Abandoned Car of the Week

Army surplus



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.
(Photo by Jim Meachen)


Snow on the sheetmetal



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)

An Arizona Catalina



A reworked full-sized Pontiac Catalina came to market in 1959 and was completely redesigned in 1961 kicking off the second-generation, which was built through 1964. This 1963 model was recently found in Arizona. The '63 model was refreshed with cleaner, squared-off body lines and vertical headlights flanking a split grille. V-8 engine offerings came with 338, 353 and 370 horsepower.
(Photo by Jim Prueter)

The Corvette in the late '70s



Government-mandated 5 mph crash bumpers were added to the Chevrolet Corvette in the mid-70s. This circa 1975-79 Vette, in need of a new windshield and a thorough restoration, sports those front bumpers. The Corvette was found off U.S. 301 in eastern North Carolina. The 1979 Corvette topped 50,000 units sold for the first time in its history.
(Photo by Jim Meachen)

The remains of a Ford



Ford sold nearly 5 million Model A's during the five years of its production run from 1927 through 1931. We think this is one of those millions discovered near Cisco, Texas. This shell of a car is hard to identify, but it has all the characteristics of the Ford.
(Photo by Peter Hubbard)

The remains of a Chevy van



This dissected 1951 Chevy panel van was found in a North Carolina salvage yard. As part of Chevrolet's light-commercial fleet, Chevy produced a car-based sedan delivery with its new iteration beginning in 1950.  It was a derivative of the steel-bodied station wagon, but with only two doors and no side windows. When the van was first introduced it was an immediate hit with orders topping 23,000 in 1950.
(Photo by John Harper)

A survivor from the '50s



Chevrolet built the astounding number of 624,489 sedans for the 1956 model year. This is one of the survivors from more than 60 years ago found behind a garage in North Carolina. Prices ranged from $1,869 for a base One-Fifty to $2,230 for a top line Bel Air four-door hardtop.
(Photo by Ralph Gable)

Depression era Pierce-Arrow



This 1929 or 1930 Pierce-Arrow was discovered sitting in front of an old Phillips 66 gas station on Route 66 in Chandler, Okla. The Pierce Arrow was redesigned in 1929 to include headlights molded into the front fenders. It came in four wheelbases with a choice of three straight eight engines with horsepower ratings from 115 to 132. Prices ranged from $2,595 to $6,250, a princely sum during the first years of the Great Depression. (Photo by Jim Meachen)

1958 Edsel lives on in Arizona



Edsel was developed to take on Oldsmobile and Buick from General Motors, and DeSoto from the Chrysler Corp. slotting into the Ford lineup between Mercury and Lincoln. The Edsel was unveiled on Sept. 4, 1957, as a 1958 model. Although it was not enthusiastically received by the public, it sold close to expectations in its first year at 63,110. But sales slumped badly in 1959 and the car was discontinued in 1960 when only 2,505 units were sold. This 1958 example was found in Mayer, Ariz.
(Photo by Jim Prueter)

Post-war North Dakota Chevy truck



The "Advance Design" Chevrolet trucks entered the scene in June1947, and exterior styling remained virtually the same through 1953. The first major change was with the grille treatment in 1954. This copy of the time period was found in relatively good condition in retirement behind a garage in southeastern North Dakota.
(Photo by Jim Meachen)