These Classic European Sports Cars Were Abandoned By Their Owners
The classics on this list can command hundreds of thousands of dollars in an auction, yet their owners discarded them like an old pair of socks.
Classic European sports cars were unrivaled back in the day; boasting a superior mix of engines and powertrains that made room for pretty impressive performances out in the real world. They also excelled in terms of styling as the European continent boasted some of the biggest names as far as automotive design was concerned. Unfortunately, this has not spared them from being subject to being treated quite shabbily.
Every now and then, reports surface of European classic sports cars that were discovered in a deplorable condition, after being abandoned for an extended period of time. There are various reasons why a car might be abandoned, but it still does not completely excuse this kind of behavior, especially when you see some of the images below.
10 1973 Ferrari Dino 246GT
This forlorn-looking Ferrari had less than 14,000 miles on the odometer when it was parked up in a rundown garage in 1975 and seemingly forgotten. It remained in obscurity for almost 40 years before a decision was made to put it up for auction.
Even in storage, nature had not been kind to the car and rust had eaten through several body panels. The mid-engine Ferrari looked nothing like the new car that was launched in 1972 and named after Enzo Ferrari’s son.
9 1975 Maserati Bora Coupe
The Maserati Bora was never a common car, even when it was being produced. Less than 600 units were manufactured during a production run that spanned 7 years, from 1971 to 1978. As was Maserati’s practice during that period, the car was named after a type of wind.
This particular example though does not look like it will be blowing anywhere soon. It was found abandoned somewhere out in the Californian desert, missing several components. There might yet be some life left in the abandoned hulk as it was listed for sale on Craiglist.
8 Lamborghini Countach
This was a one-time Lamborghini flagship; a veritable V12 monster that packed as much as 348 horses under the hood. The wedge-shaped supercar was able to sprint to 60mph in less than 5 seconds and achieve a top speed north of 180mph.
This one was found abandoned in a garage by a lad who was visiting his grandmother. Apparently, his grandfather owned an exotic rental car business and this was part of the fleet. The car was holed up in the garage after rising insurance rates killed off the business.
7 1969 Alfa Romeo GT Junior
The Alfa Romeo GT Junior was an elegantly styled coupe in its prime; a car that was one of the most exciting Italian models during the ‘60s and ‘70s. Very little of that elegance remains on this model that’s clearly been left out in the open for a considerable period of time.
The hood is missing and one can only imagine the extent of the damage done to the exposed mechanical components. Several other parts are missing and only a comprehensive restoration project can make it drivable again. Is it worth the investment though?
6 Mercedes Benz 300SL
In this state, it would be hard to imagine that this is the same classic Mercedes Benz model that took the concept of gull-wing doors to new heights of popularity. This completely run-down example is actually one of two Benz 300SL cars found rotting away somewhere in Cuba.
The cars were missing their engines and several other interior bits. More impressive was the fact that the owner knew very little about the cars, other than the fact that they were different from other vehicles in the area.
5 1959 Maserati 3500GT
Maserati was in a tight corner in the late ‘50s and this was one of the cars that helped them get through that period by providing the much-needed cash flow. It was first introduced at a Geneva car event in 1957 and became an instant success when sales commenced.
Almost 2,000 units ended up being produced during a period that lasted 8 years, from 1957 till 1964. This particular one, though, will need nothing short of a miracle to get it on the roads again; very little remains of the car save the rusty hulk and 4 cracked tires.
4 Lamborghini Miura
Lamborghini hit a home run with the iconic Miura; a car widely regarded as the first true supercar. The sleek car debuted with a revolutionary rear mid-engine two-seat layout that greatly enhanced its handling and made it possible for some mind-boggling performances when pushed to the limit.
That is why it is quite galling to find one in this sorry state. It was discovered in an abandoned French storage facility, stowed away along with several other cars, and left to quite simply, rot away.
3 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 ‘Daytona’
This one is a strange one indeed. This particular Daytona was the only one ever finished with an aluminum body. It was completed in 1969 and passed through various hands before landing in Japan where it was purchased by a certain Makoto Takai.
For whatever reason, Mr. Takai simply covered the car up in a garage where it would remain for the next 40 years. The car was understandably in a ramshackle condition when it was discovered but that did not stop it from commanding a price of over $2million when it was put up for auction.
2 Aston Martin DB4
In 2016, a truly remarkable car was discovered in the woods out in Massachusetts. It was an Aston Martin DB4; a car that, when it launched in 1958, was the first production car ever to reach 100mph in under 30 seconds.
For reasons that are quite unclear, the owner simply dumped the car in a clump of trees and it remained on that same spot for the next 40 years, ravaged by the elements of nature. Even in its unrestored state, the car was expected to fetch almost half a million dollars after a decision was made to sell the car.
1 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 RS
This was the last right-hand-drive model that Porsche built of the legendary 911 Carrera 2.7 RS. Yet it was still abandoned, a shadow of its former glory, for several years. The car was built as part of homologation requirements for Porsche to compete in the European GT Championship racing series.
Incredibly, 500 units from the initial batch were sold within the first week of the car’s launch. This extremely valuable example was discovered in a Caribbean Island garden where it had been parked up until a Porsche enthusiast tracked it down.
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