At over 500 classics spread across 20 acres, A-1 Auto Salvage in Roswell, New Mexico, used to be quite the car lover’s mecca. Established in 1941, the salvage yard accumulated an amazing assortment of American sheet metal ranging from the 30’s through the 90’s, most of it from the 50’s and 60’s. Government workhorses mingled with strange little compacts; obscure convertibles sat near striking America classics, filling the rows under the dry New Mexico sun.

While eventually shut down by its owner who needed the land for other use, the remnants of A-1 Auto Salvage were put up for an all-no reserve auction. Prior to disappearing, however, the yard allowed gearheads of all stripes a unique chance to ferret out cars with histories, cars with ties to local historical events or with records of former government service, to cars owned by musicians or built by short-lived experimenters of the auto industry. From the 40’s Diamond T truck, an out-of-print Studebaker convertible and an AMC Marlin to the Henry J and Nash Rambler Airflyte-all these defunct vehicles demonstrate how much car history remained sleeping within the Roswell’s old lot.

1. 1940s Diamond T Pickup

Located on 20 acres in Roswell, New Mexico, A-1 Auto Salvage was once the home of some 500 or more classic cars and trucks. Since the day that A-1 Salvage opened its gates in 1941, American vehicles from a variety of different eras have called this huge salvage yard home, but in their main inventory they focused on vehicles from the 1950’s and 1960’s. The lot eventually sold due to the property being needed for a different purpose, and a no-reserve auction took place for what was left but not too long ago, a look back at what America looked like automobile-wise was accessible through a trip across the property for gearheads- not just Fords, Chevrolets, or GMs, but all kinds of different vehicles!

A Remarkable Automotive Collection:

• Over 500 vehicles once remained
• The property covered 20 acres
• Yard opened back in 1941
• Inventory spanned several decades
• Many vehicles came from fifties

This glimpse into the rows uncovered everything from workhorses of government transport to exotic convertibles. While the New Mexico climate desiccated and aged them under a relentless sun, their heritage lived through a variety of design treatments and exotic quirks. The collector knew it was worth more than derelict machinery. A treasure of Detroit’s finest times and the smaller car companies no longer found anywhere but such places.

2. 1941 Chevrolet

Just outside the entrance of A-1 Auto Salvage was a couple of Diamond T trucks from the late 1940s. While one employee said that the late-40s rig once belonged to Roswell artist Peter Hurd (born 1904, spent 70 years painting New Mexican people and scenery), it’s a historic truck as a product of the Chicago firm which produced commercial vehicles from 1905-1967. A unique tie-in to the Southwestern culture, seeing this durable truck saved next to local history provided for some perspective.

Diamond T’s Historic Connection:

• Trucks greeted visitors near entrance
• Model dated from late forties
• Peter Hurd previously owned one
• Hurd was born in Roswell
• Diamond T built commercial vehicles

The linking of it to Peter Hurd provided the truck with an identity beyond merely a “mechanical conveyance”. Instead, the appearance of it at a junk yard linked an antique commercial vehicle to a beloved local artist as well as to the landscape of his birth. Diamond T manufactured commercial trucks over many decades as its entire manufacturing experience. The salvaged truck thus was another expression both of American trucking expertise and quirky Roswell lore.

3. 1947 Ford

Another noteworthy find was a 1941 Chevy within the yard. This Chevy shares something unique in connection with the site itself of A-1 Auto Salvage. For one it came of off the assembly line on the same year of 1941 when the salvage site was created-an intertwining with an initial starting point for both man-and machine-as well as tied into a strangely notable year that only would contribute to Roswell becoming famous six years in the future when a still “unexplained flying object” purportedly crash landed in a nearby ranch-kickstarting the worldwide UFO conspiracy theories of years to come and helping to cement Roswell’s spot on the map of worldwide fascination.

The Chevrolet’s Unique Connection:

• Chevrolet came from 1941
• A-1 began during 1941
• Both shared the same birth
• Roswell gained fame later
• Vehicle reflected prewar manufacturing

The Chevrolet came from right before America completely turned to war production. It felt especially fitting since the car and the property came from the same year. The sedan rested in what would become decades worth of automobilia just another reminder that each of A-1 Auto Salvage’s vehicles could possess a past that extended well beyond them visually.

4. 1947 Chrysler

An interesting bit of history was revealed in faded painted words on the door of this 1947 Ford, which we found at A-1 Auto Salvage: Atomic Energy Commission, the government agency formed after the war to govern peace-time atomic science and research. Further adding to this cool, unique story is the fact that the car’s chrome bumper overrider is sticking, itself embedded in the trunk of a tree next to it. One can only surmise how long this car has been here sitting under these trees.

A Ford with Government History:

• Vehicle dated from 1947
• Door lettering named Atomic Energy
• Government agency owned vehicle
• Bumper became trapped in tree
• Nature eventually surrounded the car

Compared to a generic lot car, this Ford had a different historical feel because of the link to the Atomic Energy Commission. The painted lettering on the car displayed what it was once used for. It also helped give context because of how it was trapped in the tree by a bumper from its prior existence. Instead of looking like a tired old car from the yard, it looked like the yard became part of the car after a long stay there.

5. 1948 Studebaker Convertible

Discovered precariously near the pile of destruction that pervades yards like this, this 1947 Chrysler seemed destined to follow. As luck would have it, though, this classic post-war model has already been plucked from this junkyard fate after an out of state fan purchased it and began coordinating hauling. Its survival is special as many vehicles in yards like this will face being crushed, while the all of the body panels are present, and the overall “all-American” statement is definitive 1940s and could be easily be incorporated into a full, dedicated preservation.

The Chrysler Found A Second Chance:

• Chrysler dated from 1947
• Car sat near crusher
• Enthusiast purchased the vehicle
• Transport was already scheduled
• Preservation became possible

The Chryser story was perhaps the most poignant, so close to the crusher pile. Having the style on post war classic Chrysler could so easily have been lost without someone recognizing its inherent potential to avoid it. Another enthusiast travelled in and has now given it a reprieve. Being body full on, the unmistakable styling gave this forsaken Chrysler enough to become the object of restoration and protection.

6. 1967 AMC Marlin

Arguably the more unique find at A-1 Auto Salvage was a 1948 Studebaker convertible. Limited to an original run of 8,000 and now lost within a giant salvage yard, it was a real treat to stumble across and can hold the attention of classic car enthusiasts for hours, just like it did with me (though as with many classic cars, time and climate had really eaten away at the fabric top supports).

Why The Studebaker Stood Out:

• Only 8,000 were built
• Convertible body remained intact
• Interior materials had deteriorated
• Major rust was largely absent
• Dry climate helped preservation

That’s what made it even more interesting in comparison – what was left inside of it and what has survived outside of it, the ravages of time obviously came home, and the fact that the body had resisted all of that rust that could have eaten up the car. To find one of these, not that many are made, a convertible in that condition, was one of the nicest things to come across as far as being there; of interest to the collector or the gearhead it held quite a bit of appeal.

7. 1951 Cadillac

Scattered through A-1 Auto Salvage was one of the more unique vehicles, a 1967 AMC Marlin that was an ultra-rare sighting. The unusual two-door fastback design was an attempt by AMC to capitalize on America’s expanding personal luxury car market during the late sixties and was an early example of experimental American styling that was atypical for that era. Sales success, on the other hand, did not nearly match the unusual styling; only 2,545 buyers purchased one in ’67 and this proved to management that the unusual automobile’s lifespan had run its course.

The Marlin’s Short-Lived Story:

• AMC Marlin dated from 1967
• Fastback styling looked distinctive
• Model targeted personal luxury
• Only 2,545 buyers chose one
• AMC eventually retired it

The fact that a completely survivor example resides inside a Roswell garage gave enthusiasts a look at a rare piece of American automotive history that never really broke commercial ground in a mainstream sense. Its unmistakable fastback styling separated it greatly from common Americans that enthusiasts have surely seen before. The Marlin is also an interesting part of AMC’s history. Since they were difficult to get rid of and never really became commercially viable, surviving examples make interesting objects to research to learn about obscure automobile designs.

8. Henry J

The 1951 Cadillac was on a plane few 50’s luxury autos travelled-one used as a tour bus for a small rock band on tour the early 80s, if you hear the local tales. How big are we talking about the Cadillac, at 224.5 inches long it carried it all-the musicians, all the gear the band used to play music, plus enormous amounts of room to tour the country around, I would wager.

The Cadillac’s Musical Past:

• Cadillac came from 1951
• Local band used it
• Served as a tour bus
• Car measured 224.5 inches
• Massive proportions offered huge space

At the yard the vast hood on the Cadillac was found stuck open. Yard owner not keen to shut the hood and damage the underlying structure of what had once been state of the art coach work. This attitude shows why and what the remaining body work was worth. Despite years in the scrappy it’s unique and sheer size remained unforgettable.

9. 1952 Nash Rambler Airflyte

It was rather surprising to discover a Henry J within one of the rows on the salvage-yard. Budget models such as this were more typically displayed in a far different way and were often to be found perched on poles by roadsides, serving as advertisements for traffic driving past, rather than in typical salvage vehicles. Designed by industrialist Henry J. Kaiser, this model offered the public an affordable automobile, similar to what the Ford Model T had done 40 years prior and had been manufactured at minimum number of bodies.

The Henry J’s Budget Approach:

• Henry J targeted affordability
• Cars appeared on highway poles
• Henry Kaiser created the vehicle
• Body parts were minimised
• Production ran through 1954

Henry Js from the beginning was extremely simplistic and didn’t even have an open-able trunk lid. The economy car was manufactured from 1950-54 and was rather interesting to attempt to reach into the cheap car market. To a car spotter the sight of it in the Roswell salvage yard had a much greater appeal. Instead of this car being presented how it should be used as advertisement and showing off its looks a car spotter could look at one of them just collecting dust with nothing around it.

10. 1956 Chevrolet Station Wagon

The ’52 Nash Rambler Airflyte wagon was totally out of the earthly realm at the time; Roswell was a fitting locale. The slinky, fully enclosed body shell gave it a look the 1950s American automotive establishment saw as the future, far removed from traditional post-war American sheet metal. The 2 door wagons were introduced in 1951, so this is the second of those years of build. In its compact package is offered true style and utility and is the perfect example of how Detroit was experimenting with off-beat designs in the early 50s.

Two Memorable Roswell Finds:

• Nash Rambler looked futuristic
• Two-door wagons debuted in 1951
• Second-year example was found
• Chevrolet captured fifties styling
• Both showed unusual designs

As a symbol of Americana, the 1956 two-door Chevrolet station wagon was indeed significant in automotive history. Chevrolet outsold Fords on national numbers during the fifties eight times out of ten with the Ford outselling Chevrolet only in ’54 and ’57. Sadly, time had really taken its toll of the Chevrolet (where there was only one straight body panel remaining on the driver’s door) although its mid-century styling was evident, as was the general style of the vehicle. Because 2-door station wagons are becoming more collectible (they represent something rather American, too) they made the Roswell example more distinctive.