Forgotten Souls (Abandoned Cars)

[Falcon Ranchero]

Here are some old wrecks left for dead.

These were spotted in a hiking trail.

Out in the sap lines at a maple Syrup place

The '50 Chevy from the local hiking trail; 2022 photos

Circa 1957 Fiat Multipla pickup converted to a snow-goer; found on my aunt's farm, left by the previous owner, last registered 1965.

A 1963 Ford 300 on my grandparent's property, it was apparently my grandma's brother's friend's car, last registered in 1970. I was told it was mint condition when in was left for dead; because the straight 6 stopped working and so they took the rear axle off to use for a homemade 6-wheeled bushwacker (also ended up in the gully with this car) but then the neighbor's kids tresspassed and totaled the thing shortly after it was left here 

Edited August 9, 2024 by Falcon Ranchero

[TarheelRick]

Some very interesting photos. That 50 Chevy out in the woods had been used as some form of race car or "cool" street car, the rear fenders have been radiused. The pickup on the sap line could possibly be saved - with a lot of work as could the Chevy depending upon how much floor pan is left. One thing I noticed is the absence of bullet holes in the cars.  Around here any car abandoned in the woods was a prime target to practice your Bonnie & Clyde ambush moves.

[MeatMan]

And there's a story behind each and every one that's lost to time. Some probably interesting, and some mundane.

[Ace-Garageguy]

I'm sad now.  

Many years ago, there was a very toothy '53 Buick at the bottom of a ravine off a steep trail that led down to the Chattahoochee, on Federal Park land.

It's a very damp area, and years later when I hiked there again, there was nothing left but remnants of the chrome grille and bits of heavy frame members.

Last time I was there, a few weeks back, every trace was gone.

[TarheelRick]

Mother Nature reclaims what she gave up.

[Falcon Ranchero]

18 hours ago, MeatMan said:

And there's a story behind each and every one that's lost to time. Some probably interesting, and some mundane.

I am actually trying to find out the story of that 1963 Ford 300; from 1970 to now, I know what it's been up to- just sitting in the gully. But the first 7 years of it's life are a little murky as I don't know exactly who owned it. I did, however, find a very important piece of info- the VIN tag- but I know nothing about how do decode it. The tag states it came from the Oakville, Ontario plant, but I think the serial number would tell me exactly when it was built.

[MeatMan]

6 hours ago, Falcon Ranchero said:

I am actually trying to find out the story of that 1963 Ford 300; from 1970 to now, I know what it's been up to- just sitting in the gully. But the first 7 years of it's life are a little murky as I don't know exactly who owned it. I did, however, find a very important piece of info- the VIN tag- but I know nothing about how do decode it. The tag states it came from the Oakville, Ontario plant, but I think the serial number would tell me exactly when it was built.

Cool!

[Tim W. SoCal]

There used to be a place called "Cadillac Cliff", which was about a 300 foot steep embankment into a creek bottom ravine, in the hills southwest of the town I grew up in. It was common for a small group of local n'er-do-wells to steal a car, joy ride in for a while as they drank a few beers, then roll it off Cadillac Cliff. You needed a 4-wheel-drive to get to where the stolen cars landed, and they were never recovered due to the expenses and complexity, so it wound up being our no charge - pick your part and remove it yourself wrecking yard. We pulled some good stuff from there, such as Muncie, Mopar A833 and Borg Warner Super T10 4-Speed transmissions and Mopar 8-3/4" rear ends.

Edited August 11, 2024 by Tim W. SoCal

[NYLIBUD]

Lots of very cool cars.Its amazing how some of them are being taken over by the surrounding nature.Thanks for sharing the pictures.

[thatz4u]

On 8/11/2024 at 2:38 PM, Tim W. SoCal said:

There used to be a place called "Cadillac Cliff", which was about a 300 foot steep embankment into a creek bottom ravine, in the hills southwest of the town I grew up in. It was common for a small group of local n'er-do-wells to steal a car, joy ride in for a while as they drank a few beers, then roll it off Cadillac Cliff. You needed a 4-wheel-drive to get to where the stolen cars landed, and they were never recovered due to the expenses and complexity, so it wound up being our no charge - pick your part and remove it yourself wrecking yard. We pulled some good stuff from there, such as Muncie, Mopar A833 and Borg Warner Super T10 4-Speed transmissions and Mopar 8-3/4" rear ends.

I would pull usable parts off of the one posted also, & head to the nearest swapmeet...?

[Falcon Ranchero]

46 minutes ago, thatz4u said:

I would pull usable parts off of the one posted also, & head to the nearest swapmeet...?

I know on that blue ‘50 Chevy, at the time of the fall photos, someone came with a hacksaw and took the steering wheel, cause it was there when I took the photos from 2022.

[89AKurt]

SSNJim sent me here, thank you.  I got the opportunity to check out a private collection in Mayer, AZ with the Prescott Antique Auto Club (90% of the members drove their new luxury barges out, not their old cars).  You can see part of the vehicles next to highway 69, but there is a CLOSED sign and gate, and dogs.  He won't sell, but has in the past.  He lives in Industrial zoning, so the County can't give him trouble.  This is an awesome sample of Arizona fried under the sun weathering (contrast Nathan's post), hope you enjoy Rudy's collection.

Normally you can't park here, this is his "front yard".   The cage is for the T-Rex.

Can't usually park here too.

I'm already wandering around, while some members drove their new cars around like it's hard to park.   I would love just this one in my yard.

Back to the "front yard".

I would like just this corner of this pile in my yard.

Out back is his shop, which has a back lot like it's a full size diorama.

You have to be quick to see his "sign" when coming to Prescott, it's on the wrong side of the highway.

What everyone does not get to see.....

Back to the "main level".

I have to pause here, I love that last shot because I had a '48 Chevy 5 Window pickup, this one with the clouds kills it.
Also, you wouldn't think a Toyota pickup would be interesting, but this is what started it for them in the US.  If I had to grovel and beg, why do I want this?  I had a '72 "Chevy" LUV that was not reliable.  The sidelights were shared, the "Ford" Courier also had them like my LUV.  These had dopey looking turn signals on the fenders.

In the back is more, but I didn't take pictures of everything.  Outside his shop is a set of Jeeps, one is WW2 vintage.

Now this is a study in rust and patina.

That concludes my tour of Rudy's collection.

Bonus: I saw these COEs south of Williams.

[Falcon Ranchero]

1 hour ago, 89AKurt said:

SSNJim sent me here, thank you.  I got the opportunity to check out a private collection in Mayer, AZ with the Prescott Antique Auto Club (90% of the members drove their new luxury barges out, not their old cars).  You can see part of the vehicles next to highway 69, but there is a CLOSED sign and gate, and dogs.  He won't sell, but has in the past.  He lives in Industrial zoning, so the County can't give him trouble.  This is an awesome sample of Arizona fried under the sun weathering (contrast Nathan's post), hope you enjoy Rudy's collection.

Normally you can't park here, this is his "front yard".   The cage is for the T-Rex.

Can't usually park here too.

I'm already wandering around, while some members drove their new cars around like it's hard to park.   I would love just this one in my yard.

Back to the "front yard".

I would like just this corner of this pile in my yard.

Out back is his shop, which has a back lot like it's a full size diorama.

You have to be quick to see his "sign" when coming to Prescott, it's on the wrong side of the highway.

What everyone does not get to see.....

Back to the "main level".

I have to pause here, I love that last shot because I had a '48 Chevy 5 Window pickup, this one with the clouds kills it.
Also, you wouldn't think a Toyota pickup would be interesting, but this is what started it for them in the US.  If I had to grovel and beg, why do I want this?  I had a '72 "Chevy" LUV that was not reliable.  The sidelights were shared, the "Ford" Courier also had them like my LUV.  These had dopey looking turn signals on the fenders.

In the back is more, but I didn't take pictures of everything.  Outside his shop is a set of Jeeps, one is WW2 vintage.

Now this is a study in rust and patina.

That concludes my tour of Rudy's collection.

Bonus: I saw these COEs south of Williams.

Some nice cars'n'trucks; thanks for adding them. ?I've gotta visit an old junkyard someday; nothing like it up here. Mainly just the odd bunch in the bush, so it must be nice to see rows of cars that are more complete.

[89AKurt]

33 minutes ago, Falcon Ranchero said:

Some nice cars'n'trucks; thanks for adding them. ?I've gotta visit an old junkyard someday; nothing like it up here. Mainly just the odd bunch in the bush, so it must be nice to see rows of cars that are more complete.

Welcome!  Almost everything has been picked up and hauled home, so I don't see scattered in the woods vehicles much at all.  They used to line washes with cars to control erosion.  I found a totally destroyed gas tank and hauled home.

Part of my yard art pile, found the Buick hood off Route 66.  I shot some holes in it first, to help shake the dirt and bugs out of it.

[espo]

A lot of rebuildable old relics. That '57 Ford De Rio Wagon would make a great starting point.   

[89AKurt]

3 minutes ago, espo said:

A lot of rebuildable old relics. That '57 Ford De Rio Wagon would make a great starting point.   

Other than the Toyota, the '57 GMC panel would be my choice.

[NOBLNG]

Nice! I don’t see anything unrestorable.?