This late 1970s model Volkswagen Rabbit was found in a large stand of weeds in eastern North Carolina. The compact Golf was marketed around the world beginning in 1974, but in the U.S. was renamed Rabbit until the mid-80s when VW decided to drop the Rabbit name in favor of Golf. Historically, the Golf is Volkswagen's best-selling model and is among the world's top three best-selling models. (Photo by Jim Meachen)

Chrysler came out swinging after World War II with a relatively conservative design that appealed to the car-buying public. Chrysler used the same basic design — with some tweaks here and there — from 1946 through 1950 before a complete overhaul in 1951. In those five years Chrysler sold 636,197 copies. This circa 1946-48 Chrysler was found on a snowy day in Nevada. (Photo by Jim Prueter)

The Ford Torino name was revived in 2008 wth Clint Eastwood's movie "Gran Torino," which focused on a retired guy and his restored 1972 Gran Torino in a Detroit neighborhood. Ford built the mid-sized fastback Torino from 1968 through 1976. This 1970 Torino sponsored by Long-Lewis Ford in Alabama apparently spent some of its life in stock car racing. (Photo by Ralph Gable)

This circa 1940 Dodge COE (cab over engine) truck cab was found in a Texas salvage yard. A straight 6-cylinder Chrysler Flathead was used in most of these trucks mated to a three- or four-speed manual transmission. (Photo by Peter Hubbard)

This post-war Nash 600 (circa 1946) was found resting safely behind a fence next to a brick building in the Detroit area. The Nash 600 is credited with being the first mass-produced American automobile using unitized body/frame construction techniques in which the car body and the frame are welded as one unit, rather than the more traditional body-on-frame. Built from 1941-1949, the "600" name comes from the car's ability to go 600 miles on one tank of gas. An advertisement for the '46 proclaims, "The new Nash 600 takes you an amazing 25 to 30 miles on a gallon of gasoline at moderate highway speeds — 500 to 600 miles on a tankful." (Photo by Chris Sawyer)

This 1952 Studebaker was found languishing in an Arizona salvage yard. It is the so-called "shovel nose" Studebaker with a redesigned front end from 1951. The rest of the car, however, was a carryover from earlier years with its acres of glass in the Starlight coupe edition. Despite the redesign, sales figures were considerably lower than 1951. There were 246,195 Studebaker's sold in '51, and the number dropped to 167,662 in 1952. (Photo by Jim Prueter)

This 1975 Datsun B210 hatchback, which provided entry-level transportation, was found in Arizona. It was outfitted with a 70-horsepower 4-cylinder engine mated to a 4-speed manual. It featured 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. (Photo by Jim Prueter)

The Nash LaFayette was the company's low-priced car in the 1930s developed to bolster sales during the Great Depression years. But the LaFayette had a hard time gaining traction during its first year in 1935 selling only 5,000 copies. Things improved in 1936 when 27,000 units went out the door. It rode on a 113-inch wheelbase with a 75-83 horsepower six cylinder. Retail cost ranged from $585 to $715. This 1936 model was discovered in a Texas salvage yard. (Photo by Peter Hubbard)

Austin is a British car company that dates back to the early years of the 20th Century. The name is perhaps best known in North America for manufacturing the Austin-Healey roadster. But its main emphasis was on family cars. An example is this circa 1950 Austin A70 discovered in a Texas salvage yard. It was built from 1948-1950. A sub-compact by today's standards with a wheelbase of 96 inches and a length of 163 inches. (Photo by Peter Hubbard)

This 1965-1966 Chevrolet Impala has been picked clean of its engine and other parts, its driving life long over. Redesigned in 1965, the Impala set an all-time industry annual sales record of more than one million units in the United States. The 1965 had a new body that featured curved, frameless side glass (for pillar-less models), sharper angled windshield with newly reshaped vent windows, and redesigned full-coil suspension. (Photo by Jim Meachen)