 1923. During the 1940s it was the most popular tractor brand in the U.S. Production ended on Feb. 1, 1974, with the 5 millionth tractor coming off the assembly line in Rock Island, Ill. This early model tractor was retired and parked off a highway near LaGrange, N.C.  (Photos by Jim Meachen)

A 1950s Renault Dauphine and a Volkswagen Beetle reside side-by-side as they watch passing traffic on old Route 66 in Carterville, Mo. The rear-engine Dauphine was built from 1956 through 1967 with more than 2 million sold. (Photo by Jim Meachen)

FRAZER, PACKARD — A 1950 Packard rests on top of a 1949 Frazer in a Casa Grande, Ariz., salvage yard. Unfortunately, neither make was even close to the top of the heap at the turn of the decade. Frazer and Packard had both fallen on hard times. Packard's 1950 sales declined by more than 60 percent to 42,627 from 1949. Frazer managed only 21,000 sales in 1949 and would survive only a few more years. (Photo by Jim Prueter)

SEAGRAVE FIRE TRUCK (circa mid 60s) — Seagrave is the longest running manufacturer of fire equipment in the United States. And a 1960s example of a Seagrave fire truck was found in retirement in New Mexico. By the insignia on the door it was apparently used by the Vaughn, N.M., fire department. Vaughn is a small town of about 500 people in east-central New Mexico. (Photos by Jim Meachen)

NORTH TO ALASKA — This idyllic scene that includes a rather used up 1960s era pickup truck was captured in Chicken, Alaska. Technically, the pickup is probably not abandoned, but still used for chores. However, we think it would look right at home in a field of abandoned vehicles. (Photo by Jerry Brown)

This Flxible Visicoach passenger bus was found languishing in an Arizona salvage yard. Flexible manufactured coaches and transit buses from 1913 through its closing in 1996. Flxible built 925 copies of the Visicoach — an update of its clipper-style buses from the '30s and '40s — from 1950 through 1956. The video shows actor Cary Grant getting off a Visicoach on a deserted Indiana highway in Alfred Hitchcock's 1959 movie, "North by Northwest." (Photos by Jim Prueter)

This retired copy of an Allis Chalmers Model B tractor was found in a barn in eastern North Carolina. The Model B — built between 1937 and 1957 — was one of the company's most popular and versatile tractors. Over the years the Model B came in several variations, powered by a 4-cylinder gas engine. (Photos by Jim Meachen)

This large diesel Army truck, which we think is from the decade of the '60s, was found resting in the back of a salvage yard. Its useful life is probably over, but if needed we wouldn't be surprised to see it resurrected and put back into active duty. (Photos by Jim Meachen)

A 1958 or '59 Ford Thunderbird sits front and center in this snow-covered salvage yard in Cortez, Col., perhaps enjoying a white Christmas. A 1958 Chevrolet and a couple of Chrysler products are directly behind. (Photo by Peter Hubbard)

J.D. Adams & Company was founded in 1885 by Joseph D Adams who invented the first leaning-wheel pull grader. The company was based in Indianapolis. The leaning wheel, combined with an angled blade, increased the grader’s ability to excavate and move material in a specific direction. The grader could be pulled using a team of horses or by a motorized machine. This well-preserved example of an early 20th Century Adams grader was found in Hosmer, S.D. Above, a 1911 advertisement for Adams equipment. (Photos by Jim Meachen)

This late 1940s passenger bus was found in retirement on old Route 66 in Galena, Kan. (Photo by Jim Meachen)

These interesting International tow trucks from the 1950s were found on the lot of Troublemaker Film Studio in Austin, Texas. Apparently the 1950-era trucks were used as props in the film studio movies. The studio has  a very very cool collection of old trucks. (Photos by Jim Meachen)

McCORMICK-DEERING (circa 1940s) — The McCormick-Deering was a tractor built by the International Harvester Company from the mid-20s until the Deering name was dropped some time in 1948 or 1949 when the tractor became the McCormick. This tractor, probably from the '40s, was found in retirement in Hosmer, S.D., next to a vintage gas pump and travel trailer. (Photos by Jim Meachen)

McLAUGHLIN-BUICK — McLaughlin Automobile Company under the guidance of Sam McLaughlin formed a 15-year alliance with Buick under the direction of William Durant near the turn of the century. For the first few years cars produced by the alliance were known as McLaughlins. Then the name was changed to McLaughlin-Buick. Our photographer, Jerry Brown, discovered this circa 1914 McLaughlin-Buick in Canada. Notice that it sports very aggressive tires that probably weren't found on the car when it was new.

We like this unique display some enterprising home owner erected in their yard near Newton, Iowa. We call it a very good use of a neglected Model T Ford. (Photo by Jerry Brown)

This van was spotted buried in vegetation in the Olympic Peninsula in Washington state. We don't know if anyone checked to see what or whom was inside — other than more plant life. (Photo contributed by Susan Skaggs)

This abandoned bakery truck, which presumedly had a Ford Model T front end, made its last bread delivery decades ago and looks as if it is awaiting restoration. Photographer Jerry Brown discovered the ancient Anaconda Bakery delivery truck near Wales, Wis.

A 1955 Mercury sedan (left) and a 1951 Ford appear to be carrying on an abandoned car conversation in eastern North Carolina. Mercury shared much of its styling with the standard Lincoln in 1955. And for the first time, Ford featured an optional Ford-O-Matic 3-speed automatic transmission. (Photo by Jim Meachen)

Flying A gasoline became the primary brand of Tidewater Oil Company in 1936 and was used on the  East Coast through 1970 when it was permanently discontinued. Phillips Petroleum purchased Tidewater's western refining, distribution and retailing network in 1966 and dropped the brand name on the West Coast. The Flying A continued to be used on the East Coast until 1970 when it was discontinued by Getty Oil Company, which in 1966 merged with Tidewater. This remnant of days gone by was photographed near Bailey, N.C. (Photo by Jim Meachen)

Cars and trucks aren't the only "vehicles" abandoned to the ravages of rust and weather. This road grader of undetermined age was discovered along U.S. 301 in North Carolina, its days of service apparently over. (Photo by Jim Meachen)

A 1952 Cadillac and a mid-1980s Lincoln Continental share space in a yard littered with old motorized stuff in North Carolina. (Photo by Ralph Gable)

Three early 1960s Cadillacs, including one presumably ready to haul off a dilapidated travel trailer, reside near two 1950s era pickup trucks in this Arizona scene shot by automotive journalist Jim Prueter. A shame to see vintage American automotive history rusting away. 

A mid-1980s Ford F-150 pickup rests nose-to-nose with a late 1970s  Lincoln Continental. Both are in the process of being overrun by trees
and underbrush. (Photo by Ralph Gable)

This Leyland tractor appears in the early stages of abandonment. Leyland Tractors was created after the merger of British Motor Corp. and Leyland Motors to form British Leyland in 1968. Leyland built tractors through 1982 in Bathgate, Scotland, before the company was sold to Marshall, Sons & Co. Marshall continued to build tractors until 1992 when production was stopped. We have no idea as to the model year of this used-up Leyland example. (Photo by Ralph Gable)

A Texas farmyard in the San Antonio area sports at least two vintage and no longer used cars — a 1956 Chevrolet (left) and a 1960 Ford Thunderbird. The used-up tractor in the foreground has us stumped as to make and model. (Photo by Jeffrey Ross)

Research has discovered that this Danville, Va., bus, built by General Motors and belonging to the Danville Traction and Power Co., is of the same design and vintage as the famous segregated bus on which Rosa Parks was arrested on Dec. 1, 1955, when she refused to give up her seat in Montgomery, Ala. The Alabama bus was built in March 1948. Danville Traction and Power Co. was a public transportation system prior to the current Danville Transit System. (Photos by Ralph Gable)

This old bus has eluded the scrap yard by hiding in overgrown bushes and a couple of trees felled by storms over the years in eastern North Carolina. We were not able to determine the vintage of the destroyed people hauler — perhaps a school bus — but we do know it has come to an inglorious end. (Photos by Jim Meachen)

We think this rather imposing tow truck is a Mack from the mid-50s. Looking as if it was designed for heavy-duty hauling, it rests in retirement near Saratoga, N.C. (Photos by Jim Meachen)

A 1940-era sedan is covered in pine straw in a western North Carolina woods preventing us from determining the exact make and model. But it looks like the big sedan has become a permanent resident. (Photo by John Harper)

A lineup of worn out trucks in Tijeras, N.M. A circa 1946 International is on the right and a post-WW II Dodge on the left. Second from right appears to be a '37 International pickup. The truck with the white fenders, third from right, looks to be a 1947 Ford. (Photo by Jerry Brown)

A 1991 Dodge Daytona and a late-70s model Ford Pinto wagon appear ready for launch. They were discovered in this "blast off" position near Winchester, Tenn. The Daytona two-door hatchback was built from 1984 through 1993. The standard engine in 1991 was a 2.5-liter turbo four making 150 horsepower. The Pinto was built by Ford from 1971 through 1980 and included a two-door sedan, hatchback and wagon. Its peak sales year was 1974 when an astounding 544,209 were produced. Sales had fallen off to 185,054 in its last year in 1980. Only four-cylinder engines were offered and from 1975 through 1979 there were two choices, a 2.3-liter and a 2.8-liter. Horsepower ratings ranged from 82 to 102. Photo above: Ford advertisement for 1977 Pinto wagon. (Photos by Jim Meachen) 

Buy this hulk and they may throw in tires and doors. Found in Port Angeles, Wash. Best guess — a late '30s model two-door Chevrolet. (Photo by Jerry Brown)

Abandoned cars will probably feel right at home at this abandoned gas station on U.S. 301 in North Carolina. Gas stations and motels along 301 have been boarding up for two or three decades since the completion of Interstate 95 in the '70s. This Exxon station probably saw its last customer in the late '90s based on the $1.22 pump price for 87 octane regular. Exxon became Exxon-Mobile in November 1999. Before I95, U.S. 301 was the major north-south highway from Miami to New York. Happy Motoring! (Photos by Jim Meachen)

A late '40s model Chevrolet pickup (left) rests beside a post-World War II Dodge pickup in a North Carolina field. (Photo above and photos below by Jim Meachen)

Dodge hubcap and engine

1946 Dodge pickup dashboard left; when new, at right

Chevrolet pickup dashboard

The rear of the Chevy truck with the grille laying behind the cab

We think this is what's left of a late 1930s Chevrolet Suburban (Photo by Jim Meachen)

This dismembered 50s-era pickup sets next to the chassis of another truck in N.C. (Photo by Jim Meachen)

We could not come to a firm conclusion as to the nameplate of this two-door sedan of late 1930's vintage. But we did conclude that the hood resting on the car is from a 1948 Ford truck.
(Photos by Jim Meachen)

This old bus in North Carolina was at some point converted into a trailer, perhaps for transient workers. (Photo by Jim Meachen)

This old camper truck has probably seen its last camp ground. (Photo by Ralph Gable)

These old buses started life transporting school children, then they were converted to chruch buses — according to the name on the sides — before ending their active lives. (Photo by Jim Meachen)

A Metro van and an old school bus rest in an abandoned farm yard in eastern North Carolina. (Photos by Jim Meachen)

A rusty hulk rests off Old Route 66 west of Kingman, Arizona. (Photo by Jerry Brown)

This old bus has found a home in an eastern North Carolina field. (Photo by Jim Meachen)

Someone in Montana tries to make a few bucks off his abandoned "fixer upper" in this photo by Paul Borden

A Metro van and an old school bus rest in an abandoned farm yard in eastern North Carolina. (Photo by Jim Meachen)

Remember when gas was a quarter a gallon?  Way back in 1919 gas was an expensive-for-the-time quarter a gallon. But even as late as 1960 gas could be found for under 30 cents and we think this gas station sign probably comes from the 1960s era. It was found in Georgia. (Photo by Ralph Gable)

Cars and trucks aren't the only "vehicles" abandoned to the ravages of rust and weather. This road grader of undetermined age was discovered along U.S. 301 in North Carolina, its days of service apparently over. (Photo by Jim Meachen)
 

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