The Ford Model A was produced from October 1927 through 1931, replacing the aging Model T, which was sold for18 years. Prices for the Model A ranged from $385 to $1,400. Nearly five million were made in that short span of time. This Model A — in restorable condition — watches life go by on the side of a highway. (Photo by Ralph Gable)

This 1961 Ford Galaxie Sunliner was discovered in Missouri woods. Ford gave the car a cleaner look for 1961 with tailfins nearly gone and with the addition of two giant circular taillights. A new 6.4-liter "Thunderbird" V8 was added to the lineup, making a claimed 401 horsepower, mated to a 3-speed Cruise-O-Matic transmission. (Photos by Jim Meachen)

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

Like its competitors, Dodge came out with an all-new pickup truck design for the 1948 model year, which remained basically unchanged through 1953. This example of a Dodge pickup from the 1948-1950 model years — based on the grille design — was found in Utah.  (Photo by Jim Prueter)

This 1946 Chevrolet sits in a salvage yard, perhaps waiting for a new owner. The '46 Chevrolet was basically a carryover from the 1942 model after production of new cars ceased during the World War II years. All 1946 models relied on a 6-cylinder, 90 horsepower engine carried over from the pre-war years. (Photo by Ralph Gable)

There were critics who joked about Studebaker's post-World War II styling adventures, but the cars have stood the test of time from their rounded slopping rear end with wrap-around window on the two-door models to their "spinner" grilles. This 1950 four-door, that featured suicide doors, watches as life goes by on a North Carolina highway. (Photo by Ralph Gable)

This post-WWII Jeep found in eastern North Carolina has become a trash depository, its useful life long gone. The Army Jeep was transformed for civilian use after the war in 1945 and was particularly popular with servicemen who had driven the military variety. (Photo by Jim Meachen)

This 1963 Ford Galaxie was found in South Carolina in retirement in someone's yard. The Galaxie was a full-sized car built in the U.S. between 1959 and 1974. The name was used for the top models in Ford's lineup through 1961. The '63 model was essentially unchanged from the 1961-62 models except for some freshening and added trim. (Photo by Ralph Gable)

Packard was one of the premier luxury cars in the U.S. prior to World War II although it was losing some of its luster in the late '30s by building several more affordable models. In 1937, Packard re-introduced a six-cylinder engine, its first since 1928 when it went exclusively to eight-cylinder powerplants. This Packard 1941 sedan was discovered in Holbrook, Ariz. (Photo by Ted Biederman)

The first post-World War II Ford came off the assembly line in July 1945 as a 1946 model. Ford was throughly updated in 1941 before production was halted in 1942 for the war, and the 1946 was a continuation of the '41 model. An all-new Ford was introduced in 1949. This 1946 Ford was found in North Dakota. (Photo by Jim Meachen)