New Companion Site

From now on, all posts for cars that are listed on various Craigslist sites and at dealers specializing in project cars are on my other blog, http://www.lowcostprojectcars.blogspot.com. In keeping with the title of the blog, most of the cars are projects priced under $20k, but there may occasionally be a higher-priced and/or restored car from time to time.

Down by the Railroad: Pictures of assorted cars and junk found near the Eugene, OR Union Pacific railroad tracks

Derelict drive-through coffee shop, circa early 1990s. This used to be Fast Lane Coffee's Oakway Mall location in Eugene, if I remember right. Never in my life would I imagine I would find one of these in a junkyard.

Dead trucks, camper and random junk near the same junkyard-type lot that the coffee stand was in. There was a house with a large Free Souls Motorcycle Club banner displayed prominently directly across from this, so I left as fast as I could.

Smashed 1960 Dodge Pioneer 2-door sedan with top removed. I doubt that this car has ANY usable parts at all, except possibly the Pioneer script on the rear fender.

BMWs and a Datsun Z-car, again, but with better chances of being rebuilt than the other ones I posted about two weeks ago.

Partial 1940 Ford two-door sedan, nose into the weeds next to the wing off of an outlaw-style race car.

Abandoned Building: Danebo Flowers & Gifts, Eugene, Oregon

During my photographic travels of today, I decided to take a picture of this long-abandoned florist's shop in West Eugene, fairly close to where I live. This flower shop closed sometime in the 1990s, and was one of several casualties of the neighborhood's business slump, caused by a heinous murder at a nearby convenience store in the early 1990s (the infamous Dari-Mart Murder), and not remedied until a new subdivision with a shopping center, two gas stations and a replacement for the store the murder occurred in were built in approximately 2003.

 

Viewed from the front. Notice the graffiti on the unbroken windows.

From the side. That appears to be the remains of a topiary of some sort on the opposite side of the tree from the sign.

Poster advertising professional florists still hanging on a wall. Despite the abundance of broken glass and other vandalism inside the building (I didn't go inside, but I saw it through the windows), it's strange that this poster and the office window next to it are intact.

Empty 40-ounce malt liquor jug on window ledge, behind filthy glass and peeling paint. Someone's definitely been inside this building since it ceased business, and it wasn't me!

The building being slowly taken over by ivy. This used to be the side door.

Considering that there is a childcare facility directly across the street from the part of the building still bearing signage, and that the rest of the neighborhood has been extensively redeveloped, it surprises me that this building hasn't been renovated or demolished.

Castoff: Roadside Fiat Spider

I spied this relatively well-preserved circa-1980 Fiat 2000 Spider sitting beside a road in Eugene, Oregon that borders the railroad tracks on St. Patrick's Day, but it was almost completely covered by a tarp. But when I saw it again a couple days later, the wind blew the tarp off almost all the way. While this car appears to be in restorable condition and still proudly wears its classic Pininfarina lines well, it is not as likely to be restored than a 1968-73 in similar condition due to the complicated electronic fuel injection, NHTSA-mandated impact bumpers and the later models having somewhat less attractive styling than the original design, which debuted to rave reviews in 1967 and was inspired by the Corvette-based 1963 Rondine show car, also built and designed by the good folks at Pininfarina. (stock photo below)

Returning to Nature, Part 3

1960s Mercedes-Benz 220S "heckflosse" (fintail) sedan and 1970s Ford Econoline van. The Mercedes may have a possible future as either a parts car or a project (older Mercedes are often worth more in parts than as a whole car, particularly in this condition), but the Ford next to it is little more than scrap metal.

1960s Dodge walk-in delivery van, returning to its elements in the same yard as the Mercedes and Ford van. About the only usable parts that one can see here are the Dodge script and possibly the side mirror.

Burnt 1950s school bus of unknown make with 1940s-50s-era locomotive carcass behind it. Again, worthless except as scrap or photographic subjects.

1970s or 80s Toyota Tercel, parked in front of a West Eugene home. There were hornets flying out of every opening in this car they could fit through, including those on the wheels.