American junkyards are packed with millions of classic cars nowadays. How did they get there? Well, while some owners got tired of driving old cars, others scrapped them simply because they were no longer reliable. But not all classics got dumped at the junkyard. Some were left behind on abandoned properties.
And when you consider it, it’s really depressing. First of all, when the owners moved or died, many of these cars weren’t in terrible condition. Second, they don’t usually become parts donors like cars abandoned at junkyards; instead, decades of exposure to the weather cause them to simply waste away. We’ve seen a lot of that recently, since vlogs about exploring the countryside and cities are more popular than ever.
And this new footage from “Urban Exploring With Kappy” shows that it’s not just the mundane cars that get left behind. The old house you see here, located somewhere in New York, has a very desirable fourth-generation Lincoln Continental waiting to be rescued in its front yard. Yup, I’m talking about that cool generation that got suicide doors, spawned a four-door convertible, and served as a Presidential state car when John F. Kennedy was assassinated.
It’s also a somewhat early version, with the front fascia indicating a 1962 or 1963 model year. Sadly, it’s quite obvious that the Continental is in rough shape. And it’s not just the roof that got a beating. The engine hood is also crumpled and the chassis is sitting on the ground. That’s bad news for the frame, which has to be pretty rusty by now.
Such a big shame really because not only is this example a four-door drop-top, but also the maroon-like paint that still adorns the body is not a very common sight. What’s more, it appears to still sport its original engine. The fourth-gen Continental was fitted with a 430-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) MEL V8 until 1966, when Ford replaced it with a 462-cubic-inch (7.6-liter) version.
However, the Lincoln is not the only vintage vehicle that has been abandoned for many years on this land. There’s a vintage Dodge Wayfarer right next to it. This was a short-lived model that is never longer seen on public roads, despite not being as iconic and desired as the Continental. It was first released in 1949 and was abandoned in 1952 without a substitute. It was also constructed alongside the more opulent DeSoto Deluxe and Chrysler Windsor.
The Wayfarer is mostly known for having spawned the first true roadster built by any Detroit carmaker since the 1930s. That version is actually rare, but this two-door sedan from the 1950 model year was decidedly more popular at around 65,000 units sold. All Wayfarers were equipped with a 230-cubic-inch (3.8-liter) straight-six engine rated at 103 horsepower. Unfortunately, this Mopar will never get a second chance at life due to its low market value.
Next up, there’s a third vehicle parked directly beside the residence. This one looks to be a Mercury Grand Marquis from the 1980s. The Grand Marquis, which debuted in 1979 as a more expensive variant of the Marquis, continued to be produced until 2011. The four-door sports a crimson inside that looks to be in decent shape and looks to be an early first-generation car. However, first-generation Grand Marquis sedans are quite unattractive, much like the Wayfarer.
But the house itself is in much worse shape than the cars. While it’s still packed with personal belongings of the previous owners, it’s clearly been vandalized and it looks like it’s about to collapse. Needless to say, it’s probably scheduled for demolition in the future. Check it out in the video below.