We spent a few lovely days at Port Orford last week, in our cozy cabin-former pole barn (as soon as I finish up a few more interior details, I’ll do an update on it). We were walking around town one afternoon, and decided to take a few pictures at the Auto Spa, where elderly cars come to be rejuvenated.
And a couple of blocks away, we stumbled into the old City Jail, which is not quite as old as it looks, but its amenities are strictly 19th century.
We’ll just sort of ramble about here in the parking lot. A Geo Metro, a Chevy Uplander van and a classic Ford pickup here. The Metro could use a facial.
A Saturn Ion. In for an ionization treatment, no doubt.
A few more patients awaiting their treatments. This place is popular.
An elderly Suburban keeping company with a mixed bag of other vehicles, and of course a boat. Obviously boats are scattered all over town not unlike flotsam.
Here’s the star attraction: the same 1986 Chrysler new Yorker turbo I shot and posted back in late 2021, but now it’s for sale!
$3,100, for a genuine classic! Needs a few minor bits, but it would be just the ticket for us to have here as a local around-town scooter. Or maybe one of you is interested?
It looks pretty well preserved, thanks to all those spa treatments it’s gotten over the years here.
A Rialto. There’s still folks who love these. These started out as the Le Sharo with a Renault FWD van front end, but later switched to a FWD VW van front section. Not enough headroom for my taste.
These Escorts are getting mighty rare. Good to see one being treated to a spa treatment.
This Jeep Comanche is in serious need of a skin exfoliation.
All that salt air has been hard on it.
How did we miss this in our previous rambles through town? From the looks of it, I assumed this was from the mid-1800s, as Port Orford is the oldest town site on the Oregon coast, dating back to 1852. But no; the plaque says it’s from…1936! Well, PO was—and still is—behind the times, which is what makes it so charming.
There’s two cells inside. No other amenities to be seen.
The one on the left was the one to have, as it’s closer to the wood stove that once was there along that left wall in the anteroom.
The question is: when was it decommissioned? 1986?
That Escort may be the best preserved vehicle there. I’m guessing regular small injections of quality toxins, ten or so gallons at a time with periodic flushes using around five quarts of something related into another orifice.
The Jail could be your next project, to take advantage of the “old town” property values for rehabilitated structures. Two bedrooms, nothing else. Low maintenance living at its finest. Everything within easy walking distance, just don’t lose your key when inside…
Impress others with your New Yorker, by playing period synth music that suitably compliments the Electronic Voice Alert. In the lead pic, there is a solid resemblance to the R-body New Yorker, from this rear view.
The Eurovan motorhome is actually a Rialta, not a Rialto. I mention this not to be picky about typo’s (or autocorrect) but to note that the gender change from its LeSharo predecessor is interesting. Or maybe it was just to avoid trademark conflicts with the morecommon Rialto name. Ditto for the LeSharo’s Itasca version, called the Phasar, with two “a’s”.
Interesting mix, I wonder why they didn’t bother to mount a new fan ~ they’re dirt cheap and everywhere, I often find better & larger ones in junkyards….
-Nate
Nar not interested in that thing Im selling a car currently Om overstocked on Citroen C5s
The clean design, and ever fresh Jeep styling cues, keep the Comanche looking timely. Would compliment a Gladiator, nicely. I rented a couple early 2000s Sentras, and liked them then.
I like that New Yorker!
And regarding the jail, according to this local blog:
https://blog.portorfordhistoricalphotos.org/port-orford-jail/
…the old jail was condemned in 1965. The historic jail was restored (i.e., painted, and a new roof put on in 2015) – also good to see historic buildings preserved.
Aha; that’s a pretty short lifespan, given all they must have spent on it. 🙂
I wouldn’t let auto spa work on anything I own. They have the worst reputation in town the owner is called rip of Bob or one time bob because you only go there once and learn to not go back. Bob hires every tweaker and drug addict in town to work on the vehicles. Also charges certified mechanic hours but does not have a certified mechanic.