Abandoned Car of the Week

Chevy survivor from the 1930a



This 1936 Chevrolet truck cab was found parked on a city street with a rusted-out fender and running board, but otherwise in decent shape. Most Chevy trucks were propelled by a 193.9 cubic inch straight-six-cylinder engine throughout the 1930s. (Photo by John Harper)

Field of (car) dreams



From right, a 1949 Chevrolet, an early-60s Chevrolet Corvair and a 1955 Ford are lined up in a field of abandoned cars. If you find yourself on historic Route 66 near Erick, Okla., you might want to check the field of used-up cars, trucks and tractors. Watch out for the weeds loaded with stickers!
(Photo by Jim Meachen)

A sheriff's car from the '50s

This 1957 Plymouth Savoy is a police-car survivor in Oregon, Wis. The entry-level Savoy was popular in the late 1950's as a fleet vehicle used by taxicab companies, police departments and other fleet-minded customers where luxury was not a concern. The model was also available to customers who were in the market for a low-cost, economical vehicle with the availability of a V-8 engine and automatic transmission, and the room of a full-size vehicle. (Photo by Ed Meachen)

A pre-war Dodge bus



The Dodge truck was restyled in 1939 and the styling was continued through 1947. Civilian truck production ended in 1942, but Dodge trucks were used for the World War II effort to the tune of 255,000 trucks. This 1941 Dodge bus was found in Nevada.
(Photos by Jim Prueter)

A Texas Cadillac from 1941



Cadillac was enjoying a sales resurgence in 1941 before production was halted because of World War II. For the first time in many years all cars built by the company shared the same basic engine and drivetrain in 1941, and 1941 also saw the introduction of the optional Hydra-Matic, the first mass-produced fully automatic transmission, offered the previous year on the Oldsmobile. This 1941 Cadillac was found in Texas.
(Photo by Peter Hubbard)

This 1941 Buick is for sale



The last full-year of Buick production before the U.S. entered World War II was 1941. In that year, Buick was the fourth best-selling brand behind Chevrolet, Ford and Plymouth with sales of 374,196. The owner of this 1941 model found in Kinston, N.C., apparently thinks it has some life remaining with a For Sale price of $3,795. Prices for a new Buick in 1941 ranged from about $1,300 to $1,800.
(Photo by Jim Meachen)

A Chevy in the woods



This 1951 Chevrolet was found in the woods in Door County, Wis., apparently parked by its owner after its driving life was over. Chevrolet had a banner sales year in 1951 with 1,229,986 cars and trucks sold. Chevy outsold Ford by more than 200,000 units.
(Photo by Ed Meachen)

An Imperial in retirement



This 1959 Imperial dwarfs a 1960-era Sunbeam in an Arizona salvage yard. Chrysler marketed the Imperial as a separate luxury marque in 1955. It was built through 1975. The '59 Imperial came in four body styles and with the choice of three V-8 engines mated to a three-speed automatic transmission. The Imperial brand sold 17,269 vehicles in 1959.
(Photo by Jim Prueter)

The Dodge boys



Tailfins were all the rage at Chrysler in the late '50s and early '60s and the Dodge division was not short-changed. Here are two examples from a Texas scrapyard — a 1959 Dodge Custom Royal (top) and a 1960 Dodge Phoenix (bottom). The Phoenix, built by Chrysler Australia, was all-new for 1960. The Custom Royal was produced from 1955 through 1959. (Photos by Peter Hubbard)

Retired fire truck



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.
(Photo by Jim Meachen)