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Writer's pictureCOCKPIT

Stories of unlikely discoveries of hidden cars

Car enthusiasts have always dreamed of finding old cars hidden in barns. But these stories are not in barns, but in more unusual places and are more nightmare than dream.


1- A car graveyard in a slate mine in Wales


This first story begins in 2019, when photographer Gareth Owen made the journey through the darkness 200ft in Ceredigion in Wales, into the disused mine where he captured shots of the "bittersweet" view


He gives us incredible images that show us a mountain of abandoned cars piled up inside a slate mine. Up to 100 cars in various states have been discovered cascading inside this cave. These cars can be seen reflected in the stagnant water at the base of the mine area.


Gregory Rivolet, a 31-year-old computer engineer, spent four hours exploring the unlikely resting place for abandoned vehicles.


“It was very dangerous because the mine is really unstable. Pieces of slate were falling from above our heads,” he said.


“We had to use a rope to get down to the right level of the mine, the descent was about sixty-five feet deep, it didn’t feel very safe at all.”


Gregory says the Welsh mine opened around 1836 and has been abandoned since closing around 1960.


Explaining his intrigue to explore, Gregory said: “A good friend told me about this place and showed me a photo. I was intrigued and started researching it and realised it was in the UK.


“Once I found out where the mine was, I asked one of my contacts in the UK to guide me there. The whole experience was quite intense, but well worth it.”



2- Discovery of a batch of luxury cars hidden from Hitler in a quarry in France


This first story recalls another story, that of beautiful cars hidden during the Second World War to escape Hitler's eye, they were found 70 years later in a quarry in France.


The story begins when Vincent Michel, a Belgian professor, discovered, in 2016, the hiding place of cars abandoned in a quarry in central France.


Mr. Michel said: "I had the impression that we were walking in time, 70 years ago, and I wondered how it was possible on earth!


"After the war, no one took them out of there, forgotten forever. The owner of the quarry added a few cars a few years later.


"Almost all the cars were empty, with the shells the only things left. »


“We assume the cars were brought into the quarry at the start of the war to prevent them from being seized.”


Mr Michel added: “After the war, no one took them out, forgotten forever. The quarry owner added a few more cars a few years later.”


Almost all of the cars were empty, with the rusted metal shells all that remained. This car still had most of its old blue paint job.


The 56-year-old urban explorer said several of the cars have been sold, but most will have to stay where they are. He added: “Shortly after we were there, the owner pulled a few of them out to auction, but most of the cars are still peacefully inside the quarry, too damaged to move.”


The 56-year-old urban explorer said several of the cars have been sold, but most will have to stay where they are.


He added: “Shortly after we were there, the owner pulled a few of them to auction, but most of the cars are still sitting peacefully inside the quarry, too damaged to move.


“It was an incredible experience, and I really hope to find a similar place in the future.”



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