Abandoned Car of the Week

A pre-war Nash in North Carolina



This 1938 Nash Ambassador business coupe found in eastern North Carolina. has seen much better days. While Nash offered a full range of cars from coupes to sedans and with a choice of six and eight-cylinder engines, sales sagged to 41,543 in 1938. The Nash lineup was completely revised for 1939 with sharper, more modern styling and sales surged to 60,348. One interesting feature that could be ordered for the first time in 1938 was the Nash Weather Eye, which directed fresh, outside air into the car's fan-boosted, filtered ventilation system, where it was warmed (or cooled), and then removed through rearward placed vents. The process also helped to reduce humidity and equalize the slight pressure differential between the outside and inside of a moving vehicle. 
(Photo by Jim Meachen)

Useful life over for N.C. farm truck



This mid-1960s Ford farm truck appears to be at the end of its useful life. It was discovered by the side of a rural road in eastern North Carolina. (Photo by Jim Meachen)

Two Beetles in the snow



Two mid-60s Volkswagen Beetle survivors were discovered in Nevada on a snowy afternoon. The German Beetle was one of the most popular imports through the '60s. More than 21.5 million Beetles were sold from its inception in 1938 through 2003. In 1965, its air-cooled 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine made 53 horsepower.
(Photo by Jim Prueter)

Junkyard '56 Lincoln



This 1956 Lincoln Premier was spotted in a Casa Grande, Ariz., salvage yard. The 1956-57 Lincoln Premier was positioned below the Continental Mark II in the lineup. The '56 Premier cost on average $4,600 new, equivalent to around $50,000 in today's dollars. (Photo by Jim Prueter)

Vandura in winter



This camper built on the GMC/Chevrolet Vandura platform was abandoned at some point in Duplin County, N.C., and sits forlorn on the side of the road. The Vandura was sold over three generations (1964-1996). This third-generation model has the engine up front.
(Photo by Jim Meachen)



A Kentucky Chevy



1954 marked the first significant design changes in the Advance Design Chevrolet truck that was first introduced in 1947. The 1954 truck had a curved one-piece windshield for the first time. The grille changed from five horizontal slats to a crossbar design commonly referred to as a "bull nose" grille. A Hydramatic automatic transmission was available for the first time as an option. The design lasted for only two years with the Chevy getting a complete makeover in 1956. This rather artistic 1954-55 truck was found in Nelson County, Ky.
(Photo by Jim Prueter)

A 1956 Chevy waiting for restoration


Chevrolet led in outstanding, desirable design in the mid 1960s. An example is the 1956 Chevy sedan. The '56 came in three trim levels — 150, 210 and the premium Bel Air. This four-door Bel Air sedan was the most popular, with 269,798 units sold. The most powerful engine was a 4-barrel Turbo-Fire V8 with dual exhausts rated at 205 horsepower. This example was found in Grifton, N.C. (Photo by Jim Meachen)

A fourth-gen Toyota pickup


The fourth generation Toyota pickup was sold from 1984 through 1988 in two-door and four-door formats. For 1987 the truck got minor interior changes and an exterior redesign, and a V6 engine was introduced in 1988. This fourth-generation truck, which was employed by the Gold Strike Inn and Casino, was found living in retirement in Nevada. (Photo by Jim Prueter)

Old car graveyard



We discovered an old abandoned car graveyard near Erick, Okla., along Route 66. The problem with getting up-close pictures was an outgrowth of plants with very sticky burrs, which took 30 minutes to pull off socks and pants. See how many vehicles you can identify. (Photo by Jim Meachen)

Five-decade old Riviera in Utah



The Buick Riviera was marketed by General Motors as a "personal luxury car" from 1963 through 1999. This second-generation Riviera — circa 1970 — was found in Utah in what looks like restorable condition. The second-gen Riviera could be purchased with three sizes of V-8 engines mated to a 3-speed automatic transmission.
(Photo by Jim Prueter)