Abandoned places are immensely intriguing, and YouTube is chock-full of explorers and adventurers who venture into far-off places for a closer look at what's been forgotten. Of course, it's not terribly hard to find an old house or barn that's been left to the elements, but a forgotten car dealership with vehicles still sitting in the showroom? Well, it's not exactly common - but they do exist.
The stories behind why a showroom with one car or 20 gets locked up and forgotten show no pattern, unlike a farm that shut down due to financial hardship. The abandoned dealerships captured here run the gamut from the owner retiring but retaining control of the property to brand new cars being forever locked away due to a natural disaster or other calamities outside of the dealer's control. Now, the cars stand as silent monuments to grander days long since passed.
15 Abandoned Toyota Dealer In Cyprus
A dealership housing new Toyota models from the 70s stands as a time capsule in a demilitarized zone between Cyprus and the capital city of Nicosia. Known as The Green Line, this region remains frozen in time, with cars like this brand new Toyota Celica ST awaiting a new owner that will likely never come.
14 Subaru Dealer In Malta With Brand New Cars
As far as abandoned dealership finds go, a Subaru dealer on a tiny island with base level trim Imprezas and one brand-new turbocharged XT 4WD coupe from the 80s is about as random as it gets. Different cars occasionally move into the showroom, but no one knows for sure what the future of these brand-new Subarus from the 80s and 90s will be.
13 Former Sofia Dealership In Bulgaria
You'd be forgiven for not knowing what a Sofia was, as it is one of the more obscure sports cars ever built. As a rear wheel drive, mid-engined design, it certainly bears some of the hallmarks of a classic sports model, but even more mysterious than its history is why several of them remain locked away in a showroom in Bulgaria.
12 Desirable European Classics Abandoned In Japan
ProAuto has been enshrouded in mystery for a while now, courtesy of its tantalizing collection of European sports cars seemingly left to rot. Photos around the internet show desirable sports cars like Lotus Europas, Austin Healeys, and an exceedingly rare Toyota Sports 800. Will someone ever come back to retrieve these fallen classics?
11 Rotting Chryslers At Mark Motors In Ohio
This dealership certainly looks the part of an abandoned business, stuck in a one-horse town that likely will never experience a rebirth. The chance at rejuvenation is better for these old Chrysler products, however, as the owner used to count several dealerships in his control but has slowly been selling them and his vintage car and truck collection off.
Related: 15 Heartbreaking Photos Of Cars Forever Abandoned At Airports
10 Lonely Chrysler LeBaron Convertible
This pretty Chrysler LeBaron convertible has been left to ponder its future in the otherwise empty showroom of a forgotten Chicago car dealership. Not much is known about the car or the dealer, other than its inventory is seriously depleted aside from the solitary wood paneling-clad convertible on slowly deflating tires.
9 Citation Motors And Its Abandoned BMWs
One of the more well-known "ghost" dealerships is a former BMW dealer in Ontario, Canada, that shut down with two brand new cars from the 1980s still in the showroom, including this gorgeous 6-Series and an E28 chassis 5-Series. Supposedly, the maintenance bay was loaded with new cars, too. What happened to them all?
8 Forgotten Mazda Dealer In Switzerland
Not much is known about a Mazda dealer that shut down in 2001 with late models still inside, and more vehicles scattered around the property. Mazdas, Hondas, and Saabs are the predominant makes, and they may be lightly used models rather than brand-spankin' new - but they're still time capsules, especially this desirable Mazda 323 GT.
7 Brand New Ladas Left Behind In France
The Lada brand has become somewhat obscure as its dealer network has shrank, but that doesn't mean there still aren't owners that need their car serviced. One workshop in France apparently still services a small group of cars but has abandoned its remaining inventory, letting the Ladas rust into the ground with the new car smell still inside.
6 Vintage Subarus Left Behind In Fukushima
When the nuclear disaster struck the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Ōkuma, it forced a massive evacuation that left homes, businesses, and automobiles frozen in time. This Subaru dealer showroom contains mint condition vintage models that will likely remain there for decades, slowly sinking onto deflating tires.
5 Forgotten Collection In New Hampshire
A lonely brick building in New Hampshire houses several classic cars, seemingly in a showroom that's been completely forgotten by its owner. American icons like a vintage Mustang sit proudly inside, while others like a Lincoln Continental languish outdoors. Who owns these classics, and will they ever come back for their classics?
Related: 15 Disturbing Photos Of Abandoned Vintage Classics
4 Brand New '90s Fiats And Alfas In Argentina
Not just Fiats, but Alfa Romeos and Peugeots from the early 90s were found locked up and hidden away as leftover inventory from a dealership that shut down. While not particularly exotic, plenty of enthusiasts love every offering from these brands, so having the chance to drive a brand-new Alfa Romeo 33 Sport Wagon would likely tempt any gearhead.
3 Collier Motors AMC Dealership
One of the more infamous forgotten dealerships is Collier Motors in Pikeville, North Carolina. It's essentially an AMC collection that grew out of the original dealership property after the company was absorbed by Chrysler into the Jeep/Eagle brand. The collection includes some rarities, like a Nash Healey LeMans Coupe, rotting away outside.
2 Brand New BMW 5-Series In Forgotten Warehouse
Here's a strange one: a large collection of brand-new BMW 5-Series of the E34 chassis generation, hidden away in a Bulgarian warehouse and only just recently discovered. The story is murky, but it seems like the cars were bought for a rental car business that never got off the ground. Who'd have thought you could buy a brand new 90s BMW in 2020?
1 Infamous Castle Gresley Used Car Dealership
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A small garage and outdoor showroom has been captured everywhere, from the big screen to individual Facebook accounts, showcasing used cars locked up behind heavy steel bars for decades. Cars like this Rover 820 have sat, seemingly forgotten, but every now and again another car leaves. Will this ghost dealer ever give up her remaining prisoners?
Sources: Motor Authority, Car Scoops, Jalopnik, Motor Punk, Motor 1, Reddit, Web Urbanist, MX5 Nutz, Barn Finds