Abandoned Car of the Week

Washington yard art



Ford has built the F-Series pickup truck since 1948, the first generation produced from 1948 through 1952. It was the first post-war truck design from Ford and marked a big change from a pickup based on a car chassis to a pickup built on a dedicated truck platform. This example of the first F-Series (circa 1948-50) is still in use — as yard art at a home near Seattle, Wash. (Photo by Jim Meachen)

Cannibalized 1969 Mustang


A once-vibrant 1969 Ford Mustang has been cannibalized and left to be slowly dissolved into the weeds and scrub bushes. The 1969 edition was the first model to use quad headlamps placed both inside and outside the grille opening. Ford offered a variety of engines in the '69 from the 3.3-liter I6 to the rumbling 429 cubic inch Boss V-8. Nearly 300,000 Mustangs were manufactured in 1969, a steep drop off from the 607,558 built for the peak year of 1966. (Photo by Ralph Gable)

Utah truck wears its retirement well



This 1954 Chevrolet panel truck was spotted in Bluff, Utah, its service as a laundry company delivery vehicle long past. But with a good cleaning and perhaps a little service, it looks as if it could spring back into action.
(Photo by Jim Prueter)

Morris Minor mountain yard art



This ragged-out Morris Minor convertible — used as yard art — was found near Boone, N.C. The diminutive Morris Minor was built in Great Britain from 1948 through 1972 with more than 1.3 million manufactured in various configurations including a two-door sedan, convertible, wagon and panel van. Engine horsepower through the years ranged from 27 to 48. Some of the earliest models took a glacier-like 50 seconds to go from 0-to-60.
(Photos by Jim Meachen)

This old Jeep



An old Jeep looks rather forlorn as it endures the hardship of Colorado weather in its retirement from active duty. MotorwayAmerica contributor Jim Prueter found the Jeep near Gateway, Col.

Mercury Cyclone reaches end of the road



This 1968 Mercury Cyclone has been stripped of all its important parts, some of which have probably been transplanted in other Cyclones of the same age. The Cyclone started life in 1964 as a sporty option for the Mercury Comet. In 1968 the Comet name was dropped, and the Cyclone gained several engine options including the high-performance 427 cubic inch V-8 with four-barrel carburetor generating as much as 425 horsepower used mainly for drag racing, according to How Stuff Works. (Photos by Ralph Gable)

Looking better in snow


This old Willys Jeep faces the ravages of a Wisconsin winter. We figure it probably looks better in snow. (Photo by Jerry Brown)

An abandoned Century



The Buick Century name was first used by General Motors in 1936. A new Century came into the picture in 1973, and in 1982 the Century was built on a down-sized platform. It got a facelift for 1989 and minor design changes in the following years with the last Century built in 2005. This abandoned Buick, residing next to an equally abandoned house in southeastern North Carolina, appears to be a 1991 model. (Photo by Jim Meachen)

Bushes overtake old Freightliner



A 1960s-era Freightliner cabover is slowly being overtaken by bushes as it rests in retirement. Freightliner trucks have been built since the 1940s and are currently owned by Daimler Trucks North America.
(Photo by Ralph Gable)

Vermont abandoned



The Honda Prelude is a sports coupe that spanned five generations from 1978 until 2001. This first-generation Prelude (1978-1982) was photographed in abandoned condition in front of an equally abandoned house in northern Vermont. The early Preludes were powered by a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine and came with the choice of a three-speed automatic or a five-speed manual transmission.
(Photo by Jim Meachen)