Abandoned Car of the Week

A post-war Pontiac



In the 1940s Pontiac was slotted above Chevrolet, but below Oldsmobile, Buick and Cadillac in General Motors' 1940s hierarchy. In 1948, the year of this abandoned discovery, Pontiac sold 235,419 vehicles, the fifth best brand in sales below Chevrolet, Ford, Plymouth and Dodge, and just ahead of Buick.
(Photo by Jim Prueter)

A Utah Dodge from the seventies



The 1972 through 1976 Dodge pickup was the first of the third generation that lasted through 1993 and included an independent front suspension, and were built with a considerable amount of galvanized steel to resist rust and corrosion. Transmissions included a 3-speed and 4-speed manual and a 3-speed automatic. (Photo by Jim Prueter)

Washington yard ornament



An early 1930s Ford pickup serves as  an unusual patriotic yard ornament in Washington state. Ford battled with Chevrolet for U.S. sales supremacy during the first half of the 1930s with 1930 Ford's biggest sales year of the period at 1,140,710. Chevrolet's biggest sales year was also 1930 with 640,980 sales.
(Photo by Jim Meachen)

1940-era trucks live side-by-side



A circa 1940 snub nose GMC truck lives next to a circa 1940 International truck in a wintery Nevada. Both truck cabs appear to be in decent shape and might be good candidates for restorations.
(Photo by Jim Prueter)

A 1950 Chevrolet survivor



This 1950 Chevrolet living in Texas is a survivor among the nearly 1.5 million Chevrolets manufactured in 1950. That's why it's not too difficult finding old Chevys in the abandoned wilds. Chevrolet outproduced Ford by about 290,000 vehicles in 1950. The lowest priced Chevrolet listed
for $1,329 in 1950. (Photo by Peter Hubbard)

Living together in N.C.



A circa 1990 Volkswagen Golf lives next to a 1957 Chevrolet in abandoned retirement in an eastern North Carolina yard. Even though the iconic '57 Chevy is a great car to restore, there are ample numbers in an abandoned state across the country because more than 1.5 million copies were sold by General Motors.
(Photo by Jim Meachen)

Vermont lineup

These three abandoned cars adorn the front yard of an equally abandoned house in upstate Vermont. The car lineup includes, from left, a 1979 Chrysler LeBaron, a 1982 Chrysler LeBaron station wagon and a circa 1978-1982 Honda Prelude. (Photo by Jim Meachen)


An optional radio in 1935



The 1935 Ford came with a flathead V-8 engine in 1935, being introduced in 1932. It was the first "affordable" V-8 engine on the market. Affordable meant a 1935 sedan started at just $655. Not only did the 1935 have eight cylinders, it could be ordered for the first time with a radio as an option. The dashboard was neatly designed with three round gauge clusters, the speedometer in the middle. To the right, partially hidden by the steering wheel, was the ashtray cutout, which was used to house the radio. Philco, a pioneer in radio production, manufactured the radio for Ford at an option price of $44.50.
(Photo by Ralph Gable)

Remains of a '57 Chevy



The iconic 1957 Chevrolet is a good vehicle for restoration. But sometimes purchasing a '57 for future reconditioning turns out to be something just out of reach, resulting in an old rusted car sitting in the yard. This could be the case for this 1957 Chevy that apparently has never left the trailer it was brought in on.
(Photo by Jim Meachen)

A Nevada lineup

This abandoned truck lineup in Nevada consists of (from left) a 1941Chevrolet, a circa 1940 International, and a post-war snub nose GMC. (Photo by Jim Prueter)