Junkyard Photos, Sorted by Era and by Part

Choose your era

The shape of a wreck tells the viewer when your world ended. A rounded 1940s fender, a chrome 1960s grille and a plastic 1990s bumper rust and break in different ways.

• 1920s to 1950s. Vintage Cars Scrapyard (449 photos, New Zealand) shows rows of cars from those decades rusting in the sun. Torn panels reveal how the bodies were built and what materials were used at the time.
• 1950s and 1960s. Car Cemetery (166 photos, France) covers mostly French cars of that period, rusted and overgrown.
• 1990s to early 2000s. Car Junkyard (315 photos, New Zealand) shows mostly Japanese cars with panels removed and engines and radiators exposed.

For trucks, Isuzu Old Rusty Trucks (88 photos, Thailand, $4.99) shows old Japanese lorries left to rust.

Choose your parts

The Junkyard Parts pack is built for kitbashing and prop design. Its folders include 82 photos of headlights, 85 of rear lights, 51 of speedometers, 64 of disks, 27 of grilles, 99 of mechanical parts and 123 of small parts. If you need ten different rear lights for a sci-fi vehicle, they are all in one folder.

For interiors, Roadside Cars Dump (166 photos, Kuala Lumpur) includes shots inside the cars: worn seats, speedometers and broken trim, with grass growing around them.

Beyond cars: aircraft, ships and rail

• Airplane Graveyard: 582 photos at 6000 × 4000 of airliner sections in a Bangkok yard. It is a rare look at fuselage interiors, frames and wiring. Some sections have been turned into living spaces, which shows how scrap gets a second life.
• Salvaged Ship Parts Dump (111 photos) and Ship Equipment Dump (169 photos), Cebu: worn, rusty ship parts and maritime equipment from ship disassembly, scattered on open ground. Ideal for a junk planet or a rebel camp.
• Rusty Cargo Rail Cars (78 photos, New Zealand): wheels, suspension and couplings of old freight wagons.

For whole ships in decay, see shipwreck and ship graveyard photos.

Rust is not one colour

Real rust ranges from bright orange on new breaks to dark brown and black on old steel. Paint fails in blisters and flakes, and water leaves streaks below every seam. When you paint or texture a wreck, sample those colours from the photos instead of using a single brown. For close-up surface studies, see weathering and rust reference.

Frequently asked questions

Can scale modelers use these for weathering?

Yes. The scrapyard packs show chipping, rust streaks and faded paint on real cars from many angles, which is exactly what weathering techniques try to copy.

Will brand names and badges be visible?

Some car badges and logos appear in the photos. The Commercial license does not cover logos or trademarks, so remove or change them if your work will be published commercially.

Are some packs shot on a phone?

Yes. The Cebu and Kuala Lumpur packs were shot on an iPhone 14 Pro and a small drone at 4000 × 3000. Each product page lists the camera and resolution.

Can I make 3D props from the parts photos?

Yes. The license allows you to create your own 3D models and textures from the photos for your projects. You can't resell the photos or packs.