These eerily empty street photos show how different New York City was in the crime-ridden 1970s

Riddled with crime, and on the brink of bankruptcy, New York City was a very different place 40 years ago. Unlike most New Yorkers, photographer Langdon Clay spent much of the 1970s walking around Manhattan alone in the middle of the night.

It certainly wasn't the safest way to spend his time, but "being young and foolish can have its advantages," Clay told Business Insider.

While roaming the streets, Clay documented the city's cars, peacefully parked and left for the night, reflecting the neon signs and street lights. Though the photographic focus is on the cars, it's hard to ignore the fact that there are very rarely any other people in the shot. Clay's new book, "Cars - New York City 1974-1976," is a collection of photos of a New York City that will probably never be that eerily quiet again.