Pictorial Automotive Archeology

[Criscobath]

I have an illness...

I love photos of old cars, trucks and jet boats rotting away waiting for me to save them. It doesn't matter if they're rare, exotic, foreign, average, or not that old (70s & 80s).

I've been fortunate enough to unearth some pretty cool cars over the years and seeing these kind of pictures reminds me of the feeling that comes with the hunt and find.

I'm not sure if this type of thread has been done here with any level of success over the years, but it sure would make me happy to see these pictures.

This is one of my semi-local favorites... It's not for sale.

[squirrel]

I wonder if this works?

http://selectric.org/junk/don/index.html

[Criscobath]

Awww, yeah, now we're talking. That 1950 Bel Air is exciting. Just imagine it w/ 55 Plymouth or 56 Chrysler tail lights, frenched headlights and a decent 3" chop.

[squirrel]

Don moved since then...and most of the cars are gone.

[Lee Stewart]

i

[Dan Barlow]

Goats out in the field !

[68scott385]

Goats out in the field !

You'd think they'd eat more grass than they have.

[Lee Stewart]

http://www.oldcarsweekly.com/news/hobby-news/barn-find-bonner-1964-ford-thunderbolt-uncovered

Recently discovered 1964 Thunderbolt raced by the late Phil Bonner. See link for story and photos.

[Criscobath]

Whoa! That's incredible.

[cobra]

small junkyard outside of Tulsa

[Jimbo17]

Hard to figure some times why many people just let them sit there rotting away and won't even consider selling.

Jim Hill

http://www.nostalgicracingdecals.com

[Criscobath]

For some folks it's about having something that you and everyone else wants.

I experienced this with a 68 Roadrunner. The car had been sitting for 10+ years on flat tires when I discovered it. The owner said that he was going to restore it soon and that the car couldn't be purchased at any price. 10 years later the car was still there, only this time the trunk lid lip was falling off from rust and the rear window surround had gaps showing through from rust. I know the city was giving him hell about the car sitting there. The last time I drove down the alley to see if the car was still there, 5 years ago, the car was gone.

Hopefully it was off for a full rotisserie restoration...but I doubt it.

[68scott385]

For some folks it's about having something that you and everyone else wants.

I experienced this with a 68 Roadrunner. The car had been sitting for 10+ years on flat tires when I discovered it. The owner said that he was going to restore it soon and that the car couldn't be purchased at any price. 10 years later the car was still there, only this time the trunk lid lip was falling off from rust and the rear window surround had gaps showing through from rust. I know the city was giving him hell about the car sitting there. The last time I drove down the alley to see if the car was still there, 5 years ago, the car was gone.

Hopefully it was off for a full rotisserie restoration...but I doubt it.

I knew a guy some years ago who had a '69 Camaro. It was all original but for whatever reason it was parked in his yard. He held on to that car for 20+ years adamantly swearing it would be restored one day. The last time I saw it, it had sank into the ground so much that it was questionable whether the doors would open. That was at least 18 years ago.

Two blocks from my house there was a '64-'65 GTO/Tempest convertible. Again the owner wouldn't let go of it. It sat there for a decade before disappearing to never be seen again.

At the end of my street there is a Catalina convertible that has been sitting sans top for at least a decade. It's not the only vehicle the guy has that's rusting quietly. I haven't asked what his intentions are but his inattention speaks for itself.

[DanStokes]

Those just break my heart. Here on the circle there's a (I think) '69 or '70 MachI rotting into the neighbor's back yard. It's a twin to Milner's 'Stang, color and all. It's a NC car and so far doesn't look too bad but eventually Mother Nature WILL reclaim it if he doesn't do something with it. I've asked and it's not for sale. I'm not sure if I can get a pic of it without trespassing though I can see the outline from the street.

Dan

[Criscobath]

In my experience, sometimes, persistence pays off. Sometimes you just have to wear them down over time.

I'm still chasing a Ford truck known as "Jungle" that had a profound effect on me as a child. I have lots of memories of walking past the truck in my school years and seeing/hearing it going down the road. Word has it that it has been powered by everything from a BOSS 429 to a SOHC 427.I know from speaking with his mother that the truck still exists. However, I haven't seen it in 20 years.

It's a life long goal to obtain that truck. Hopefully, one day, I will prevail.