Along Arizona's Route 66, the rusty hulks of abandoned Model A Fords and other classic cars stand as nostalgic reminders of regional history. People leave their wheels in the woods for all sorts of reasons.
Some cars break down and are vandalized before they can be repaired.
Others are disposed of deliberately because it's cheaper than having them towed to the dump. However they get there, an average of 20 cars are dumped each year in just one of Arizona's national forests. More recent arrivals are often punctured by bullet holes and surrounded by shattered glass. Forest Service officials and law enforcement collaborate to remove abandoned vehicles from the woods, but due to funding constraints they can concentrate only on newer arrivals, especially those blocking roads or trails. Cars that aren't removed often become magnets for other junk.