Abandoned Car of the Week

One of the last Studebakers



The Studebaker automobile company built cars from 1902 through 1966, a mainstream car-builder for more than 60 years before reaching an inglorious end with the closing of its last assembly plant in March 1966. This 1965 Cruiser sedan was discovered in retirement in Virginia, one of only 20,000 Studebaker's produced in 1965. 1965 Studebakers used a General Motors-sourced 230-cubic-inch 6-cylinder engine or a 283-cubic-inch V-8. Both engines were also used in Chevrolets.
(Photo by Ralph Gable)

Texas Ranchero



This 1964 second-generation (1960-1965) Ford Falcon Ranchero was discovered in Texas in what looks like restorable condition. The Ranchero was produced by Ford from 1957 through 1979 on various platforms including full-sized, compact and intermediate. The Ranchero was adapted from a two-door station wagon platform that integrated the cab and cargo bed into the body. A total of 508,355 units were produced during the model's production run. The second generation trucks came with a variety of engine sizes, the smallest being a 2.4-liter inline 6 making 90 horsepower. If performance was needed, there was a 4.7-liter V-8 available.
(Photo by Peter Hubbard)

Chevy II in retirement



This circa 1962-65 Chevy II Nova wagon is obviously no longer in service as a business vehicle. It was found in retirement along U.S. 301 in eastern North Carolina.  After the rear-engine Chevrolet Corvair was outsold by the conventional Ford Falcon in 1960, Chevrolet began work on a more conventional compact car that would eventually become the Chevy II.  In its first generation, five engine options were offered — a 4-cylinder, two inline 6 cylinders, and two V-8s. Transmission offerings included either a 3-speed or 4-speed manual, and a two-speed automatic.
(Photo by Jim Meachen)

Living in New Mexico



This 1955/1956 Dodge was spotted in Santa Rosa, N.M., perhaps awaiting some restoration. The Dodge lineup was all-new for 1955 — a big comeback for the brand after slumping in 1954 — with a longer 120-inch wheelbase and a 212.1 inch overall length. There were six body styles including a wagon and convertible. It could be purchased with either a 4.8-liter inline six or a 4.4-liter V-8. Dodge completely revamped the styling for 1957.
(Photo by Jim Prueter)

The indestructible diesel



This circa 1980 Mercedes-Benz W123 was discovered abandoned in eastern North Carolina. The W123, considered one of the best Mercedes sedans ever built, was manufactured from 1976 through 1985. This particular model is outfitted with the 240D diesel engine. The 2.4-liter 4-cylinder made a grand total of 71 horsepower and 101 pound-feet of torque. It was noted for two things — its indestructible nature and its turtle-like acceleration. In fact, there are dozens of YouTube videos depicting how fast owners can navigate from 0-to-60. The average time being between 20 and 25 seconds. One guy proclaimed he had run out of road before hitting 60.
(Photo by Jim Meachen)

Roadside Triumph



The Triumph Herald is a small two-door car introduced by the Standard-Triumph Company of Coventry, England, in 1959 and made through 1971. Body design was by the Italian stylist Giovanni Michelotti, and the car was offered in sedan, convertible, coupe, wagon and van models. This mid 1960s convertible was found resting by the side of a Texas highway.
(Photo By Peter Hubbard)

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)

A Dodge SUV forerunner



The Dodge Town Wagon and Panel was built between 1954 and 1966 presumably to give the popular Chevrolet Suburban competition. It could be purchased with windows in a passenger configuration or strictly as a panel van. The Dodge Wagon, a forerunner of the modern sport utility vehicle, could be purchased with four-wheel drive. This circa 1960-65 Town Wagon was discovered in New Mexico.
(Photo by Jim Prueter)

Mid-size Cutlass in retirement



The Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera is a mid-size car manufactured and marketed for model years 1982-1996. It shared the front-wheel drive A platform with the similar Buick Century, Pontiac 6000 and Chevrolet Celebrity. The Cutlass Ciera shared the Cutlass nameplate with the smaller Cutlass Calais and the larger Cutlass Supreme. This late 1980s copy was found abandoned in eastern North Carolina.
(Photo by Jim Meachen)

Texaco gas hauler of the '40s



This 1941 Chevrolet AK Series truck hauled Texaco gas in Texas during the 1940s. Chevrolet introduced the new and rather unique truck design in 1941.  It was replaced by the Advance Design truck in 1947, introduced as the company's first new truck after WWII. The AK had a "modern front end design" with horizontal bevelled grille bars in the upper section, vertical bars below, and headlamps sunk partly into the front fenders. Peter Hubbard found the truck in Liano, Texas, for his Junkyard Dog collection.
(Photo by Peter Hubbard)